Bug 53313 – ntp should provide logrotate snippet

• Product: Gentoo Linux
• Status: RESOLVED FIXED

[Description BlueRaven 2004-06-08 07:08:34 UTC]

I noticed that, by default, ntpd logs its activity to /var/log/ntpd.log.
A logrotate snippet (those in /etc/logrotate.d) to automatically rotate this logfile should be provided, as there is potential for unlimited and uncontrolled growth.

[Comment 1 SpanKY 2004-06-08 07:20:28 UTC]

default is to use system logging facility

[Comment 2 BlueRaven 2004-06-10 02:19:40 UTC]

No, sorry: default is to use BOTH system logging facility and a logfile.
This is the relevant snippet of the default /etc/ntp.conf (I installed two, both were the same):

# you should not need to modify the following paths
logfile         /var/log/ntpd.log
driftfile       /var/lib/ntp/ntp.drift

And this is the logfile itself on my machine:

minastirith root # tail /var/log/ntpd.log 
 9 Jun 12:54:50 ntpd[23527]: synchronized to 193.204.114.233, stratum=1
 9 Jun 14:42:28 ntpd[23527]: synchronized to 193.204.114.232, stratum=1
 9 Jun 16:02:38 ntpd[23527]: synchronized to 193.204.114.233, stratum=1
 9 Jun 16:36:49 ntpd[23527]: time reset +0.189694 s
 9 Jun 16:38:01 ntpd[23527]: synchronized to 193.204.114.232, stratum=1
 9 Jun 16:56:33 ntpd[23527]: time reset -0.252114 s
 9 Jun 16:57:46 ntpd[23527]: synchronized to 193.204.114.233, stratum=1
10 Jun 02:54:37 ntpd[23527]: synchronized to 193.204.114.232, stratum=1
10 Jun 09:43:46 ntpd[23527]: synchronized to 193.204.114.233, stratum=1
10 Jun 10:35:41 ntpd[23527]: synchronized to 193.204.114.232, stratum=1
minastirith root # 

I didn't change the default configuration, so I think a logrotate snippet is necessary.
Or /etc/ntp.conf could be changed for no use of logfile by default (maybe simpler).

[Comment 3 BlueRaven 2004-06-10 02:24:41 UTC]

Sorry, I forgot the important details:

*  net-misc/ntp
      Latest version available: 4.2.0-r2
      Latest version installed: 4.2.0-r2
      Size of downloaded files: 2,455 kB
      Homepage:    http://www.ntp.org/
      Description: Network Time Protocol suite/programs
      License:     as-is

Portage 2.0.50-r8 (default-x86-2004.0, gcc-3.3.2, glibc-2.3.2-r9, 2.4.26)
=================================================================
System uname: 2.4.26 i686 Pentium III (Coppermine)
Gentoo Base System version 1.4.16
Autoconf: sys-devel/autoconf-2.59-r3
Automake: sys-devel/automake-1.8.3
ACCEPT_KEYWORDS="x86"
AUTOCLEAN="yes"
CFLAGS="-march=pentium3 -O2 -pipe -fomit-frame-pointer"
CHOST="i686-pc-linux-gnu"
COMPILER="gcc3"
CONFIG_PROTECT="/etc /usr/kde/2/share/config /usr/kde/3/share/config /usr/share/config /var/qmail/control"
CONFIG_PROTECT_MASK="/etc/gconf /etc/terminfo /etc/env.d"
CXXFLAGS="-march=pentium3 -O2 -pipe -fomit-frame-pointer"
DISTDIR="/usr/portage/distfiles"
FEATURES="autoaddcvs ccache sandbox"
GENTOO_MIRRORS="http://www.die.unipd.it/pub/Linux/distributions/gentoo-sources"
MAKEOPTS="-j2"
PKGDIR="/usr/portage/packages"
PORTAGE_TMPDIR="/var/tmp"
PORTDIR="/usr/portage"
PORTDIR_OVERLAY=""
SYNC="rsync://rsync.it.gentoo.org/gentoo-portage"
USE="hardened memlimit mmx pam sse ssl tcpd x86 zlib"

[Comment 4 SpanKY 2004-06-10 09:57:57 UTC]

i changed the ntp.conf in cvs to not have the logfile line anymore

ntp ebuild does not install an ntp.conf file for you so you have to
create it yourself or copy the example one over ... turn off the logfile
if you dont want it

[Comment 5 BlueRaven 2004-06-11 00:27:46 UTC]

Just a last comment for the sake of precision: the ebuild DOES install a /etc/ntp.conf.
This is the relevant part of the ebuild:

        [ ! -e /etc/ntp.conf ] && insinto /etc && doins ${FILESDIR}/ntp.conf

Anyway, great you solved it, thank you very much! :-)