Where are Upstart log messages on Ubuntu?

On Ubuntu, Upstart log messages are typically stored in the /var/log/upstart file. This file contains a record of all events and actions performed by the Upstart daemon, including starting and stopping services, running scripts, and other actions.

To view the Upstart log messages on Ubuntu, you can use the tail command to view the contents of the /var/log/upstart file in real-time, or you can use the less or cat commands to view the contents of the file. You can also use the grep command to search for specific log messages.

For example, to view the Upstart log messages in real-time, you can use the following command:

tail -f /var/log/upstart

To search for a specific log message, you can use the grep command, like this:

grep "ssh" /var/log/upstart

This will search the Upstart log for any lines containing the string “ssh”, which will include any log messages related to the ssh service.

Here are a few more things you might want to know about Upstart log messages on Ubuntu:

  • Upstart log messages are generated in the following format:
timestamp init: process (process-id): log message

For example, a log message indicating that the ssh service has been started might look like this:

Jan 1 12:34:56 hostname init: Starting ssh service...
  • You can customize the logging behavior of Upstart services by modifying the log stanza in the Upstart configuration file for the service. For example, you can specify the location of the log file, the level of detail included in the log messages, and other options.
  • To view the Upstart log messages for a specific service, you can use the initctl command to query the status of the service and view the log messages for that service. For example, to view the log messages for the ssh service, you can use the following command:
initctl status ssh

This will display the current status of the ssh service, as well as any log messages associated with the service.

  • Upstart log messages can be useful for troubleshooting problems with services on your Ubuntu system. If a service is not starting or is behaving unexpectedly, examining the Upstart log messages can help you understand what is happening and identify the root cause of the problem.

I hope this additional information is helpful. Let me know if you have any other questions!

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