way to flush /var/log/message

[Bill Davidsen]

Mikkel L. Ellertson wrote:
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> On 05/19/2012 11:51 PM, Paul Allen Newell wrote:
>> Hello:
>>
>> Is there a way to flush output to /etc/log/message so a tail -f
>>   catches things when they happen rather than what I think I am
>> seeing as a buffer hold-until-full delay?
>>
>> Thanks in advance, Paul
>
> What you are seeing is the last last 10 lines of the file, and
> then new additions as it is added to the file. This is the way
> tail -f works. You may want to read the man or info page on tail.
>
tail -0f /var/log/messages

You get the existing lines you ask for, ten by default. And there is a buffering 
option in syslogd, I just don't recall where I used to set it. I believe by 
default it's line buffered, output at newline.


-- 
Bill Davidsen <davidsen at tmr.com>
   "We have more to fear from the bungling of the incompetent than from
the machinations of the wicked."  - from Slashdot