Episode 59 — Logging pipeline: journald, rsyslog, logrotate, how logs stay useful
Logging is tested on Linux+ because logs are the primary evidence source for troubleshooting, security monitoring, and operational accountability. This episode describes the logging pipeline as a flow: journald collects and indexes structured logs from systemd-managed services and the kernel, rsyslog provides traditional syslog-style routing and forwarding, and logrotate manages retention by rotating and compressing logs so they do not consume unlimited disk. You’ll learn how exam questions use log symptoms—missing logs, flooded logs, disk full due to logs, or logs not retained—to test whether you understand where logs originate and how they are stored and managed. The key skill is recognizing which component is responsible for collection, storage, forwarding, and retention so you can choose the correct corrective action.
we apply pipeline understanding to troubleshooting and best practices. You’ll practice diagnosing a service failure by locating its logs in the appropriate system, then distinguishing “logging stopped” from “logging is present but rotated too aggressively” or “logging is present but not forwarded.” We also cover operational considerations: retention policies must balance evidence needs against storage constraints, and structured logs are only useful when timestamps are correct and message volume is controlled. Finally, you’ll learn exam-aligned habits: validate time synchronization, monitor log volume growth, ensure rotation policies align with incident response needs, and test forwarding paths when central logging is expected, so logs remain a reliable tool instead of an unreliable afterthought. Produced by BareMetalCyber.com, where you’ll find more cyber audio courses, books, and information to strengthen your educational path. Also, if you want to stay up to date with the latest news, visit DailyCyber.News for a newsletter you can use, and a daily podcast you can commute with.
