15 Most Useful Utilities for Working with System Logs

1. journalctl

This is the primary utility for viewing, filtering, and analyzing system logs in Linux. With it, you can view logs in real-time, filter output by various criteria, search for specific entries, and much more.

2. journalctl-sync

This tool allows you to synchronize local logs with a centralized log server, which is useful for monitoring and analyzing logs on different nodes in a network.

3. journalctl-explore

Allows you to interactively view and explore system logs using a visual interface. This makes the log analysis process more convenient and intuitive.

4. journalgrep

A utility for quickly and efficiently searching through log content. Allows you to apply regular expressions and other filters to precisely find the records you need.

5. jq

Want to transform journalctl output into JSON and process it using JSON tools? Then jq is your indispensable assistant. With it, you can easily analyze data from system logs.

6. systemd-analyze

This utility provides information about the total system boot time and the time spent on each stage of the boot process. Very useful for optimizing the system boot process.

7. logrotate

A utility for managing log files, their rotation, and compression. Allows you to configure automatic deletion of old logs and reduce the amount of disk space occupied.

8. syslog-ng

A powerful and flexible tool for collecting and processing logs. Allows you to configure centralized storage and analysis of logs from various sources.

9. logwatch

A utility for automatic monitoring and analysis of logs. Sends reports by email about important events and problems occurring in the system.

10. lnav

An interactive log viewer with filtering, search, and analysis capabilities. Has a user-friendly interface and extensive capabilities for working with logs.

11. rsyslog

A popular tool for collecting, processing, and transmitting logs over the network. Supports a wide range of protocols and settings for working with logs.

12. swatch

A utility for monitoring logs in real-time with the ability to set rules and react to specific events. Allows you to quickly respond to problems in the system.

13. syslog-ng-loggen

A test log generator for verifying and testing logging systems. Allows you to create various types of events and load on the system.

14. logstash

A versatile tool for collecting, processing, and analyzing logs, including the ability to integrate with Elasticsearch for full-text search and data visualization.

15. Graylog

A comprehensive solution for centralized collection and analysis of logs with extensive options for configuring dashboards, alerts, and system monitoring.