Ubuntu

Ubuntu is one of the more popular Linux distributions. Like most systems, it generates a tremendous amount of logs. But what are they? And where are they located? This article will help you find them, and help you make sense of them.

Ubuntu Logs

By design, Ubuntu generates a lot of logs. Each is tailored to record specific problems as they pertain to specific system applications.

Authorization log

Name	Description
Location	/var/log/auth.log
Details	Keeps track of authorization systems, such as password prompts, the sudo command and remote logins.

Daemon log

Name	Description
Location	/var/log/daemon.log
Details	Daemons are programs that run in the background, usually without user interaction. For example, display server, SSH sessions, printing services, bluetooth, and more.

Debug log

Name	Description
Location	/var/log/debug
Details	Provides debugging information from the Ubuntu system and applications.

Kernel log

Name	Description
Location	/var/log/kern.log
Details	Logs from the Linux kernel.

System log

Name	Description
Location	/var/log/syslog
Details	Contains more information about your system. If you can’t find anything in the other logs, it’s probably here.

Login failures log

Name	Description
Location	/var/log/faillog
Details	Contains info about login failures. You can view it with the faillog command.

Last logins log

Name	Description
Location	/var/log/lastlog
Details	Contains info about last logins. You can view it with the lastlog command.

Posted in   log-guide   ubuntu-logs     by Tony Perez (@perezbox)