Difference between revisions of "Limit the size of .log files & the journal"

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This topic will go into far more depth, covering the use of the '''logrotate''' command, '''logrotate.conf''', the '''/etc/cron.daily cron.weekly cron.monthly cron.yearly''', and some ways to run created scripts, plus a mention of the '''crontab''' method of running a script also. I'll try to make this section accessible to as many people as possible, which means this will be a long page.
This topic will go into far more depth, covering the use of the '''logrotate''' command, '''logrotate.conf''', the '''/etc/cron.daily cron.weekly cron.monthly cron.yearly''', and some ways to run created scripts, plus a mention of the '''crontab''' method of running a script also. I'll try to make this section accessible to as many people as possible, which means this will be a long page.
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=Read this first its important=
'''etc/systemd/journald.conf.d/*.conf''' overrides the file '''journald.conf'''
'''man journald.conf'''
When packages need to customize the configuration, they can install configuration snippets in
/usr/lib/systemd/*.conf.d/. Files in /etc/ are reserved for the local administrator, who may use
this logic to override the configuration files installed by vendor packages. The main configuration
file is read before any of the configuration directories, and has the lowest precedence; entries in
a file in any configuration directory override entries in the single configuration file. Files in
the *.conf.d/ configuration subdirectories are sorted by their filename in lexicographic order,
regardless of which of the subdirectories they reside in. If multiple files specify the same option,
the entry in the file with the lexicographically latest name takes precedence. It is recommended to
prefix all filenames in those subdirectories with a two-digit number and a dash, to simplify the
ordering of the files.
What that means is that you can create configuration files '''.conf''' in the following directory, with suitable names of your choice /etc/systemd/journald.conf.d/ that take precedence over any other settings or configurations in systemd. Please bear that in mind when you read the following?


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There is usually no need to interfere with the maximum size of the journal, as it has been built to monitor the amount of free space on the partition where it exists & will shrink itself by deleting the oldest entries when a shortage of space demands it.
There is usually no need to interfere with the maximum size of the journal, as it has been built to monitor the amount of free space on the partition where it exists & will shrink itself by deleting the oldest entries when a shortage of space demands it.


Use your favourite text editor with root priviliges, (starting it with '''sudo''' will do the job).
Use your favorite text editor with root privileges, (starting it with '''sudo''' will do the job).


A simple edit of the '''/etc/systemd/journald.conf''' allows you to set the maximum size limit of the '''/var/log/journal''' .
Note: the name '''size'''.conf is user created.


* Uncomment (remove the # from the beginning of the line) the following line & add the size limit that you want. I set mine to 50MB like this:
With your text editor create a file called '''size.conf''' in the following location '''/etc/systemd/journald.conf.d/size.conf''' The following sets the maximum file size to a 50 MB limit for the '''/var/log/journal''' .


  [Journal]
  [Journal]
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  SystemMaxFileSize=50M
  SystemMaxFileSize=50M


You can also help to limit the size of the journal by specifying the level of the data to be added to the journal. This is done by editing '''/etc/systemd/journald.conf'''
You can also limit the content of the journal by specifying the level of the data to be added to the journal. This is done by creating & editing the file '''/etc/systemd/journald.conf.d/level.conf'''
 
Note: the name '''level'''.conf is user created.


  [Journal]
  [Journal]
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