3 Consolidated Logging

Distributed Systems Administration Utilities offers consolidated logging features, including the standard logging features offered by syslogd, and syslog Next Generation (syslog-ng) features in standalone and cluster log consolidation environments.

The next sections of this document describe their use.

3.1 Introduction to syslog

syslogd is a ubiquitous component of UNIX systems that performs system logging activities. syslogd reads from a set of log sources such as /dev/log and /dev/klog and processes the log messages as instructed in /etc/syslog.conf. Applications log messages to syslog using the syslog call (see syslog(3C)).

For more information on syslogd, see syslogd(1M).

3.1.1 syslog Message Format

Asyslog message has a standard format that includes an optional priority level and facility. The priority level indicates the urgency of the message. The facility indicates the subsystem that posted the message. Table 3-1lists the priority level and facilities defined in /usr/include/ syslog.h.

Table 3-1 syslog Priority Levels

Message

Description

 

 

LOG_ALERT

Take action immediately,

 

 

LOG_CRIT

Critical conditions have occurred.

 

 

LOG_DEBUG

Debug-level message.

 

 

LOG_EMERG

System is unusable.

 

 

LOG_ERR

Error conditions.

 

 

LOG_INFO

Informational message.

 

 

LOG_NOTICE

Normal but significant conditions that warrant attention.

 

 

LOG_WARNING

Warning conditions.

 

 

Table 3-2describes syslog Facilities Messages.

Table 3-2 syslog Facilities Messages

Message

Description

 

 

LOG_AUTH

Security and authorization messages (DEPRECATED; use

 

LOG_AUTHPRIV instead).

 

 

LOG_AUTHPRIV

Security and authorization messages (private).

 

 

LOG_CRON

Clock daemon (cron and at).

 

 

LOG_DAEMON

System daemons without separate facility values.

 

 

LOG_FTP

Ftp daemon.

 

 

LOG_KERN

Kernel messages.

 

 

LOG_LOCAL0 through LOC_LOCAL7

Reserved for local use.

 

 

LOG_LPR

Line printer subsystem.

 

 

3.1 Introduction to syslog

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