🗂️ Log Centralization with Rsyslog for Offtube (🧩 Debian Version)
🔍 What is rsyslog?
🧠 rsyslog is a powerful logging system for Unix/Linux systems, especially useful in offline environments like Offtube.
🧾 Advantages:
✅ Centralization of events from all machines
✅ Efficient diagnostics and maintenance
✅ Robust and free system
✅ Fully functional in LAN environments
🏗️ Centralized Architecture
[CLIENTS] --rsyslog--> [LOG SERVER]
(Debian Server with rsyslog as receiver)
🛠️ 1️⃣ Log Server Configuration
📍 Operating System: Debian 12 (or 11)
📁 File to edit: /etc/rsyslog.conf
🔧 Steps:
📌 1. Enable network log reception (UDP and TCP)
Open the file:
sudo nano /etc/rsyslog.conf
Add or uncomment the following lines:
module(load="imudp") # 🔁 Enable UDP
input(type="imudp" port="514")
module(load="imtcp") # 🔁 Enable TCP
input(type="imtcp" port="514")
📁 2. Define where the received logs will be saved
At the end of the file:
template(name="PerHost" type="string" string="/var/log/%HOSTNAME%/syslog.log")
*.* ?PerHost
🔎 This will create a folder for each machine with its own log file 🔐
♻️ 3. Restart the rsyslog service
sudo systemctl restart rsyslog
🖥️ 2️⃣ Client Configuration (Debian Desktop or Server)
📁 File: /etc/rsyslog.conf
or /etc/rsyslog.d/50-default.conf
🧭 Log server IP: for example 192.168.1.10
🔧 Steps:
📨 1. Add the log server IP
sudo nano /etc/rsyslog.conf
Add one of the following lines based on the protocol:
*.* @192.168.1.10:514 # UDP (one @)
*.* @@192.168.1.10:514 # TCP (two @)
♻️ 2. Restart the service
sudo systemctl restart rsyslog
🪟 3️⃣ For Windows Machines
⚠️ Windows does not include rsyslog, but you can use:
🔧 NXLog – free, powerful and easy to configure
🔧 Snare Agent – popular in corporate environments
➡️ Configure them to send to 192.168.1.10:514
🔐 4️⃣ Security Considerations
🔥 Firewall with UFW (on the server):
sudo ufw allow from 192.168.1.0/24 to any port 514
📦 Log compression and rotation:
sudo apt install logrotate
🧪 5️⃣ Testing
🔎 From the client:
logger "🧪 Test log sent to the server"
🔎 From the server:
sudo tail -f /var/log/CLIENT_NAME/syslog.log
📊 Optional Visualization
🖥️ LogAnalyzer: web interface (requires Apache/Nginx + PHP)
📁 Terminal: Use less
, grep
, tail
to analyze logs
✅ Final Summary
🔧 Component | Operating System | Rsyslog Function |
---|---|---|
🧠 Log Server | Debian Server 12 | Receive, organize, and store logs |
🖥️ Clients | Debian Desktop/Server | Send their events |
🛠️ Administrators | Debian Desktop or WSL2 | Consult, audit, and analyze logs |
🧠 Conclusion
With rsyslog on Debian, you have a lightweight, robust, and fully functional solution to achieve full traceability and control over your systems without needing Internet access 🌐.