4.3BSD-UWisc/man/cat8/syslogd.8
SYSLOGD(8) UNIX Programmer's Manual 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 message 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 spe-
cial 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 specif-
iers. Each priority has a _f_a_c_i_l_i_t_y describing the part of
the system that generated 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 facilities. All messages
of the specified level or higher (greater severity) are
selected. More than one facility may be selected using com-
mas 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 addi-
tional 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:
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SYSLOGD(8) UNIX Programmer's Manual SYSLOGD(8)
o+ A filename (beginning with a leading slash). The file
will be opened in append mode.
o+ A hostname preceeded by an at sign (``@''). Selected
messages are forwarded to the _s_y_s_l_o_g_d on the named host.
o+ A comma separated list of users. Selected messages are
written to those users if they are logged in.
o+ 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, con-
taining a single line with its process id. This can be used
to kill or reconfigure _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
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SYSLOGD(8) UNIX Programmer's Manual SYSLOGD(8)
/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)
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