Re: [newbie] question about log files
On Tuesday 10 December 2002 01:58, Angus Auld wrote: > Richard, does anacron need to be configured to do that, or is that > default behaviour? Default in 8.2, but I've just seen Derek Jennings say that's changed in 9.0. All I know is my laptop gets very excited if it hasn't been booted for a few days. Richard Want to buy your Pack or Services from MandrakeSoft? Go to http://www.mandrakestore.com
Re: [newbie] question about log files
- Original Message - From: RichardA <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Mon, 9 Dec 2002 21:06:45 + To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [newbie] question about log files > On Monday 09 December 2002 05:02, Angus Auld wrote: > > I'll leave my comp on overnight and let logrotate do it's thing. > > > > All the best. > > > > --Angus > > > > When you boot, anacron starts, works out which cron jobs have been missed, and > runs them. So logrotate should happen for you the day after the cron job was > scheduled. > > Richard > ** Richard, does anacron need to be configured to do that, or is that default behaviour? It didn't seem to be happening in my case. Last night was the first time I can see that logrotate did anything in /var/log. I use my computer daily almost w/o exception. I had compressed log files and nice clean replacement ones this morning. First time since install on Oct 4. Thanks for your reply. All the best to you. :-) --Angus "We give thanks to the Creator for the fruits of life. May the world we leave our children be a better one than was left to us."--Native American Philosophy -- ___ Get your free email from http://mymail.operamail.com Powered by Outblaze Want to buy your Pack or Services from MandrakeSoft? Go to http://www.mandrakestore.com
Re: [newbie] question about log files
On Monday 09 December 2002 05:02, Angus Auld wrote: > I'll leave my comp on overnight and let logrotate do it's thing. > > All the best. > > --Angus > When you boot, anacron starts, works out which cron jobs have been missed, and runs them. So logrotate should happen for you the day after the cron job was scheduled. Richard Want to buy your Pack or Services from MandrakeSoft? Go to http://www.mandrakestore.com
Re: [newbie] question about log files
- Original Message - From: Derek Jennings <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Mon, 9 Dec 2002 10:29:53 + To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [newbie] question about log files > > > > Subject: Re: [newbie] question about log files > > > > > > > > > On Mon, 2002-12-09 at 12:43, Angus Auld wrote: > > > > > > Greetings, another newbie question. :-) > > > > > > This is something I have been wondering about for awhile. Is there > > > > > > a program on my Mdk system that looks after log files? To keep them > > > > > > from getting too large? Or is there a ceiling on how big these > > > > > > files can get? Seems like wasted space after a while. > SNIP > > > > > > The program is called logrotate. If you leave your computer on overnight > > > Mandrake has automatically set cron to do the rotate once a week at 4am. > > > The config files are in /etc/logrotate.d/. For more info open your > > > terminal and "man logrotate". > > > > > > Someone else my have already answered this but i have been horsing with > > > my kmail threading and don't know whic list mails i have glanced at and > > > deleted. -- > > > Michael > > > > ** > > > > Thanks ppl for all the valuable info. All stuff I didn't > > knowwasn't such a dumb question after all. ;-) > > > > I'll leave my comp on overnight and let logrotate do it's thing. > > > > All the best. > > > > > > --Angus > > You can always change the time logrotate runs. Either use Webmin, or directly > edit /etc/crontab. Logrotate runs daily, so all you have to do is modify the > entry for cron.daily. > > 56 10 * * * root nice -n 19 run-parts /etc/cron.daily > > This entry means run at "10:56 am, every day, every week" > > > derek > *** Thanks for that explanation Derek! I learned a ton of things by asking a question that I felt was maybe a bit lame. I wanted to know, and now I'm very glad I asked. I left my comp on last night, and I see that everything has been tidied up in /var/log. Super! I may change the runtime of cron.daily like you suggest. Am I right to assume that the time is indicated in a 24hr manner? (8pm would be 00 20?) I'm not in the habit of leaving my computer on continously, so I wonder if if it would be a good idea to change the runtime of cron.weekly and cron.monthly too? Thanks again. --Angus "Let us not look back in anger or forward in fear, but around in awareness."--James Thurber *** *Reg. Linux User #278931* *** *Power by Mandrake Linux 9.0* *** -- ___ Get your free email from http://mymail.operamail.com Powered by Outblaze Want to buy your Pack or Services from MandrakeSoft? Go to http://www.mandrakestore.com
Re: [newbie] question about log files
> > > Subject: Re: [newbie] question about log files > > > > > > > On Mon, 2002-12-09 at 12:43, Angus Auld wrote: > > > > > Greetings, another newbie question. :-) > > > > > This is something I have been wondering about for awhile. Is there > > > > > a program on my Mdk system that looks after log files? To keep them > > > > > from getting too large? Or is there a ceiling on how big these > > > > > files can get? Seems like wasted space after a while. SNIP > > > > The program is called logrotate. If you leave your computer on overnight > > Mandrake has automatically set cron to do the rotate once a week at 4am. > > The config files are in /etc/logrotate.d/. For more info open your > > terminal and "man logrotate". > > > > Someone else my have already answered this but i have been horsing with > > my kmail threading and don't know whic list mails i have glanced at and > > deleted. -- > > Michael > > ** > > Thanks ppl for all the valuable info. All stuff I didn't > knowwasn't such a dumb question after all. ;-) > > I'll leave my comp on overnight and let logrotate do it's thing. > > All the best. > > > --Angus You can always change the time logrotate runs. Either use Webmin, or directly edit /etc/crontab. Logrotate runs daily, so all you have to do is modify the entry for cron.daily. 56 10 * * * root nice -n 19 run-parts /etc/cron.daily This entry means run at "10:56 am, every day, every week" derek Want to buy your Pack or Services from MandrakeSoft? Go to http://www.mandrakestore.com
Re: [newbie] question about log files
On Monday 09 Dec 2002 2:01 am, Stephen Kuhn wrote: > On Mon, 2002-12-09 at 12:43, Angus Auld wrote: > > Greetings, another newbie question. :-) > > This is something I have been wondering about for awhile. Is there a > > program on my Mdk system that looks after log files? To keep them from > > getting too large? Or is there a ceiling on how big these files can get? > > Seems like wasted space after a while. > > > > My /var/log/messages & /var/log/syslog are 4.5 and 4.8mb respectively. > > They have messages going back to my install date on Oct 4. Will these > > files just continue to grow? I know, dumb question. But, inquiring minds > > want to know. > > > > TIA for any feedback. :-) > > > > --Angus > > There is a "cap" on the logs, yes. The cap is directly determined by the > amount of free space that you have left on your drive. Once the logfiles > grow to such an extent as to compromise the available free space, the > syslog daemon will then begin to delete unwanted binaries from your > system, along with other unused and unproductive things like bookmarks, > mp3 files, avi's, mpeg's, wallpapers, gif's, jpg's, user accounts and > etc. There does come a time when the log files have grown so large that > the actual OS itself, if it can't be compressed and run in RAM, is > thence deleted itself, and upon next boot, you are notified that you > should have maintained your log files from the very beginning by > deleting the unwanted logfiles, or out of date log files. At that point, > you have to completely reinstall and then configure your log files > properly. There is a daemon that will look after logfiles. It is called logrotate and will run as a cron job. When the log files reach a certain age or size they are compressed as a .gz compressed file. The system will keep up to 4 compressed log files, and then discard the oldest. Every time an RPM is installed which creates logs the logrotate config file is updated to manage the log files. So long as logrote is running you will never suffer an issue with log files. See man logrotate derek Want to buy your Pack or Services from MandrakeSoft? Go to http://www.mandrakestore.com
Re: [newbie] question about log files
- Original Message - From: Michael Adams <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Mon, 9 Dec 2002 17:39:57 +1300 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [newbie] question about log files > On Mon, 09 Dec 2002 15:18, Angus Auld wrote: > > - Original Message - > > From: Stephen Kuhn <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > Date: 09 Dec 2002 13:01:20 +1100 > > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Subject: Re: [newbie] question about log files > > > > > On Mon, 2002-12-09 at 12:43, Angus Auld wrote: > > > > Greetings, another newbie question. :-) > > > > This is something I have been wondering about for awhile. Is there a > > > > program on my Mdk system that looks after log files? To keep them from > > > > getting too large? Or is there a ceiling on how big these files can > > > > get? Seems like wasted space after a while. > > > > > > > > My /var/log/messages & /var/log/syslog are 4.5 and 4.8mb respectively. > > > > They have messages going back to my install date on Oct 4. Will these > > > > files just continue to grow? I know, dumb question. But, inquiring > > > > minds want to know. > > > > > > > > TIA for any feedback. :-) > > > > > > > > --Angus > > > > > > There is a "cap" on the logs, yes. The cap is directly determined by the > > > amount of free space that you have left on your drive. Once the logfiles > > > grow to such an extent as to compromise the available free space, the > > > syslog daemon will then begin to delete unwanted binaries from your > > > system, along with other unused and unproductive things like bookmarks, > > > mp3 files, avi's, mpeg's, wallpapers, gif's, jpg's, user accounts and > > > etc. There does come a time when the log files have grown so large that > > > the actual OS itself, if it can't be compressed and run in RAM, is > > > thence deleted itself, and upon next boot, you are notified that you > > > should have maintained your log files from the very beginning by > > > deleting the unwanted logfiles, or out of date log files. At that point, > > > you have to completely reinstall and then configure your log files > > > properly. > > > > > > -- > > I guess I better keep an eye on those files then, huh? ;-) > > > > This list is sure a lot of fun. I never had half this much fun when I used > > that "other OS". > > > > --Angus > > The program is called logrotate. If you leave your computer on overnight > Mandrake has automatically set cron to do the rotate once a week at 4am. The > config files are in /etc/logrotate.d/. For more info open your terminal and > "man logrotate". > > Someone else my have already answered this but i have been horsing with my > kmail threading and don't know whic list mails i have glanced at and deleted. > -- > Michael > ** Thanks ppl for all the valuable info. All stuff I didn't knowwasn't such a dumb question after all. ;-) I'll leave my comp on overnight and let logrotate do it's thing. All the best. --Angus How do you destroy a righteous person? Give him or her one follower! --ancient Cherokee saying (fr. "Earth Medicine" by Jamie Sams) *** *Reg. Linux User #278931* *** *Power by Mandrake Linux 9.0* *** -- ___ Get your free email from http://mymail.operamail.com Powered by Outblaze Want to buy your Pack or Services from MandrakeSoft? Go to http://www.mandrakestore.com
Re: [newbie] question about log files - OT a bit
On Mon, 2002-12-09 at 13:18, Angus Auld wrote: > This list is sure a lot of fun. I never had half this much fun when I used that >"other OS". > > --Angus If you're on an email list and there isn't a slight bit of humor, then something's definitely wrong with the list. -- Mon Dec 9 13:30:00 EST 2002 1:30pm up 17:15, 5 users, load average: 0.02, 0.44, 0.64 .o0 linux user:267497 0o. |____ | kühn media australia | / \ /| |'-. | http://kma.0catch.com | .\__/ || | | | | _ / `._ \|_|_.-' | stephen kühn | | / \__.`=._) (_ | email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] | |/ ._/ |"| | email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] | |'. `\ | | |icq: 5483808 | ;"""/ / | | | | smk ) /_/| |.---.| | mobile: 0410-728-389 | ' `-`' " " | Berkeley, New South Wales, AU Coralament*Best Grötens*Liebe Grüße*Best Regards*Elkorajn Salutojn It wasn't that she had a rose in her teeth, exactly. It was more like the rose and the teeth were in the same glass. Want to buy your Pack or Services from MandrakeSoft? Go to http://www.mandrakestore.com
Re: [newbie] question about log files
- Original Message - From: Stephen Kuhn <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: 09 Dec 2002 13:01:20 +1100 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [newbie] question about log files > On Mon, 2002-12-09 at 12:43, Angus Auld wrote: > > Greetings, another newbie question. :-) > > This is something I have been wondering about for awhile. Is there a program on my >Mdk system that looks after log files? To keep them from getting too large? Or is >there a ceiling on how big these files can get? Seems like wasted space after a while. > > > > My /var/log/messages & /var/log/syslog are 4.5 and 4.8mb respectively. They have >messages going back to my install date on Oct 4. Will these files just continue to >grow? I know, dumb question. But, inquiring minds want to know. > > > > TIA for any feedback. :-) > > > > --Angus > > > > There is a "cap" on the logs, yes. The cap is directly determined by the > amount of free space that you have left on your drive. Once the logfiles > grow to such an extent as to compromise the available free space, the > syslog daemon will then begin to delete unwanted binaries from your > system, along with other unused and unproductive things like bookmarks, > mp3 files, avi's, mpeg's, wallpapers, gif's, jpg's, user accounts and > etc. There does come a time when the log files have grown so large that > the actual OS itself, if it can't be compressed and run in RAM, is > thence deleted itself, and upon next boot, you are notified that you > should have maintained your log files from the very beginning by > deleting the unwanted logfiles, or out of date log files. At that point, > you have to completely reinstall and then configure your log files > properly. > > -- > Mon Dec 9 12:55:01 EST 2002 > 12:55pm up 16:40, 5 users, load average: 0.80, 0.84, 0.67 > >.o0 linux user:267497 0o. > > |____ | kühn media australia > | / \ /| |'-. | http://kma.0catch.com > | .\__/ || | | | > | _ / `._ \|_|_.-' | stephen kühn > | | / \__.`=._) (_ | email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > | |/ ._/ |"""""""""| | email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > | |'. `\ | | |icq: 5483808 > | ;"""/ / | | | > | smk ) /_/| |.---.| | mobile: 0410-728-389 > | ' `-`' " " | Berkeley, New South Wales, AU > > Coralament*Best Grötens*Liebe Grüße*Best Regards*Elkorajn Salutojn > > Thus spake the master programmer: > "When you have learned to snatch the error code from > the trap frame, it will be time for you to leave." > -- Geoffrey James, "The Tao of Programming" > * I guess I better keep an eye on those files then, huh? ;-) This list is sure a lot of fun. I never had half this much fun when I used that "other OS". --Angus "Let us not look back in anger or forward in fear, but around in awareness."--James Thurber *** *Reg. Linux User #278931* *** *Power by Mandrake Linux 9.0* *** -- ___ Get your free email from http://mymail.operamail.com Powered by Outblaze Want to buy your Pack or Services from MandrakeSoft? Go to http://www.mandrakestore.com
Re: [newbie] question about log files
On Mon, 2002-12-09 at 12:43, Angus Auld wrote: > Greetings, another newbie question. :-) > This is something I have been wondering about for awhile. Is there a program on my >Mdk system that looks after log files? To keep them from getting too large? Or is >there a ceiling on how big these files can get? Seems like wasted space after a while. > > My /var/log/messages & /var/log/syslog are 4.5 and 4.8mb respectively. They have >messages going back to my install date on Oct 4. Will these files just continue to >grow? I know, dumb question. But, inquiring minds want to know. > > TIA for any feedback. :-) > > --Angus > There is a "cap" on the logs, yes. The cap is directly determined by the amount of free space that you have left on your drive. Once the logfiles grow to such an extent as to compromise the available free space, the syslog daemon will then begin to delete unwanted binaries from your system, along with other unused and unproductive things like bookmarks, mp3 files, avi's, mpeg's, wallpapers, gif's, jpg's, user accounts and etc. There does come a time when the log files have grown so large that the actual OS itself, if it can't be compressed and run in RAM, is thence deleted itself, and upon next boot, you are notified that you should have maintained your log files from the very beginning by deleting the unwanted logfiles, or out of date log files. At that point, you have to completely reinstall and then configure your log files properly. -- Mon Dec 9 12:55:01 EST 2002 12:55pm up 16:40, 5 users, load average: 0.80, 0.84, 0.67 .o0 linux user:267497 0o. |____ | kühn media australia | / \ /| |'-. | http://kma.0catch.com | .\__/ || | | | | _ / `._ \|_|_.-' | stephen kühn | | / \__.`=._) (_ | email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] | |/ ._/ |"| | email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] | |'. `\ | | |icq: 5483808 | ;"""/ / | | | | smk ) /_/| |.---.| | mobile: 0410-728-389 | ' `-`' " " | Berkeley, New South Wales, AU Coralament*Best Grötens*Liebe Grüße*Best Regards*Elkorajn Salutojn Thus spake the master programmer: "When you have learned to snatch the error code from the trap frame, it will be time for you to leave." -- Geoffrey James, "The Tao of Programming" Want to buy your Pack or Services from MandrakeSoft? Go to http://www.mandrakestore.com