View log files in Ubuntu Linux
Q. Can you explain me log files in Ubuntu Linux and how do I view logs?
A. All logs are stored in /var/log directory under Ubuntu (and other Linux distro).
Linux Log files and usage
=> /var/log/messages : General log messages
=> /var/log/boot : System boot log
=> /var/log/debug : Debugging log messages
=> /var/log/auth.log : User login and authentication logs
=> /var/log/daemon.log : Running services such as squid, ntpd and others log message to this file
=> /var/log/dmesg : Linux kernel ring buffer log
=> /var/log/dpkg.log : All binary package log includes package installation and other information
=> /var/log/faillog : User failed login log file
=> /var/log/kern.log : Kernel log file
=> /var/log/lpr.log : Printer log file
=> /var/log/mail.* : All mail server message log files
=> /var/log/mysql.* : MySQL server log file
=> /var/log/user.log : All userlevel logs
=> /var/log/xorg.0.log : X.org log file
=> /var/log/apache2/* : Apache web server log files directory
=> /var/log/lighttpd/* : Lighttpd web server log files directory
=> /var/log/fsck/* : fsck command log
=> /var/log/apport.log : Application crash report / log file
To view log files at shell prompt
Use tail, more, less and grep command.
tail -f /var/log/apport.log
more /var/log/xorg.0.log
cat /var/log/mysql.err
less /var/log/messages
grep -i fail /var/log/boot
View log files using GUI tools using the GNOME System Log Viewer
System Log Viewer is a graphical, menu-driven viewer that you can use to view and monitor your system logs. System Log Viewer comes with a few functions that can help you manage your logs, including a calendar, log monitor and log statistics display. System Log Viewer is useful if you are new to system administration because it provides an easier, more user-friendly display of your logs than a text display of the log file. It is also useful for more experienced administrators, as it contains a calendar to help you locate trends and track problems, as well as a monitor to enable you to continuously monitor crucial logs.
You can start System Log Viewer in the following ways:
Click on System menu > Choose Administration > System Log:
(The GNOME System Log Viewer)
Note you can start the GNOME System Log Viewer from a shell prompt, by entering the following command:
$ gnome-system-log &
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Tags: debian, gnome-system-log, gui log viewer, Linux, log viewer, ubuntu, var log logs
September 27th, 2007 at 10:19 am
When I start gnome-system-log there are no files open. I have to pick them manually.
I’m trying to view my Apache logs, old ones which are gzipped, and it won’t open them.
Do you know any *free* and simple log viewer which could do that ?
February 6th, 2008 at 3:52 am
“I’m trying to view my Apache logs, old ones which are gzipped, and it won’t open them.
Do you know any *free* and simple log viewer which could do that ?”
use gunzip to manually unzip them and then read them manually with gedit, vim, or something else?
please add a contact address to your comment in the future because I would be surprised if you still read this particular page this long after posting the question.
February 6th, 2008 at 5:52 am
zless /path/to/apache/access.log.gz
zmore /path/to/apache/access.log.gz
zgrep /path/to/apache/access.log.gz
See this tip for more information