syslogd(1M) syslogd(1M)
NAME
syslogd - log system messages
SYNOPSIS
syslogd [-d] [-f configfile] [-m interval] [-o] [-O path] [-P]
[-l SINIX-Y] [-h]
DESCRIPTION
syslogd reads system messages and application messages [sent via the
syslog(3C) programming interface] from the STREAMS /dev/log multi-
plexer.
/dev/osm2 is also read if syslogd has been called with the -o option.
The messages read by /dev/log contain flags which indicate the "prior-
ity" of the message, detail the "level" of importance of the message
and the "facility" of the message. The values are specified as parame-
ters when the message is sent via the syslog(3C) programming inter-
face. The possible values are defined with 8 "levels" and 24 "facili-
ties" in /usr/include/sys/syslog.h [see syslog(5)].
The priority is used by syslogd to decide the destinations to which
the messages are to be forwarded. The messages (or message text) are
forwarded to their destinations without the priority but are preceded
by a time stamp which has been generated by syslogd. Note: The format
of the messages output is not described in any greater detail here
since it may not always be the same.
The destinations recognized by syslogd include pipes, files, users,
other hosts, and Logging V3.0 (= LOG3.0).
The number of destinations is limited to 20.
Pipes should only be used if it can be guaranteed that the messages
will always be read at the receiving end, otherwise any further log-
ging may be blocked.
Files and pipes are not created as destinations, rather must simply
exist. Destinations that can neither be reached nor written are
ignored. Messages can be sent simultaneously to several destinations
(multiplexing).
The /etc/syslog.conf configuration file is used to define the alloca-
tion of messages with a specific priority to particular destinations
[see syslog.conf(4)]. The syntax must be adhered to strictly here. In
particular, it must be noted that priorities ("selector") and allo-
cated destinations ("actions") have to be separated by at least one
tab.
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syslogd(1M) syslogd(1M)
If syslogd has been called with the -m interval option, the daemon
generates a time message every interval minutes (= sign of life) with
the message text "-- MARK --". The default for the time message is 0
minutes (= "no time message"). The time messages can likewise be for-
warded to particular destinations using the configuration file. The
time messages are identified by the term mark.
syslogd reads the configuration file when it starts up, and again
whenever it receives a HUP signal, at which time it also closes all
files it has open, re-reads its configuration file, and then opens
only the log files that are listed in that file. syslogd exits when it
receives a TERM signal.
As it starts up, syslogd creates the /etc/syslog.pid file containing
its process ID (PID), if possible.
OPTIONS
-d Turns on debugging.
-f configfile
Specifies an alternate configuration file.
-m interval
Specifies an interval, in minutes, between mark messages.
-o Reads and logs /dev/osm2.
-O path
Changes the path of the device to be read (e.g. from the default
/dev/osm2 to /dev/osm); this is only effective if the -o option
is also specified.
-P Forwards the priority in plain text to the destinations (e.g.
user.info); this is useful for testing purposes.
-l SINIX-Y
(only valid for RM600): Logs the contents of NVRAM. This option
is useful so that after a panic-fall and restart, the last mes-
sages before the crash can be made available.
-h Displays usage.
FILES
/etc/syslog.conf
Configuration file
/etc/syslog.pid
Process ID
/dev/log
STREAMS log driver
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syslogd(1M) syslogd(1M)
/dev/osm2
Special device
SEE ALSO
logger(1), syslog(3C), syslog.conf(4), syslog(5), log(7).
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