.\" Copyright (c) 1983,1986 Regents of the University of California.
.\" All rights reserved. The Berkeley software License Agreement
.\" specifies the terms and conditions for redistribution.
.\" @(#)syslogd.8 6.5 (Berkeley) %G%
syslogd \- log systems messages
reads and logs messages into a set of files
described by the configuration file
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
reads from the UNIX domain socket
from an Internet domain socket specified in
and from the special device
(to read kernel messages).
configures when it starts up
and whenever it receives a hangup signal.
Lines in the configuration file have a
to determine the message priorities to which the line applies
field are separated from the selector by one or more tabs.
Selectors are semicolon separated lists of priority specifiers.
describing the part of the system that generated the message,
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)
More than one facility may be selected using commas to separate them.
Selects all facilities at the
Known facilities and levels
without the leading ``LOG_''.
``mark'' has a message at priority LOG_INFO sent to it every
(this may be changed with the
The ``mark'' facility is not enabled by a facility field containing an asterisk.
The level ``none'' may be used to disable a particular facility.
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.
A filename (beginning with a leading slash).
The file will be opened in append mode.
A hostname preceeded by an at sign (``@'').
Selected messages are forwarded to the
A comma separated list of users.
Selected messages are written to those users
Selected messages are written to all logged-in users.
Blank lines and lines beginning with `#' are ignored.
For example, the configuration file:
.ta 4m +\w'*.alert,auth.warning'u+3
kern,mark.debug /dev/console
*.notice;mail.info /usr/spool/adm/syslog
*.alert;auth.warning ralph
and 20 minute marks onto the system console,
all notice (or higher) level messages and all mail system messages
into the file /usr/spool/adm/syslog,
and all critical messages
kernel messages of error severity or higher are forwarded
All users will be informed of any emergency messages,
the users ``eric'' and ``kridle''
will be informed of any alert messages,
will be informed of any alert message,
or any warning message (or higher)
from the authorization system.
Specify an alternate configuration file.
Select the number of minutes between mark messages.
creates the file /etc/syslog.pid, if possible,
containing a single line with its process id.
This can be used to kill or reconfigure
it should be sent a terminate signal (e.g. kill \`cat /etc/syslog.pid\`).
.ta \w'/etc/syslog.conf 'u
/etc/syslog.conf the configuration file
/etc/syslog.pid the process id
/dev/log Name of the UNIX domain datagram log socket
/dev/klog The kernel log device