Log watching using tail or less
Log files typically grow in size, with the latest contents appended to the end of the log. I often need to watch a log file in live action, for error detection.
The command tail -f will display the last 10 lines of a file, and then continuously wait for new lines, and display them as they appear.
If you want to see more than ten lines at the outset, specify the new number (say 50 lines) like this:
The tail command is fast and simple. But if you want more than just following a file (e.g., scrolling and searching), then less may be the command for you.
Press Shift-F. This will take you to the end of the file, and continuously display new contents. In other words, it behaves just like tail -f.
To start less in the tail mode (thanks to Seth Milliken for this tip), execute:
To scroll backwards, you must first exit the follow mode by pressing Control-c. Then, you can scroll back by pressing b. In fact, all the less commands are available to you once you are in the regular less mode. You can start a search by typing / followed by the string you want to search for.
Happy Log Watching !!!
P.S.
Related articles on tailing files:
Tail multiple files
Two additional ways to tail a log file
The command tail -f will display the last 10 lines of a file, and then continuously wait for new lines, and display them as they appear.
$ tail -f /var/log/messages
If you want to see more than ten lines at the outset, specify the new number (say 50 lines) like this:
$ tail -50 -f /var/log/messages
The tail command is fast and simple. But if you want more than just following a file (e.g., scrolling and searching), then less may be the command for you.
$ less /var/log/messages
Press Shift-F. This will take you to the end of the file, and continuously display new contents. In other words, it behaves just like tail -f.
To start less in the tail mode (thanks to Seth Milliken for this tip), execute:
$ less +F /var/log/messages
To scroll backwards, you must first exit the follow mode by pressing Control-c. Then, you can scroll back by pressing b. In fact, all the less commands are available to you once you are in the regular less mode. You can start a search by typing / followed by the string you want to search for.
Happy Log Watching !!!
P.S.
Related articles on tailing files:
Tail multiple files
Two additional ways to tail a log file