Improving Syslog

[Robert Watson]

On Fri, 2 May 2008, Martin Schütte wrote:

> I am taking part in this year's Google Summer of Code for NetBSD and want to 
> implement the upcoming IETF Syslog standards for BSD's syslogd(8). The most 
> important improvements will be an extended message format, TLS network 
> transport, and digital signatures.
>
> I hope these new functions will later be ported to benefit all BSD variants 
> (as their syslogds are similar). So everyone interested is invited to take a 
> look at the project pages now and then. Naturally any feedback is welcome.
>
> The official project's homepage is at 
> http://netbsd-soc.sourceforge.net/projects/syslogd/ and for developing I 
> maintain a Trac at http://barney.cs.uni-potsdam.de/trac/syslogd/

Dear Martin,

This sounds like an exciting project -- while I recognize the concerns other 
have expressed about complexity, I think that complexity can be managed if 
done carefully.  I'm not sure if you've looked at Apple's extended syslog, 
which among other things, includes a binary log file format making it more 
mechanically searched and managed, do take a look if you haven't.

thanks,

Robert N M Watson
Computer Laboratory
University of Cambridge