Bash script to find large error_log files? Run as cron?

sneader

• March 29, 2017 08:07

My bash skills are lacking. I'm sorry. :) I'd like to run a cron every week that emails root a list of any large error_log files, perhaps over 50MB. The cause of the errors can be researched, to be more proactive in helping customers, and also may help save disk space (including backup space). I've got this far... this script, when run as root from the command line, definitely does return a list of error_log files that are over 50MB:
find /home/*/public_html/ -type f -iname error_log -size +50M -exec du -sh {} \;
I bet that can be improved. The problem is that when I try that as a cron, it gives all sorts of errors. I've tried putting it into a shell script, and cron'ing the script, but same result. Waiving white flag. Help, oh smart ones! - Scott

• 

  vacancy

  • March 29, 2017 13:21

  You may want to delete all the error_log files without making a size separation with a simpler logic.
  0 2 * * * rm -rf /home/*/public_html/error_log > /dev/null 2>&1
  All error_log files are deleted at 02.00 every night.

  0
• 

  sneader

  • March 29, 2017 13:26

  You may want to delete all the error_log files without making a size separation with a simpler logic.

  
  No, I don't want to automatically delete the files. As I mentioned, I want to proactively help customers troubleshoot any problems that are causing the error_log files in the first place. Plus, I think it is rude to delete these files without notifying customers, as they might be actively troubleshooting their own problems and will not be happy to find their error_log files magically gone. Thanks, though. - Scott

  0
• 

  vacancy

  • March 29, 2017 13:31

  Deleting files does not mean that you have disabled the error_log system. If there is an error, the files are automatically re-created. You can keep the deletion intervals longer.

  0
• 

  vacancy

  • March 29, 2017 13:45

  The following command might work. ATTENTION: Please try first on your test server.
  find /home/*/public_html -size +50M -name "error_log" -exec rm -rf {} \;
  

  0
• 

  sneader

  • March 29, 2017 14:55

  I have this working now, for anyone that is interested in getting a regular report of large error_log files: First, create this script, name it find-big-errorlogs.sh (or whatever) and put it somewhere handy (maybe /root/ ?). Set it to 755 permissions.
  #!/bin/bash find /home/*/public_html/ -type f -iname error_log -size +50M -exec du -sh {} \; | /bin/mail -s "myserver Big error_logs" you@example.com
  Replace 'myserver' with maybe the hostname of your server, to remind you which server this report is for. Replace 'you@example.com' with whatever email address you want to receive the report. Replace '50M' with whatever size you want to look for. If you want only 100MB or larger files, change it to 100M. Next, add the script to your crontab. Just run crontab -e, and to have it run at 3AM every Sunday morning, add something like:
  #!/bin/bash 0 3 * * 6 /root/find-big-errorlogs.sh
  Now you will get a list of large error_logs, to do with as you see fit. - Scott

  0
• 

  cPanelMichael

  • March 29, 2017 15:45

  Hello Scott, I'm happy to see you found a viable solution. Thank you for updating this thread with the outcome.

  0

Please sign in to leave a comment.