How to check syslog in linux

For decades, Linux logging has been managed by the syslogd daemon.

Syslogd would collect the log messages that system processes and applications sent to the /dev/log pseudo device.

Then it would direct the messages to appropriate plain text log files in the /var/log/ directory.

Syslogd would know where to send the messages because each one includes headers containing metadata fields (including a time-stamp, and the message origin and priority).

In the wake of systemd’s relentless, world-conquering juggernaut, Linux logging is now also handled by journald.

How to generate syslog in linux

I say also because syslogd hasn’t gone anywhere, and you can still find most of its traditional log files in /var/log/. But you need to be aware that there’s a new sheriff in town whose (command line) name is journalctl.

But this article is not about journald.

The focus here is on syslog so let's dig it a bit

how to restart syslog daemon in linux

how to restart syslog ng service in linux