Compare and contrast the important log file locations on RHEL, Ubuntu, Debian and Arch.

Compare and contrast the important log file locations on RHEL, Ubuntu, Debian and Arch.

On different Linux distributions like RHEL (Red Hat Enterprise Linux), Ubuntu, Debian, and Arch Linux, the locations of important log files can vary. Here's a comparison of the log file locations for these distributions:

1. RHEL (Red Hat Enterprise Linux) / CentOS:

   • General System Logs: /var/log/messages, /var/log/secure, /var/log/boot.log
   • Auth Logs: /var/log/secure
   • Kernel Logs: /var/log/messages, /var/log/dmesg
   • System Services Logs: /var/log/<servicename>

2. Ubuntu:

   • General System Logs: /var/log/syslog, /var/log/auth.log, /var/log/boot.log
   • Auth Logs: /var/log/auth.log
   • Kernel Logs: /var/log/syslog, /var/log/kern.log, /var/log/dmesg
   • System Services Logs: /var/log/<servicename>

3. Debian:

   • General System Logs: /var/log/syslog, /var/log/auth.log, /var/log/boot.log
   • Auth Logs: /var/log/auth.log
   • Kernel Logs: /var/log/syslog, /var/log/kern.log, /var/log/dmesg
   • System Services Logs: /var/log/<servicename>

4. Arch Linux:

   • General System Logs: /var/log/syslog, /var/log/auth.log, /var/log/boot.log
   • Auth Logs: /var/log/auth.log
   • Kernel Logs: /var/log/syslog, /var/log/dmesg
   • System Services Logs: /var/log/<servicename>

It's important to note that the above locations are the default ones for each distribution, but they can be modified in the system's configuration files. Additionally, each distribution may have additional log files specific to certain services or applications.

While the log file locations differ, the log files generally serve similar purposes across these distributions. They store information about system events, authentication activities, kernel messages, service-specific logs, and more. Administrators need to be familiar with the log file locations specific to their chosen distribution and stay updated on any changes introduced by updates or customization.