Configuring the Syslog Utility to Receive BAC Alerts

This chapter describes how to configure the syslog utility after you install the Cisco Broadband Access Center (BAC). You can configure the syslog file on any BAC component server to receive alerts and debugging information from the system.

Note Configuring the syslog file is an optional task.

Syslog is a client-server protocol that manages the logging of information on UNIX. BAC generates alerts through the Solaris syslog service. BAC syslog alerts are not a logging service; they notify that a problem exists, but do not necessarily define the specific cause of the problem. The information related to the problem resides in the appropriate BAC log files (rdu.log and dpe.log). If you choose to configure the syslog file, syslog alerts are directed to a separate log file.

For more information on error messages and alerts, refer to the Cisco Broadband Access Center Administrator's Guide, Release 3.5.

To configure the syslog utility on the RDU:

Step 1 Log in as root on the RDU server.

Step 2 At the command line, create the log file.

For example: 

# touch /var/log/bac.log

Step 3 Open the /etc/syslog.conf file with a text editor, such as vi.

Step 4 Add the following lines to the /etc/syslog.conf file: 

local6.alert       /var/log/bac.log

local6.info        /var/log/bac.log

 
   
 
   
 
     
   
 
   
 
    
   
 Note You must insert one or more tabs between the local6:info and /var/log/bac.log information. 
 
   
 
    
   
 Step 5 Save and close the /etc/syslog.conf file. 
 
    
   
 Step 6 To force the syslog utility to take the new configuration, at the command line, enter: 
 
    
   
 
    
# ps -ef  | grep syslogd

 
   
 
    
   
 
    
root	      217   1    0     Nov   26      ?    0:00      /usr/sbin/syslogd

 
   
 
    
   
 
    
 
   
 
    
   
 
    
kill -HUP 217

 
   
 
   
 
     
   
 
   
 
    
   
 Note The process ID (PID) in this example is 217, but may change when you run ps -ef | grep syslogd. Use the correct output from that command as the input to kill -HUP. 
 
   
 
    
   
 Syslog is now ready to receive alerts from BAC.