NAME

syslogd − log system messages

SYNOPSIS

/usr/sbin/syslogd [ −d ] [ −fconfigfile ] [ −m interval ]

DESCRIPTION

syslogd reads and forwards system messages to the appropriate log files and/or users, depending upon the priority of a message and the system facility from which it originates.  The configuration file /etc/syslog.conf [see syslog.conf(4)] controls where messages are forwarded.  syslogd logs a mark (timestamp) message every interval minutes (default 20) at priority LOG_INFO to the facility whose name is given as mark in the syslog.conf file. 

A system message consists of a single line of text, which may be prefixed with a priority code number enclosed in angle-brackets (<>); priorities are defined in sys/syslog.h. 

syslogd reads from the STREAMS log driver, /dev/log, from any transport provider specified in /etc/netconfig, /etc/net/transport/hosts, and /etc/net/transport/services, and from the special device /dev/klog (for kernel messages). 

syslogd reads the configuration file when it starts up, and again whenever it receives a HUP signal, at which time it also closes all files it has open, re-reads its configuration file, and then opens only the log files that are listed in that file.  syslogd exits when it receives a TERM signal. 

As it starts up, syslogd creates the file /etc/syslog.pid, if possible, containing its process ID (PID). 

The following options are available:

−d Turn on debugging. 

−fconfigfile Specify an alternate configuration file. 

−m interval Specify an interval, in minutes, between mark messages. 

FILES

/etc/syslog.conf configuration file

/etc/syslog.pid process ID

/dev/log STREAMS log driver

/etc/netconfig specifies the transport providers available on the system

/etc/net/transport/hosts
network hosts for each transport

/etc/net/transport/services
network services for each transport

SEE ALSO

logger(1), syslog(3), syslog.conf(4), log(7). 

  —  BSD Compatibility Package