[comp.sys.concurrent] Need syslog

uuomar@venus.lerc.nasa.gov (Omar Syed) (04/05/91)

We are trying to compile a program that makes calls to 
openlog(3), syslog(3) and closelog(3).  Unfortunately
Concurrent does not support these functions which seem
to be fairly standard on other systems. 

So has anyone written these functions for Concurrent 
RTU 5.0B, or does anyone know another way to work around
it.  If so your reply will be greatly appreaciated.

				Thanks,

				Omar Syed
				Computer Services Div.
				NASA Lewis Research Center



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dale@lamont.ldgo.columbia.edu (dale chayes) (04/07/91)

In article, uuomar@venus.lerc.nasa.gov (Omar Syed) writes:
> 
> We are trying to compile a program that makes calls to 
> openlog(3), syslog(3) and closelog(3).  Unfortunately
> Concurrent does not support these functions which seem
> to be fairly standard on other systems. 
> 
> So has anyone written these functions for Concurrent 
> RTU 5.0B, or does anyone know another way to work around
> it.  If so your reply will be greatly appreaciated.


Well, some time ago (perhaps as long ago as RTU 4.0 or 4.1 I too had
this problem and when I could not find the functions, and could not
get syslog to work, I filed an SCR/SQR (Software Quality Report.)  It
turns out that it is one of the few that got a semi-serious answer.

The answer is "...we don't see the need for this and since we don't
support it, we won't include it any more..."  I subsequently tried to
get them to see that this really is an important part of networked
life and would they please re-consider.

At least part of the companies (the Masscomp, now Concurrent's) reason
was that these are Berkleyisms....  Well, they are, but they sure are
useful especially in a distrubuted, networked computer environment.

Causual inspection of the /etc/net/services file (under RTU 5.0 and
IRIX 3.3.1, and Sun-OS 4.0.3c) all indicate that syslogd is a UDP
service at port 514. UDP is a reasonably simple  protocol, in fact I
have code that broadcasts UDP datagrams which I will give to any
responsible party that wants persue this issue.

I'm (almost) sure that there is an RFC documenting the syslog
protocol.


Dale
============
-- 
Dale Chayes Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory of Columbia University
Route 9W, Palisades, N.Y.  10964	dale@lamont.ldgo.columbia.edu
voice:	(914) 359-2900 extension 434	fax: (914) 359-6817

[Actually, this is no RFC about syslog. It is a BSDism. It is very simple
as some have said. There is a "fake" version included with nntp. I think there
is also a real version (for System V like machines) in the comp.sources.unix
or comp.sources.misc archives on uunet. -- sob]

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uuomar@mars.lerc.nasa.gov (Omar Syed) (05/04/91)

Thank you for responding to my earlier posting.  We have had a recent
favorable response from Concurrent concerning support for syslog(3).
It is not yet clear how they will support syslog(3) functionality, only
that they are working on the problem.  I might add, that they have been
very courteous over the telephone and seem concerned.  Further developments
will be promptly posted.

					Omar Syed

					Computer Services Div.
					NASA Lewis Research Center


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hank%westford.ccur.com@relay.cs.net (05/04/91)

In article <5072@gazette.bcm.tmc.edu> you write:
>
>In article, uuomar@venus.lerc.nasa.gov (Omar Syed) writes:
>> 
>> We are trying to compile a program that makes calls to 
>> openlog(3), syslog(3) and closelog(3).  Unfortunately
>> Concurrent does not support these functions which seem
>> to be fairly standard on other systems. 
>> 
>Well, some time ago (perhaps as long ago as RTU 4.0 or 4.1 I too had
>this problem and when I could not find the functions, and could not
>get syslog to work, I filed an SCR/SQR (Software Quality Report.)  It
>turns out that it is one of the few that got a semi-serious answer.
>
>The answer is "...we don't see the need for this and since we don't
>support it, we won't include it any more..."  I subsequently tried to
>get them to see that this really is an important part of networked
>life and would they please re-consider.
>
Stan,
This has come up before but some things keep coming back. :^)

Syslog was included in MASSCOMP's sendmail non-product.  When the
company adopted MMDF there was no need to continue to keep syslog
around.  If people want syslog they may be able to get a copy of the
old sendmail kit  through their sales rep although I wouldn't bet on
it.  I think that sendmail might have been put into the user's
library if so then syslog will be there as well.

Hank Cohen
Concurrent Nippon Corp.
Tokyo Japan.


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john@bu.edu (John Robert LoVerso) (05/04/91)

In an article, Dale Chayes writes:
> I'm (almost) sure that there is an RFC documenting the syslog protocol.
> 
> [Actually, this is no RFC about syslog. It is a BSDism. It is very simple
> as some have said. There is a "fake" version included with nntp. I think there
> is also a real version (for System V like machines) in the comp.sources.unix
> or comp.sources.misc archives on uunet. -- sob]

There is, of course, no RFC on syslog.  Not only is the "protocol" simple,
but the implementation is readily available.  I.e., from uunet:

/usr/spool/ftp/bsd-sources/usr.sbin/syslogd:
total 34
-r--r--r--  1 archive     25042 Jun 29  1990 syslogd.c
-r--r--r--  1 archive       169 Jun 29  1990 Makefile
-r--r--r--  1 archive      5247 Jun 27  1990 syslogd.8
-r--r--r--  1 archive      1216 Jun  1  1990 pathnames.h

This is the 4.3-reno version, and with a few changes it should work under
RTU.  Minor other work would be required to make a libsyslog.a and the
user-level "logger" program.

Of course, this wouldn't give you support of the BSD-like /dev/klog, and
I'm not (personally) sure how RTU's /dev/log and /dev/klog work.  I'm not
sure why syslog isn't supported under RTU, other than there just hasn't been
someone to do the work.  This is really almost "just an afternoons" effort.

Syslog is not always the best mechanism for things.  Messages can get lost
and all that other nonsense as to why it's not a good solution.  Never-the-
less, it does a good 80% of the job and it's there for free.  It was actually
long ago at another company that didn't provide a reasonable syslog that I
cleaned up NNTP's "fake" version to work exactly like the 4.3 version of
syslog.  That was, of course, before syslog was freely redistributable.

All of this is of course completely my own opinion.

John
-- 
John Robert LoVerso, Concurrent Computer Corp, loverso@westford.ccur.com
[to reach ME, not the corporate puppet: john@loverso.leom.ma.us]

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