Five Log Monitoring Tools
Small Supervisor
© Lead Image © nlshop1, 123RF.com
Anyone wanting to monitor logfiles could use one of the big dogs like Nagios or Icinga. However, lightweight alternatives can also sniff out threats and take much less time to set up. We put five of these little guard dogs to the test.
A system's logfiles not only record failed login attempts by users, but they also log program errors and information about attacks. Admins therefore should keep a continuous eye on them. Tools such as LOGalyze [1], Logcheck [2], Logwatch [3], MultiTail [4], and SwatchDog [5] can help you here.
Unlike with large monitoring solutions like Nagios and Icinga, the minor variants focus on analyzing logfiles. They use fewer resources and can be set up much more quickly. They are therefore ideally suited for use on weak hardware and embedded devices like the Raspberry Pi, as well as on servers with few selected services.
All candidates use one or more logfiles and filter out important messages according to predefined rules. As an option, they can send the result by email to the administrator or output it on the command line. Admins can also add their own filter rules, usually in the form of regular expressions. Sometimes the developer provides a set of oft-needed rules. Powerful tools may also put together a report about the state of the system and indicate security problems. However, a comparison of the above candidates shows that these functions are not a matter of course (Table 1).
[...]
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
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
-
The Bullet-Proof KDE Software Initiative Is Coming
KDE, Techpaladin, and Kubuntu Focus have announced a new initiative that will provide at least three years of support for KDE Plasma 6.6 LTS and related software.
-
Linux Mint Shares a Possible Kernel Cleanup Solution
For those on Linux Mint who like to keep multiple kernels around but don't want them to take up too much space, you might be getting a new automated tool.
-
CachyOS Gets an Update
CachyOS August 2026 release is now available with the latest version of KDE, some new features, and plenty of improvements.
-
The Linux Kernel Dev Staging Area Now Rejects AI-Generated Patches
Unless a kernel patch is a valid security fix, it will be rejected if it was created using AI.
-
Linux Surpasses Double-Digit Market Share
According to two sources, the Linux operating system has hit a major milestone in market share that naysayers thought would never happen.
-
AI Helped Develop a Linux Exploit
A use-after-free race exploit was discovered and exploited on CentOS Stream 9.
-
Yet Another Linux Kernel Vulnerability Discovered
Affecting millions of systems, a kernel flaw discovered by Qualys could allow users to gain root privileges.
-
Ubuntu 26.10 to Include Ubuntu Certified Hardware Check
If you've ever wondered if your laptop or PC is officially certified to run Ubuntu, that curiosity will soon be met.
-
Substantial Update to IPFire Now Available
The lastest version of IPFire features a fundamental change to how the system handles DNS.
-
Gnome Working on Test Center App to Make Testing Easier
It's now possible to test experimental features on the Gnome desktop without worrying that you'll break things.