{"id":674,"date":"2021-07-23T12:35:22","date_gmt":"2021-07-23T12:35:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ssdsunucum.com\/blog\/how-to-clean-unmanaged-log-files\/"},"modified":"2021-07-23T12:35:22","modified_gmt":"2021-07-23T12:35:22","slug":"how-to-clean-unmanaged-log-files","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ssdsunucum.com\/blog\/how-to-clean-unmanaged-log-files\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Clean Unmanaged Log Files"},"content":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
\n

Overview<\/h2>\n
\n
Warning:<\/div>\n
\n

This document describes an unsupported workaround that is not guaranteed to work in the future.<\/p>\n

    \n
  • \n

    After these steps are performed on a server, it is the system administrator\u2019s responsibility to manage and maintain the server\u2019s database software.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    We recommend that only experienced system administrators attempt to perform these steps.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    We are not<\/strong> responsible for any data loss that is caused by an attempt to perform these steps.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

    This guide provides the steps to reduce the file size of the log files on your server that you do not manage through WHM\u2019s cPanel Log Rotation Configuration<\/em> interface (WHM >> Home >> Service Configuration >> cPanel Log Rotation Configuration<\/em>).<\/p>\n

    Check disk space usage and compress old log files<\/h3>\n

    cPanel & WHM creates and maintains log files. These log files allow you to examine errors and other occurrences on the system.<\/p>\n

    After an extended period of time, the log files grow to significant sizes on the system\u2019s storage devices. cPanel & WHM archives log files with the cpanellogd<\/code> daemon. However, this daemon does not archive all log files. To reduce the amount of disk space that the log files occupy, you should compress these log files.<\/p>\n

    Delete log files in cPanel<\/h2>\n

    Check the disk space from the command line<\/h3>\n

    Check the disk space from the command line
    \nBefore you begin, ensure that you are logged in to the terminal as the root user.<\/p>\n

    Use the du<\/code> command to see which files and directories consume the most space inside of the \/var\/log<\/code> directory.<\/p>\n

    \n
    du -<\/span>h \/var\/<\/span>log\/<\/span><\/code><\/pre>\n<\/div>\n
      \n
    • \n
      The du<\/code> command prints the estimated disk space usage of each file and directory for the path that you specified.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
    • \n
      The -h<\/code> argument causes the command to print the information in a human-readable format. When you issue the command in the above example, the du<\/code> utility prints the estimated disk space of each file and directory that the \/var\/log<\/code> directory path contains.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
      The numbers in the left column of the output represent the file size of each file and directory that the specified directory path contains, in human-readable format.<\/p>\n
      \n
              Click to view…<\/p>\n
      \n
      \n
      The output of the du<\/code> command should resemble the following example:\n<\/p>\n
      \n
      \n\n\n
      \n
       1\n<\/span> 2\n<\/span> 3\n<\/span> 4\n<\/span> 5\n<\/span> 6\n<\/span> 7\n<\/span> 8\n<\/span> 9\n<\/span>10\n<\/span>11\n<\/span>12\n<\/span>13\n<\/span>14\n<\/span>15\n<\/span>16\n<\/span>17\n<\/span>18\n<\/span><\/code><\/pre>\n<\/td>\n
      		\n
      root<\/span>@<\/span>host<\/span> [~<\/span>]#<\/span> du<\/span> -<\/span>h<\/span> \/<\/span>var<\/span>\/<\/span>log<\/span>\/<\/span>\n24<\/span>K<\/span>    \/<\/span>var<\/span>\/<\/span>log<\/span>\/<\/span>cups<\/span>\n16<\/span>K<\/span>    \/<\/span>var<\/span>\/<\/span>log<\/span>\/<\/span>mail<\/span>\n36<\/span>K<\/span>    \/<\/span>var<\/span>\/<\/span>log<\/span>\/<\/span>prelink<\/span>\n19<\/span>M<\/span>    \/<\/span>var<\/span>\/<\/span>log<\/span>\/<\/span>audit<\/span>\n84<\/span>K<\/span>    \/<\/span>var<\/span>\/<\/span>log<\/span>\/<\/span>bandwidth<\/span>\/<\/span>2011<\/span>\/<\/span>Jun<\/span>\n128<\/span>K<\/span>   \/<\/span>var<\/span>\/<\/span>log<\/span>\/<\/span>bandwidth<\/span>\/<\/span>2011<\/span>\/<\/span>Jan<\/span>\n116<\/span>K<\/span>   \/<\/span>var<\/span>\/<\/span>log<\/span>\/<\/span>bandwidth<\/span>\/<\/span>2011<\/span>\/<\/span>Feb<\/span>\n712<\/span>K<\/span>   \/<\/span>var<\/span>\/<\/span>log<\/span>\/<\/span>bandwidth<\/span>\/<\/span>2011<\/span>\n4.5<\/span>M<\/span>   \/<\/span>var<\/span>\/<\/span>log<\/span>\/<\/span>bandwidth<\/span>\n2.6<\/span>G<\/span>   \/<\/span>var<\/span>\/<\/span>log<\/span>\/<\/span>munin<\/span>\n8.0<\/span>K<\/span>   \/<\/span>var<\/span>\/<\/span>log<\/span>\/<\/span>conman<\/span>.old<\/span>\n8.0<\/span>K<\/span>   \/<\/span>var<\/span>\/<\/span>log<\/span>\/<\/span>pm<\/span>\n8.0<\/span>K<\/span>   \/<\/span>var<\/span>\/<\/span>log<\/span>\/<\/span>conman<\/span>\n12<\/span>K<\/span>    \/<\/span>var<\/span>\/<\/span>log<\/span>\/<\/span>dcpumon<\/span>\/<\/span>boot<\/span>.1308161402<\/span>\n5.3<\/span>M<\/span>   \/<\/span>var<\/span>\/<\/span>log<\/span>\/<\/span>dcpumon<\/span>\n8.0<\/span>K<\/span>   \/<\/span>var<\/span>\/<\/span>log<\/span>\/<\/span>vbox<\/span>\n3.7<\/span>G<\/span>   \/<\/span>var<\/span>\/<\/span>log<\/span>\/<\/span><\/code><\/pre>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
      \n
      Note:<\/div>\n
      \n        It is possible that you may see more output from the utility than the example shows. Due to the size of the files and directories in the \/var\/log<\/code> directory path, the du<\/code> utility may require some time to produce an output.\n    <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
      Select the files or directories that you want to clear<\/h3>\n
      You can clear individual files within a directory.<\/p>\n
      \n
              Click to view…<\/p>\n
      \n
      \n
      The \/var\/log\/munin<\/code> directory uses 2.6 G of space, and is the second largest log on the list.<\/p>\n
      Use the cd<\/code> command to move the prompt to the \/var\/log\/munin\/<\/code> directory. Then, use the du -h *<\/code> command to see the file sizes.<\/p>\n
      \n
      \n\n\n
      \n
      1\n<\/span>2\n<\/span>3\n<\/span>4\n<\/span>5\n<\/span>6\n<\/span>7\n<\/span><\/code><\/pre>\n<\/td>\n
      		\n
      root<\/span>@<\/span>host<\/span> [~<\/span>]#<\/span> cd<\/span> \/<\/span>var<\/span>\/<\/span>log<\/span>\/<\/span>munin<\/span>\/<\/span>\nroot<\/span>@<\/span>host<\/span> [\/<\/span>var<\/span>\/<\/span>log<\/span>\/<\/span>munin<\/span>]#<\/span> du<\/span> -<\/span>h<\/span> *<\/span>\n603<\/span>M<\/span>   munin<\/span>-<\/span>graph<\/span>.log<\/span>\n385<\/span>M<\/span>   munin<\/span>-<\/span>html<\/span>.log<\/span>\n67<\/span>M<\/span>    munin<\/span>-<\/span>limits<\/span>.log<\/span>\n99<\/span>M<\/span>    munin<\/span>-<\/span>node<\/span>.log<\/span>\n1.5<\/span>G<\/span>   munin<\/span>-<\/span>update<\/span>.log<\/span><\/code><\/pre>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
      The du -h<\/code> command, without the asterisk, shows the directory\u2019s size.<\/p>\n
      The output should resemble the following example:<\/p>\n
      \n
      \n\n\n
      \n
      1\n<\/span>2\n<\/span><\/code><\/pre>\n<\/td>\n
      		\n
      root<\/span>@<\/span>host<\/span> [\/<\/span>var<\/span>\/<\/span>log<\/span>\/<\/span>munin<\/span>]#<\/span> du<\/span> -<\/span>h<\/span>\n2.7<\/span> G<\/span>.T<\/span><\/code><\/pre>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
      Empty the files<\/h3>\n
      Use the cat command (concatenate) to empty the log files or directories.\n<\/p>\n
      \n
      cat \/dev\/<\/span>null ><\/span> munin-<\/span>update.<\/span>log<\/code><\/pre>\n<\/div>\n
        \n
      • \n
        \/dev\/null<\/code> is a non-existent file with no information.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
      • \n
        When you concatenate \/dev\/null<\/code> to a log file, you empty the file data, but do not delete the file name.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
        \n
                Click to view…<\/p>\n
        \n
        \n
        The output from the previous example shows that the munin-update.log<\/code> file occupies 1.5G of space in the drive.<\/p>\n
        To empty this file, use the cat<\/code> command.<\/p>\n
        \n
        \n\n\n
        \n
        1\n<\/span>2\n<\/span>3\n<\/span><\/code><\/pre>\n<\/td>\n
        		\n
        root<\/span>@<\/span>host<\/span> [\/<\/span>var<\/span>\/<\/span>log<\/span>\/<\/span>munin<\/span>]#<\/span> cat<\/span> \/<\/span>dev<\/span>\/<\/span>null<\/span> > munin<\/span>-<\/span>update<\/span>.log<\/span>\nroot<\/span>@<\/span>host<\/span> [\/<\/span>var<\/span>\/<\/span>log<\/span>\/<\/span>munin<\/span>]#<\/span>\nmessage<\/span><\/code><\/pre>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
        To confirm that you successfully emptied the file, use the du -h *<\/code> command.<\/p>\n
        The output should resemble the following example:<\/p>\n
        \n
        \n\n\n
        \n
        1\n<\/span>2\n<\/span>3\n<\/span>4\n<\/span>5\n<\/span>6\n<\/span>7\n<\/span><\/code><\/pre>\n<\/td>\n
        		\n
        root<\/span>@<\/span>host<\/span> [\/<\/span>var<\/span>\/<\/span>log<\/span>\/<\/span>munin<\/span>]#<\/span> cat<\/span> \/<\/span>dev<\/span>\/<\/span>null<\/span> > munin<\/span>-<\/span>update<\/span>.log<\/span>\nroot<\/span>@<\/span>host<\/span> [\/<\/span>var<\/span>\/<\/span>log<\/span>\/<\/span>munin<\/span>]#<\/span> du<\/span> -<\/span>h<\/span> *<\/span>\n603<\/span>M<\/span>   munin<\/span>-<\/span>graph<\/span>.log<\/span>\n385<\/span>M<\/span>   munin<\/span>-<\/span>html<\/span>.log<\/span>\n67<\/span>M<\/span>    munin<\/span>-<\/span>limits<\/span>.log<\/span>\n99<\/span>M<\/span>    munin<\/span>-<\/span>node<\/span>.log<\/span>\n0<\/span>M<\/span>     munin<\/span>-<\/span>update<\/span>.log<\/span><\/code><\/pre>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
        Log rotation<\/h3>\n
        cPanel & WHM\u2019s log rotation system compresses and stores old log files in \/usr\/local\/cpanel\/logs\/archive\/<\/code> directory. These actions also help you manage and reduce the amount of disk space that your hard drive uses.<\/p>\n
        Enable and configure log rotation in WHM\u2019s cPanel Log Rotation Configuration<\/em> interface (WHM >> Home >> Service Configuration >> cPanel Log Rotation Configuration<\/em>).<\/p>\n
        The system stores the archived log files indefinitely, so you must<\/strong> remove them manually. Use the rm command to remove older log files.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
        Overview Warning: This document describes an unsupported workaround that is not guaranteed to work in the future. After these steps are performed on a server, it is the system administrator\u2019s responsibility to manage and maintain the server\u2019s database software. We recommend that only experienced system administrators attempt to perform these steps. We are not responsible …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":675,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ssdsunucum.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/674"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ssdsunucum.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ssdsunucum.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ssdsunucum.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ssdsunucum.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=674"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ssdsunucum.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/674\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ssdsunucum.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/675"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ssdsunucum.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=674"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ssdsunucum.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=674"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ssdsunucum.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=674"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}