Search Linux / UNIX log files smartly for an alert or warning error

So how do you find an alert or warning words in a log file over text based session? Simply use old good grep command. Usually I recommend searching following words
=> fail
=> denied
=> segfault
=> segmentation
=> rejected
=> oops
=> warn

Find an alert or warning words from log files

You need to use grep command:
grep {search-word} /path/to/log/file

Find out all segfault error from /var/log/messages file, enter the following command as privileged user:
# grep -i segfault /var/log/messages
Output:

Sep 23 12:20:09 node10 kernel: mutt[8896]: segfault at 0000000000000010 rip 0000000000439d5e rsp 00007fff36a30040 error 6
Sep 24 12:20:10 node10 kernel: mutt[20107]: segfault at 0000000000000010 rip 0000000000439d5e rsp 00007fffd99dbac0 error 6
Sep 25 12:20:09 node10 kernel: mutt[19734]: segfault at 0000000000000010 rip 0000000000439d5e rsp 00007fff5d807290 error 6

Look like node10's mutt command generated segfault error while sending daily reports attachment via email.

GUI Tools

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.

Redhat / CentOS tool

Redhat (RHEL) Linux offers gui tool called Log Viewer. Type the redhat-logviewer command at a shell prompt or use GUI menus to start the same. You can set filter words (alter words) by clicking on Edit > Preferences menu > Alter tab > Add button

Debian / Ubuntu tool

Debian / Ubuntu Linux also offers GUI tool to view and search log files by setting filters. Click on Applications menu > Choose System Tools > Admin > System Log.