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Module: Syslog

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Defined in: ext/syslog/syslog.c

Overview

The syslog package provides a Ruby interface to the POSIX system logging facility.

Syslog messages are typically passed to a central logging daemon. The daemon may filter them; route them into different files (usually found under /var/log); place them in SQL databases; forward them to centralized logging servers via TCP or UDP; or even alert the system administrator via email, pager or text message.

Unlike application-level logging via Logger or Log4r, syslog is designed to allow secure tamper-proof logging.

The syslog protocol is standardized in RFC 5424.

Class Attribute Summary

Class Method Summary

Class Attribute Details

.mask (rw, mod_func)

Returns the log priority mask in effect. The mask is not reset by opening or closing syslog.

.mask=(priority_mask) (rw, mod_func)

Sets the log priority mask. A method LOG_UPTO is defined to make it easier to set mask values. Example:

Syslog.mask = Syslog::LOG_UPTO(Syslog::LOG_ERR)

Alternatively, specific priorities can be selected and added together using binary OR. Example:

Syslog.mask = Syslog::LOG_MASK(Syslog::LOG_ERR) | Syslog::LOG_MASK(Syslog::LOG_CRIT)

The priority mask persists through calls to open() and close().

.opened?Boolean (readonly, mod_func)

Returns true if the syslog is open.

Class Method Details

.close (mod_func)

Closes the syslog facility. Raises a runtime exception if it is not open.

.facility (mod_func)

Returns the facility number used in the last call to open()

.ident (mod_func)

Returns the identity string used in the last call to open()

.inspect

Returns an inspect() string summarizing the object state.

.instance (mod_func)

Returns self, for backward compatibility.

.log(priority, format_string, *format_args) (mod_func)

Log a message with the specified priority. Example:

Syslog.log(Syslog::LOG_CRIT, "Out of disk space")
Syslog.log(Syslog::LOG_CRIT, "User %s logged in", ENV['USER'])

The priority levels, in descending order, are:

LOG_EMERG

System is unusable

LOG_ALERT

Action needs to be taken immediately

LOG_CRIT

A critical condition has occurred

LOG_ERR

An error occurred

LOG_WARNING

Warning of a possible problem

LOG_NOTICE

A normal but significant condition occurred

LOG_INFO

Informational message

LOG_DEBUG

Debugging information

Each priority level also has a shortcut method that logs with it's named priority. As an example, the two following statements would produce the same result:

Syslog.log(Syslog::LOG_ALERT, "Out of memory")
Syslog.alert("Out of memory")

Format strings are as for printf/sprintf, except that in addition %m is replaced with the error message string that would be returned by strerror(errno).

.open(ident, options, facility) ⇒ Syslog (mod_func)

:yields: syslog

Open the syslog facility. Raises a runtime exception if it is already open.

Can be called with or without a code block. If called with a block, the Syslog object created is passed to the block.

If the syslog is already open, raises a RuntimeError.

.ident is a String which identifies the calling program.

.options is the logical OR of any of the following:

LOG_CONS

If there is an error while sending to the system logger, write directly to the console instead.

LOG_NDELAY

Open the connection now, rather than waiting for the first message to be written.

LOG_NOWAIT

Don't wait for any child processes created while logging messages. (Has no effect on Linux.)

LOG_ODELAY

Opposite of LOG_NDELAY; wait until a message is sent before opening the connection. (This is the default.)

LOG_PERROR

Print the message to stderr as well as sending it to syslog. (Not in POSIX.1-2001.)

LOG_PID

Include the current process ID with each message.

.facility describes the type of program opening the syslog, and is the logical OR of any of the following which are defined for the host OS:

LOG_AUTH

Security or authorization. Deprecated, use LOG_AUTHPRIV instead.

LOG_AUTHPRIV

Security or authorization messages which should be kept private.

LOG_CONSOLE

System console message.

LOG_CRON

System task scheduler (cron or at).

LOG_DAEMON

A system daemon which has no facility value of its own.

LOG_FTP

An FTP server.

LOG_KERN

A kernel message (not sendable by user processes, so not of much use to Ruby, but listed here for completeness).

LOG_LPR

Line printer subsystem.

LOG_MAIL

Mail delivery or transport subsystem.

LOG_NEWS

Usenet news system.

LOG_NTP

Network Time Protocol server.

LOG_SECURITY

General security message.

LOG_SYSLOG

Messages generated internally by syslog.

LOG_USER

Generic user-level message.

LOG_UUCP

UUCP subsystem.

LOG_LOCAL0 to LOG_LOCAL7

Locally-defined facilities.

Example:

Syslog.open("webrick", Syslog::LOG_PID,
            Syslog::LOG_DAEMON | Syslog::LOG_LOCAL3)

.open!(ident, options, facility) ⇒ Syslog (mod_func) Also known as: .reopen

:yields: syslog

Closes and then reopens the syslog.

Arguments are the same as for open().

.options (mod_func)

Returns the options bitmask used in the last call to open()

.open!(ident, options, facility) ⇒ Syslog (mod_func) .reopen(ident, options, facility) ⇒ Syslog

Alias for .open!.