Ubuntu 26.04

Rsyslog : Basic Usage2026/06/19

 

This is Basic Usage of Rsyslog that is the Log Management Service Daemon.

[1] Depending on your OS installation configuration, if Rsyslog is not installed, you will need to perform a clean installation.
root@dlp:~#
apt -y install rsyslog
[2] Stored rules of logging data are configured in [/etc/rsyslog.conf] and included files.
root@dlp:~#
grep -v -E "^#|^$" /etc/rsyslog.conf

module(load="imuxsock") # provides support for local system logging
module(load="imklog" permitnonkernelfacility="on")
$RepeatedMsgReduction on
$FileOwner syslog
$FileGroup adm
$FileCreateMode 0640
$DirCreateMode 0755
$Umask 0022
$PrivDropToUser syslog
$PrivDropToGroup syslog
$WorkDirectory /var/spool/rsyslog
$IncludeConfig /etc/rsyslog.d/*.conf

# * how to write rules : (Facility).(Priority)  (Action)
#
# ex : *.info;mail.none;authpriv.none;cron.none /var/log/messages
# ⇒ [syslog] messages of [info] Priority of all Facilities are stored in [/var/log/messages]
# ⇒ but messages of [mail], [authpriv], [cron] Facilities are not stored in [/var/log/messages]
#
# * the [-] that is added at the head of a filename means asynchronous output
#   if [-] is not added, logging data are written with synchronous output

# * Facilities
# kern             :  kernel messages
# auth             :  authentication related messages
# authpriv         :  authentication related messages (private)
# cron             :  cron or at related messages
# mail             :  mail services related messages
# news             :  news related messages
# uucp             :  uucp related messages
# daemon           :  daemon services related messages
# user             :  user level processes related messages
# lpr              :  printer related messages
# syslog           :  internal syslog related messages
# local0 - local7  :  possible to use for custom settings

# * Priorities
# emerg            :  maybe panic level troubles
# alert            :  need to correct immediately more than critical
# crit             :  need to correct immediately
# err              :  common errors, non urgent failures
# warning          :  warning messages
# notice           :  not errors but some unusual events detected
# info             :  normal operational messages
# debug            :  debug information
# none             :  none (not output)

# * if you'd like to store only specified priority messages
# add [=] like follows
# ex : kern.=crit     /dev/console
[2] To transfer logging data to remote Hosts, Configure like follows.
###### on Syslog Server Host (receives logging data from other Hosts) ######

root@dlp:~#
vi /etc/rsyslog.conf
# line 21-22 : uncomment
line 23 : set allowed hosts to connect
module(load="imtcp")
input(type="imtcp" port="514")
$AllowedSender TCP, 127.0.0.1, 10.0.0.0/24, *.srv.world

if UFW is enabled, allow service port

root@dlp:~#
ufw allow 514/tcp
root@dlp:~#
systemctl restart rsyslog

###### on Sender Host (sends logging data to Syslog Server Host) ######

root@node01:~#
vi /etc/rsyslog.conf
# add to last line

action(type="omfwd"
       queue.filename="fwdRule_dlp.srv.world"
       queue.maxdiskspace="1g"
       queue.saveonshutdown="on"
       queue.type="LinkedList"
       action.resumeRetryCount="-1"
       Target="dlp.srv.world" Port="514" Protocol="tcp")

# queue.filename               :   queue filename
# queue.maxdiskspace           :   maxdiskspace for queue
# queue.saveonshutdown=on      :   save queue data on disk when system shutdown
# queue.type=LinkedList        :   asynchronous queue which can store 10,000 messages
# action.resumeRetryCount=-1   :   continue to retry sending when syslog server does not respond
# Target=***                   :   specify syslog server Host

root@node01:~#
systemctl restart rsyslog

###### that's OK, verify settings to see logs on syslog server Host ######

root@dlp:~#
tail /var/log/syslog

2026-06-19T00:15:38+00:00 node01 kernel: audit: type=1400 audit(1781828138.049:188): apparmor="STATUS" operation="profile_replace" info="same as current profile, skipping" profile="unconfined" name="rsyslogd" pid=1625 comm="apparmor_parser"
2026-06-19T00:15:40+00:00 node01 systemd[1]: Stopping ssh.service - OpenBSD Secure Shell server...
2026-06-19T00:15:40+00:00 node01 systemd[1]: ssh.service: Deactivated successfully.
2026-06-19T00:15:40+00:00 node01 systemd[1]: Stopped ssh.service - OpenBSD Secure Shell server.
2026-06-19T00:15:40+00:00 node01 systemd[1]: sshd-keygen.service - Generate sshd host keys on first boot skipped, unmet condition check ConditionFirstBoot=yes
2026-06-19T00:15:40+00:00 node01 systemd[1]: Starting ssh.service - OpenBSD Secure Shell server...
2026-06-19T00:15:40+00:00 node01 systemd[1]: Started ssh.service - OpenBSD Secure Shell server.
2026-06-19T00:16:16.132823+00:00 dlp systemd[1]: sshd-keygen.service - Generate sshd host keys on first boot skipped, unmet condition check ConditionFirstBoot=yes
2026-06-19T00:16:16.137867+00:00 dlp systemd[1]: Starting ssh.service - OpenBSD Secure Shell server...
2026-06-19T00:16:16.168550+00:00 dlp systemd[1]: Started ssh.service - OpenBSD Secure Shell server.
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