Managing log files with logrotate
Log Rolling
Regularly switching log files keeps them from filling up the filesystem, but the logrotate tool can do much more.
Linux log files do not take up much space. Even with systemd, many logs continue to be text files. All the same, if left unattended, log files would eventually fill their entire filesystem – and, if that filesystem is root, crash the system. To avoid this eventuality, Linux uses logrotate, a system of multiple logs that are switched regularly, either at a specified time or when the file size reaches the designated limit.
Logrotate is installed by default in every distribution of which I am aware. You can usually take for granted that logrotate is installed, but you can check by running the command ls /var/log. If you see multiple files with numbered suffixes, then logrotate is installed. Alternatively, in some distributions, you can run less /var/lib/logrotate.status to see the latest logrotate activity.
In fact, logrotate is required by a Linux system, because many standard applications use logs by default, including apache, aptitude, cups-daemon, and dpkg. Ordinarily, such logs exist as much for the system as the administrator, but they can be invaluable for troubleshooting. You may want to modify the default setups for a log or rotate a log for your own scripts.
[...]
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
US / Canada
UK / Australia
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Fedora Continues 32-Bit Support
In a move that should come as a relief to some portions of the Linux community, Fedora will continue supporting 32-bit architecture.
-
Linux Kernel 6.17 Drops bcachefs
After a clash over some late fixes and disagreements between bcachefs's lead developer and Linus Torvalds, bachefs is out.
-
ONLYOFFICE v9 Embraces AI
Like nearly all office suites on the market (except LibreOffice), ONLYOFFICE has decided to go the AI route.
-
Two Local Privilege Escalation Flaws Discovered in Linux
Qualys researchers have discovered two local privilege escalation vulnerabilities that allow hackers to gain root privileges on major Linux distributions.
-
New TUXEDO InfinityBook Pro Powered by AMD Ryzen AI 300
The TUXEDO InfinityBook Pro 14 Gen10 offers serious power that is ready for your business, development, or entertainment needs.
-
Danish Ministry of Digital Affairs Transitions to Linux
Another major organization has decided to kick Microsoft Windows and Office to the curb in favor of Linux.
-
Linux Mint 20 Reaches EOL
With Linux Mint 20 at its end of life, the time has arrived to upgrade to Linux Mint 22.
-
TuxCare Announces Support for AlmaLinux 9.2
Thanks to TuxCare, AlmaLinux 9.2 (and soon version 9.6) now enjoys years of ongoing patching and compliance.
-
Go-Based Botnet Attacking IoT Devices
Using an SSH credential brute-force attack, the Go-based PumaBot is exploiting IoT devices everywhere.
-
Plasma 6.5 Promises Better Memory Optimization
With the stable Plasma 6.4 on the horizon, KDE has a few new tricks up its sleeve for Plasma 6.5.