SYSLOGD(8) SYSLOGD(8) NAME syslogd - log systems messages SYNOPSIS /etc/syslogd [ -f_c_o_n_f_i_g_f_i_l_e ] [ -m_m_a_r_k_i_n_t_e_r_v_a_l ] [ -d ] DESCRIPTION _S_y_s_l_o_g_d reads and logs messages into a set of files described by the configuration file /etc/syslog.conf. Each message is one line. A mes‐ sage can contain a priority code, marked by a number in angle braces at the beginning of the line. Priorities are defined in <_s_y_s_/_s_y_s_l_o_g_._h>. _S_y_s_l_o_g_d reads from the UNIX domain socket _/_d_e_v_/_l_o_g, from an Internet domain socket specified in _/_e_t_c_/_s_e_r_v_i_c_e_s, and from the special device _/_d_e_v_/_k_l_o_g (to read kernel messages). _S_y_s_l_o_g_d configures when it starts up and whenever it receives a hangup signal. Lines in the configuration file have a _s_e_l_e_c_t_o_r to determine the message priorities to which the line applies and an _a_c_t_i_o_n. The _a_c_t_i_o_n field are separated from the selector by one or more tabs. Selectors are semicolon separated lists of priority specifiers. Each priority has a _f_a_c_i_l_i_t_y describing the part of the system that gener‐ ated the message, a dot, and a _l_e_v_e_l indicating the severity of the message. Symbolic names may be used. An asterisk selects all facili‐ ties. 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 _e_m_e_r_g level and the _m_a_i_l and _d_a_e_m_o_n facilities at the _c_r_i_t level. Known facilities and levels recognized by _s_y_s_l_o_g_d are those listed in _s_y_s_l_o_g(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 _e_x_c_e_p_t 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 preceeded by an at sign (‘‘@’’). Selected messages are forwarded to the _s_y_s_l_o_g_d 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. _S_y_s_l_o_g_d creates the file /etc/syslog.pid, if possible, containing a single line with its process id. This can be used to kill or reconfig‐ ure _s_y_s_l_o_g_d_. To bring _s_y_s_l_o_g_d 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 ALSO logger(1), syslog(3) 4.2 Berkeley Distribution May 26, 1986 SYSLOGD(8)