SYSLOGD(8)SYSLOGD(8)NAMEsyslogd - log systems messages
SYNOPSIS
/usr/etc/syslogd [ -fconfigfile ] [ -mmarkinterval ] [ -d ]
DESCRIPTION
Syslogd reads and logs messages into a set of files described by the
configuration file /etc/syslog.conf. Each message is one line. A
message can contain a priority code, marked by a number in angle braces
at the beginning of the line. Priorities are defined in
<sys/syslog.h>. Syslogd reads from the UNIX domain socket /dev/log,
from an Internet domain socket specified in /etc/services, and from the
special device /dev/klog (to read kernel messages).
Syslogd configures when it starts up and whenever it receives a hangup
signal. Lines in the configuration file have a selector to determine
the message priorities to which the line applies and an action. The
action field are separated from the selector by one or more tabs.
Selectors are semicolon separated lists of priority specifiers. Each
priority has a facility describing the part of the system that
generated the message, a dot, and a level indicating the severity of
the message. Symbolic names may be used. An asterisk selects all
facilities. All messages of the specified level or higher (greater
severity) are selected. More than one facility may be selected using
commas to separate them. For example:
*.emerg;mail,daemon.crit
Selects all facilities at the emerg level and the mail and daemon
facilities at the crit level.
Known facilities and levels recognized by syslogd are those listed in
syslog(3) without the leading ``LOG_''. The additional facility
``mark'' has a message at priority LOG_INFO sent to it every 20 minutes
(this may be changed with the -m flag). The ``mark'' facility is not
enabled by a facility field containing an asterisk. The level ``none''
may be used to disable a particular facility. For example,
*.debug;mail.none
Sends all messages except mail messages to the selected file.
The second part of each line describes where the message is to be
logged if this line is selected. There are four forms:
· A filename (beginning with a leading slash). The file will be
opened in append mode.
· A hostname preceded by an at sign (``@''). Selected messages are
forwarded to the syslogd on the named host.
· A comma separated list of users. Selected messages are written to
those users if they are logged in.
· An asterisk. Selected messages are written to all logged-in users.
Blank lines and lines beginning with `#' are ignored.
For example, the configuration file:
kern,mark.debug /dev/console
*.notice;mail.info /usr/spool/adm/syslog
*.crit /usr/adm/critical
kern.err @ucbarpa
*.emerg *
*.alert eric,kridle
*.alert;auth.warning ralph
logs all kernel messages and 20 minute marks onto the system console,
all notice (or higher) level messages and all mail system messages
except debug messages into the file /usr/spool/adm/syslog, and all
critical messages into /usr/adm/critical; kernel messages of error
severity or higher are forwarded to ucbarpa. All users will be
informed of any emergency messages, the users ``eric'' and ``kridle''
will be informed of any alert messages, and the user ``ralph'' will be
informed of any alert message, or any warning message (or higher) from
the authorization system.
The flags are:
-f Specify an alternate configuration file.
-m Select the number of minutes between mark messages.
-d Turn on debugging.
Syslogd creates the file /etc/syslog.pid, if possible, containing a
single line with its process id. This can be used to kill or
reconfigure syslogd.
To bring syslogd down, it should be sent a terminate signal (e.g. kill
`cat /etc/syslog.pid`).
FILES
/etc/syslog.conf the configuration file
/etc/syslog.pid the process id
/dev/log Name of the UNIX domain datagram log socket
/dev/klog The kernel log device
SEE ALSOlogger(1), syslog(3)4.2 Berkeley Distribution May 26, 1986 SYSLOGD(8)
