syslog-ng Premium Edition 7.0.30 - Administration Guide

/opt/syslog-ng/bin/dqtool cat /opt/syslog-ng/var/syslog-ng-00000.rqf Reliable disk-buffer state loaded; filename='/opt/syslog-ng/var/syslog-ng-00000.rqf', queue_length='2952', size='-437712' Jul 31 12:33:48.226 10.21.10.10 <382019-07-31T12:33:36 localhost prg00000[1234]: seq: 0000000838, thread: 0000, runid: 1564569216, stamp: 2019-07-31T12:33:36 PADDPADDPADDPADDPADDPADDPADDPADDPADDPADDPADDPADDPADDPADDPADDPADDPADDPADDPADDPADDPADDPADDPADD ...

This section describes orphan disk-buffer files used in syslog-ng Premium Edition(syslog-ng PE).

In certain situations (for example, after modifying the disk-buffer configuration or losing the persist information), syslog-ng PE creates a new disk-buffer file instead of using the already existing one. In these situations, the already existing disk-buffer file becomes a so-called orphan disk-buffer file.

NOTE: The syslog-ng PE application does not store messages in orphan disk-buffer files or forward the messages stored in the disk-buffer file.

Discovering the new disk-buffer files (orphan disk-buffer files)

To discover orphan disk-buffer files, get the list of disk-buffer files from the persist file, then compare the list with the contents of the disk-buffer files' saving directory.

For more information about how you can get the list of disk-buffer files from the persist file, see Getting the list of disk-buffer files).

Example: difference between the list of disk-buffer files from the persist file and the content of the disk-buffer files' saving directory

The following examples show the difference between the list of disk-buffer files from the persist file and the content of the disk-buffer files' saving directory.

Disk-buffer file list from persist file:

afsocket_dd_qfile(stream,10.21.10.112:514) = { "queue_file": "/opt/syslog-ng/var/syslog-ng-00001.rqf" }

Disk-buffer files' saving directory content:

# ls -l /opt/syslog-ng/var/*qf
-rw------- 1 root root 2986780 Jul 31 12:30 /opt/syslog-ng/var/syslog-ng-00000.qf
-rw------- 1 root root 2000080 Jul 31 12:31 /opt/syslog-ng/var/syslog-ng-00000.rqf
-rw------- 1 root root    4096 Aug  1 11:09 /opt/syslog-ng/var/syslog-ng-00001.rqf

The disk-buffer files syslog-ng-00000.qf and syslog-ng-00000.rqf don't exist in the persist file. These two files are the orphan disk-buffer files.

For more information about orphan disk-buffer files and how to process the messages in orphan disk-buffer files using a separate syslog-ng PE instance, see How to process messages from an orphan disk-buffer file using a separate syslog-ng PE instance.

How to process messages from an orphan disk-buffer file using a separate syslog-ng PE instance

This section describes how to read messages from an orphan disk-buffer file by using a separate syslog-ng Premium Edition (syslog-ng PE) process running parallel to the already running syslog-ng PE instance.

Orphan disk-buffer files

NOTE: The syslog-ng PE application does not store messages in orphan disk-buffer files or forward the messages stored in the disk-buffer file.

Processing the messages from an orphan disk-buffer file by using a separate syslog-ng PE instance

When syslog-ng PE creates orphan disk-buffer files, you can start a separate syslog-ng PE instance parallel to the syslog-ng PE instance already running, and use the following resolution process to process the messages in the orphan disk-buffer file.

Caution:

Before starting a separate syslog-ng PE instance to process the messages from the orphan disk-buffer file, consider the following:

During the resolution process, a separate syslog-ng PE instance will be started with its temporary files beside the syslog-ng PE instance already running.
An incorrect startup command and incorrect configurations may cause issues for the syslog-ng PE instance already running.
The disk-buffer file stores processed log messages in the format in which they would have been sent out to the destination.
The disk-buffer file doesn't store information about the destination.

To process the messages from an orphan disk-buffer file using a separate syslog-ng PE instance,

Identify the orphan disk-buffer files and make a record of them. For more information, see How to get information about disk-buffer files.

It is important to know the type of the disk-buffer file. Disk-buffer file types can be normal (.qf) or reliable (.rqf).

In the examples during this process, the /opt/syslog-ng/var/syslog-ng-00005.rqf orphan reliable disk-buffer file is used.
Determine the destination of the logs. The content of the disk-buffer may help you determine the logs' destination. For more information, see How to get information about disk-buffer files.

In the examples during this process, the destination 10.21.10.20 is used with the standard network() port 514.
Create a directory for the temporary instance. In the examples during this process, the /tmp/qdisk directory is used.
```
mkdir /tmp/qdisk
```
Caution:
Make sure that there is sufficient disk space in the directory. The minimum recommended disk space in the directory is equal to the size of the orphan disk-buffer file.

If you want to use a different temporary directory (that is, other than /tmp/qdisk), create a symbolic link between /tmp/qdisk and the temporary directory you want to use with ln -s /path/to/tempdir /tmp/qdisk. This will allow you to use the commands in this resolution process.

If you will not use a different temporary directory, use the /tmp/qdisk temporary directory in the example commands and file names.

Create the configuration file /tmp/qdisk/qdisk.conf for the temporary instance with the following content.

Example: creating the /tmp/qdisk/qdisk.conf configuration file for the temporary instance

@version:7.0
@include "scl.conf"

options {
  keep-hostname(yes);
  keep-timestamp(yes);
};

destination d_destination {
#    ADD YOUR DESTINATION HERE

};

log {
  destination(d_destination);
};

Add your destination statement with disk-buffer() to the configuration file. You can copy the destination statement from your running syslog-ng PE configuration.

Caution:
Add the dir() option and set the disk-buffer file's destination directory to the temporary directory (that is, /tmp/qdisk) in your destination statement.
Example: adding the destination statement with disk-buffer() to the configuration file
```
network("10.21.10.20"
    disk-buffer(
        disk-buf-size(1048576)
        reliable(yes)
        dir(/tmp/qdisk/)
);
```

Start the temporary syslog-ng PE instance in the foreground.

syslog-ng -Fe -f /tmp/qdisk/qdisk.conf -R /tmp/qdisk/qdisk.persist -c /tmp/qdisk/qdisk.ctl

The syslog-ng PE application will log to the console, so you will see any potential error that may occur during startup.

The following example output displays that an empty disk-buffer file has been created and the connection to the remote destination has been established.

Example: output displaying newly created empty disk-buffer file and connection established to remote destination

Follow-mode file source not found, deferring open; filename='/no_such_file_or.dir'
Reliable disk-buffer state saved; filename='/tmp/qdisk/syslog-ng-00000.rqf', qdisk_length='0'
No server license found, running in client mode;
syslog-ng starting up; version='7.0.20', cfg-fingerprint='eaa03b9efb88b87d7c1b0ce7efd042ed8ac0c013', cfg-nonce-ndx='0', cfg-signature='c0327a7f7e6418ce0399a75089377dfb662bb072'
FIPS information; FIPS-mode='disabled'
Syslog connection established; fd='7', server='AF_INET(10.21.10.20:514)', local='AF_INET(0.0.0.0:0)'

To stop syslog-ng PE, press CTRL+C.

Overwrite the empty disk-buffer file with the orphan disk-buffer file.

mv /opt/syslog-ng/var/syslog-ng-00005.rqf /tmp/qdisk/syslog-ng-00000.rqf

Start syslog-ng PE using the command used in Start the temporary syslog-ng PE instance in the foreground step.
```
syslog-ng -Fe -f /tmp/qdisk/qdisk.conf -R /tmp/qdisk/qdisk.persist -c /tmp/qdisk/qdisk.ctl
```
Open another terminal and check the progress by using one of the following methods.
- Checking the number of stored logs in the disk-buffer (that is, the last number from the output).
```
/opt/syslog-ng/sbin/syslog-ng-ctl stats -c /tmp/qdisk/qdisk.ctl | grep 'dst.*queued'
```
- Checking the status of the disk-buffer file.
```
/opt/syslog-ng/bin/dqtool info /tmp/qdisk/syslog-ng-00000.rqf
```
  An empty disk-buffer file will look similar to this:
  Example: empty disk-buffer file status message
  
  When checking the status of the disk-buffer files, the terminal will display a similar status message for an empty disk-buffer file:
```
Reliable disk-buffer state loaded; filename='/tmp/qdisk/syslog-ng-00000.rqf', queue_length='0', size='0'
```
Press CTRL+C to stop syslog-ng PE.
Check the state of the orphan disk-buffer file. For more information, see How to get information about disk-buffer files.
If you have more than one orphan disk-buffer file, repeat the steps following the syslog-ng PE stop (that is, the steps beginning from overwriting the empty disk-buffer file with the orphan disk-buffer file) for each orphan disk-buffer file.
Remove the temporary directory.
Example: command for removing the temporary directory

The following command removes the /mp/qdisk temporary directory:
```
rm -rf /tmp/qdisk
```

How to empty disk-buffer files

This section describes how to empty disk-buffer files used in syslog-ng Premium Edition (syslog-ng PE).

Caution:

Hazard of data loss!

You must stop log reception to be able to empty a disk-buffer. If you fail to stop log reception before emptying a disk-buffer, your newly received log messages may get stored in the disk-buffer, overwriting your previous log messages. To avoid log loss, One Identity recommends that you redirect your logs to a different syslog server when emptying your disk-buffer files.

NOTE: Consider the following while reading this section:

This section uses a simple example configuration with one source and one destination with disk-buffer.

If you are not aware of disk-buffers or you're not sure which of your destinations use disk-buffer, One Identity recommends that you do not proceed with the procedure of emptying your disk-buffer files. Instead, One Identity recommends that you contact our Support Team and open a service request. When opening the service request, describe your issue and attach a collected debug bundle from your system.

For more information about collecting a debug bundle for Microsoft Windows, see How to create a syslog-ng debug bundle archive on Windows operating system.

For more information about collecting a debug bundle for Linux or Unix OS, see How to create a syslog-ng debug bundle on Linux Or Unix operating system.

Recommendation

One Identity recommends that you empty your disk-buffer files before you begin the following:

Upgrading syslog-ng Premium Edition (syslog-ng PE) from version 6 to 7.
Changing the configuration of a remote destination with disk-buffer.
Applying a solution that includes the removal of the syslog-ng PE persistent file.

Example configuration for emptying disk-buffer files

The syslog-ng PE application uses the following example configuration to describe how to empty disk-buffer files:

source s_net { 
    network(); 
};
destination d_logserver { 
    network("10.21.10.20" port(514) disk-buffer( disk-buf-size(2000000) ) );
};
log { 
    source(s_net);
    destination(d_logserver);
};

To empty disk-buffer files,

Name the disk-buffer file to empty and the destination statement using it.

If you are not sure about which disk-buffer file to empty, or the destination statement using the disk-buffer file in question, you can use one of the following methods:
- Check the list and the status of the disk-buffer files.
  Examples
  - Non-empty disk-buffer file
```
Disk-buffer state loaded; filename='/opt/syslog-ng/var/syslog-ng-00000.qf', qout_length='0', qbacklog_length='0', qoverflow_length='0', qdisk_length='3006'
```
  - IP:PORT information of the destination with the disk-buffer in use
```
afsocket_dd_qfile(stream,10.21.10.20:514) = { "queue_file": "/opt/syslog-ng/var/syslog-ng-00000.qf" }
```
  For more information about getting information about disk-buffer files, see Information about disk-buffer files.
- Find the destination statement in the syslog-ng PE configuration using the IP:PORT information.
```
destination d_logserver { network("10.21.10.20" port(514) disk-buffer( disk-buf-size(2000000) ) ); };
```
Locate the log statements that use the destination statement you named previously.
Disable the sources in the log statements.

Add '#' at the beginning of all source() entries in the log paths.
```
log { 
#source(s_net);
 destination(d_logserver);
}
```
Reload syslog-ng PE by entering the /opt/syslog-ng/sbin/syslog-ng-ctl reload command.
Check the disk-buffer file status.

For more information, see Getting the status information of disk-buffer files.
To enable the sources again, remove '#' from the log paths and reload syslog-ng PE.

syslog-ng Premium Edition 7.0.30 - Administration Guide

Printing the content of disk-buffer files

Command syntax

Short example output for printed content

Example: short output that shows the printed content of the disk-buffer files used in syslog-ng PE

Orphan disk-buffer files

Discovering the new disk-buffer files (orphan disk-buffer files)

Example: difference between the list of disk-buffer files from the persist file and the content of the disk-buffer files' saving directory

How to process messages from an orphan disk-buffer file using a separate syslog-ng PE instance

Orphan disk-buffer files

Processing the messages from an orphan disk-buffer file by using a separate syslog-ng PE instance

Example: creating the /tmp/qdisk/qdisk.conf configuration file for the temporary instance

Example: adding the destination statement with disk-buffer() to the configuration file

Example: output displaying newly created empty disk-buffer file and connection established to remote destination

Example: empty disk-buffer file status message

Example: command for removing the temporary directory

How to empty disk-buffer files

Recommendation

Example configuration for emptying disk-buffer files

Examples

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syslog-ng Premium Edition 7.0.30 - Administration Guide

Printing the content of disk-buffer files

Command syntax

Short example output for printed content

Example: short output that shows the printed content of the disk-buffer files used in syslog-ng PE

Orphan disk-buffer files

Discovering the new disk-buffer files (orphan disk-buffer files)

Example: difference between the list of disk-buffer files from the persist file and the content of the disk-buffer files' saving directory

How to process messages from an orphan disk-buffer file using a separate syslog-ng PE instance

Orphan disk-buffer files

Processing the messages from an orphan disk-buffer file by using a separate syslog-ng PE instance

Example: creating the /tmp/qdisk/qdisk.conf configuration file for the temporary instance

Example: adding the destination statement with disk-buffer() to the configuration file

Example: output displaying newly created empty disk-buffer file and connection established to remote destination

Example: empty disk-buffer file status message

Example: command for removing the temporary directory

How to empty disk-buffer files

Recommendation

Example configuration for emptying disk-buffer files

Examples