UNIX or Linux Log File

 

Updated: May 13, 2016

Applies To: System Center 2012 R2 Operations Manager, System Center 2012 - Operations Manager, System Center 2012 SP1 - Operations Manager

The UNIX/Linux Log File Monitoring template lets you create an alert when a particular text is detected in a log file.

Scenarios

Use the UNIX/Linux Log File Monitoring template for any application that writes to a log file when a particular error occurs. You provide the path to the log file and the text that indicates an error, and an alert is created for you anytime that text is detected.

Monitoring Performed by the UNIX/Linux Log File Monitoring Template

The following table shows the monitoring activity that the UNIX/Linux Log FileMonitoring template performs.

Type

Description

When Enabled

Rule

Creates an alert when a specified text is detected.

Enabled

Wizard Options

When you run the UNIX/Linux Log File Monitoring template, you have to provide values for the options in the following tables. Each table represents a single page in the wizard.

General Options

The following options are available on the General Options page of the wizard.

Option

Description

Name

The name used for the template. This name is displayed in the Operations console.

Description

Optional description of the template.

Management Pack

Management pack file to store the rule that the template creates.

For more information about management packs, see Selecting a Management Pack File.

Log File Details

The following options are available on the Log File Details page of the wizard.

Option

Description

Computer

If you want to monitor a single computer, enter the name of the agent-managed UNIX or Linux computer with the log file to monitor. Click the Select a Computer button to select one of the agent-managed UNIX or Linux computers that are installed in your management group.

Computer group name

If you are going to monitor a group of computers, enter the name of the group of agent-managed UNIX or Linux computers with the log file to monitor. Click the Computer Group button to select from the group in your management group.

Log file path

Complete path and name of the log file.

Expression

Regular expression of the text to detect. If you want to detect a simple string of characters, type the string of characters.

Creating and Modifying UNIX/Linux Log File Templates

To create a UNIX/Linux Log File template

  1. If you want to monitor the log file on a group of computers, determine the target group for the monitor by using the following logic:

    - If you want to monitor the log file on all UNIX and Linux computers in the management group, you do not have to create a group. You can use the existing group **UNIX/Linux Computer Group**.
    
    - If you only want the log file to be monitored on a certain group of computers, either ensure that an appropriate group exists or create a new computer group by using the procedure in [How to Create Groups in Operations Manager](hh298605\(v=sc.12\).md).
    
  2. Start the Add Monitoring wizard.

  3. On the Select Monitoring Type page, select UNIX/Linux Log File Monitoring, and then click Next.

  4. On the General Properties page, in the Name and Description boxes, type a name and description for this new template.

  5. Select a management pack in which to save the template or click New to create a new management pack. For more information, see Selecting a Management Pack File.

  6. If you want to monitor the log file on a single computer, do the following:

    1. Click the Select a Computer button next to the Computer name box.

    2. Select the computer to monitor, and then click OK.

  7. If you want to monitor the log file on a group of computers, do the following:

    1. Click the Select a Group button next to the Computer group name box.

    2. Select the computer to monitor, and then click OK.

  8. In the Log file path box, type the path and name of the log file to monitor.

  9. In the Expression box, type the text to watch for, such as error. You can type a regular expression for more complex logic.

  10. Optionally, click Test to open a new dialog to test Regular expression matching against sample text that you input.

  11. Select a Run As Profile to use. The account associated with the target computer in this profile will be used to read the log file.

  12. Select an Alert Severity.

  13. Click Next.

  14. Verify the summary information for the template, and then click Create.

To modify an existing UNIX/Linux Log File template

  1. Open the Operations console with a user account that has Author credentials.

  2. Open the Authoring workspace.

  3. In the Authoring navigation pane, expand Management Pack Templates, and then select UNIX/Linux Log File.

  4. In the UNIX/Linux Log File Monitoring pane, locate the template to change.

  5. Right-click the template, and then select Properties.

  6. Enter the changes that you want, and then click OK.

Viewing UNIX/Linux Log File Data

There is no monitor or collected data for the UNIX/Linux Log File Monitoring template. If a match is found in the specified log file, an alert is generated. You can view this alert in the Active Alerts view with the other alerts.