If I’m using Arch or another minimal distro, is it a good idea to install a syslog daemon? Or can I go without?

  • MummifiedClient5000
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    4 months ago

    Check that you actually have persistent storage enabled. (See man journald.conf and search for Storage)

    Read up on the numerous parameters to journalctl. (man journalctl)

    journalctl --boot -2 will show logs from previous boot.

    journalctl --since "-2 weeks" --unit=sshd last two weeks worth of sshd logs.

    • patatahooligan@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      I think there’s a minor mistake in your command. jounalctl --boot -1 is the previous boot. The counting starts at --boot 0 for the current one.

    • DeltaWingDragon@sh.itjust.worksOP
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      4 months ago

      What if I’m on another minimal distro, like Artix, that doesn’t use systemd? Journald is a systemd thing, and I’m not going to install systemd on top of a perfectly good init system.

      • eyeon@lemmy.world
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        4 months ago

        If adopt systems then the question is easy to answer: no, journald does everything you need.

        without adopting systemd… well. Are you evaluating going without any log handling at all and maybe just dumping logs ephemerally to tty0? DIYing all log stuff like your init scripts DIY things?

        Personally if I had to go without journald I’d probably go back to using syslog-ng. But I guess there’s an argument for shipping straight into something like opentelemetry-collector if you’re willing to put in a lot of work.