[rsyslog] rsyslogd writing to '/cron' file

[Brendan Simon (eTRIX)]

I'm running Debian 10 (Buster) on some embedded systems (Xilinx Zynq SoC
with SD card as filesystem).

My root filesystem is formatted to 1GB and normally is about 66% full. 
Something is going wrong where syslog entries are being written to
`/var/log/syslog` and to a mystery file called `/cron`.  logrotate will
rotate files in `/var/log` daily (via cron), but of course logrotate
knows nothing about the mystery `/cron` file and the rootfs ends being
full and the system breaks.

`lsof` shows that `rsyslogd` has the `/cron` file open.  Removing the
`/cron` file sort of works, but the disk usage does not reduce.  I have
to restart the `rsyslogd` service for Linux to release the disk space.

# lsof | grep ' /cron' ; ls -l /cron ; systemctl stop rsyslog ; rm
/cron ; ls -l /cron ; systemctl stop rsyslog.service ; lsof | grep '
/cron' ; ls -l /cron

rsyslogd  2256            root    7w      REG      179,3    
4068       1886 /cron
in:imuxso 2256 2258       root    7w      REG      179,3    
4068       1886 /cron
in:imklog 2256 2259       root    7w      REG      179,3    
4068       1886 /cron
rs:main   2256 2260       root    7w      REG      179,3    
4068       1886 /cron

-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 4068 Dec  5 23:57 /cron

Warning: Stopping rsyslog.service, but it can still be activated by:
  syslog.socket

ls: cannot access '/cron': No such file or directory

Warning: Stopping rsyslog.service, but it can still be activated by:
  syslog.socket

rsyslogd  2275            root    7w      REG      179,3    
1890       1886 /cron
in:imuxso 2275 2280       root    7w      REG      179,3    
1890       1886 /cron
in:imklog 2275 2281       root    7w      REG      179,3    
1890       1886 /cron
rs:main   2275 2282       root    7w      REG      179,3    
1890       1886 /cron

-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1890 Dec  5 23:57 /cron


Is this a problem with `rsyslogd` ?  Version 8.38.0 is installed.

Why is the mysterious file always called `/cron`?  Is it related to
`logrotate` being called from `cron`?

The `/cron` file contains the same content as `/var/log/syslog`, except
that the timestamp is formatted differently.

# tail /cron ; tail /var/log/syslog

2018-12-06T00:01:26.259166+00:00 efd-0100 efd_app.py[1728]:
WARNING:root:cloud:Not enough data records to post (0).
2018-12-06T00:01:26.260017+00:00 efd-0100 efd_app.py[1728]: Empty()
2018-12-06T00:01:26.833718+00:00 efd-0100 efd_app.py[1728]: DEBUG:
TIMEOUT: adc_select_wait()
2018-12-06T00:01:26.834415+00:00 efd-0100 efd_app.py[1728]: DEBUG:
status = 0xFFF8F800
2018-12-06T00:01:26.834951+00:00 efd-0100 efd_app.py[1728]: DEBUG:
semaphore = 0x00000000
2018-12-06T00:01:28.140049+00:00 efd-0100 efd_app.py[1728]: DEBUG:
TIMEOUT: adc_select_wait()
2018-12-06T00:01:28.140532+00:00 efd-0100 efd_app.py[1728]: DEBUG:
status = 0xFFF8F800
2018-12-06T00:01:28.140987+00:00 efd-0100 efd_app.py[1728]: DEBUG:
semaphore = 0x00000000
2018-12-06T00:01:28.260158+00:00 efd-0100 efd_app.py[1728]:
WARNING:root:cloud:Not enough data records to post (0).
2018-12-06T00:01:28.260958+00:00 efd-0100 efd_app.py[1728]: Empty()

Dec  6 00:01:26 efd-0100 efd_app.py[1728]: WARNING:root:cloud:Not
enough data records to post (0).
Dec  6 00:01:26 efd-0100 efd_app.py[1728]: Empty()
Dec  6 00:01:26 efd-0100 efd_app.py[1728]: DEBUG: TIMEOUT:
adc_select_wait()
Dec  6 00:01:26 efd-0100 efd_app.py[1728]: DEBUG: status = 0xFFF8F800
Dec  6 00:01:26 efd-0100 efd_app.py[1728]: DEBUG: semaphore = 0x00000000
Dec  6 00:01:28 efd-0100 efd_app.py[1728]: DEBUG: TIMEOUT:
adc_select_wait()
Dec  6 00:01:28 efd-0100 efd_app.py[1728]: DEBUG: status = 0xFFF8F800
Dec  6 00:01:28 efd-0100 efd_app.py[1728]: DEBUG: semaphore = 0x00000000
Dec  6 00:01:28 efd-0100 efd_app.py[1728]: WARNING:root:cloud:Not
enough data records to post (0).
Dec  6 00:01:28 efd-0100 efd_app.py[1728]: Empty()



Thanks for any help,
Brendan.

_______________________________________________
rsyslog mailing list
http://lists.adiscon.net/mailman/listinfo/rsyslog
http://www.rsyslog.com/professional-services/
What's up with rsyslog? Follow https://twitter.com/rgerhards
NOTE WELL: This is a PUBLIC mailing list, posts are ARCHIVED by a myriad of sites beyond our control. PLEASE UNSUBSCRIBE and DO NOT POST if you

[David Lang]

we would need to see your config to make any guesses.

David Lang
_______________________________________________
rsyslog mailing list
http://lists.adiscon.net/mailman/listinfo/rsyslog
http://www.rsyslog.com/professional-services/
What's up with rsyslog? Follow https://twitter.com/rgerhards
NOTE WELL: This is a PUBLIC mailing list, posts are ARCHIVED by a myriad of sites beyond our control. PLEASE UNSUBSCRIBE and DO NOT POST if you DON'T LIKE THAT.

[Brendan Simon (eTRIX)]

My `/etc/rsyslog.conf` is as follows:

#  /etc/rsyslog.conf    Configuration file for rsyslog.
#
#            For more information see


#################
#### MODULES ####
#################

$ModLoad imuxsock # provides support for local system logging
/cron
$ModLoad imklog   # provides kernel logging support
#$ModLoad immark  # provides --MARK-- message capability

# provides UDP syslog reception
#$ModLoad imudp
#$UDPServerRun 514

# provides TCP syslog reception
#$ModLoad imtcp
#$InputTCPServerRun 514


###########################
#### GLOBAL DIRECTIVES ####
###########################

#
# Use traditional timestamp format.
# To enable high precision timestamps, comment out the following line.
#
$ActionFileDefaultTemplate RSYSLOG_TraditionalFileFormat

#
# Set the default permissions for all log files.
#
$FileOwner root
$FileGroup adm
$FileCreateMode 0640
$DirCreateMode 0755
$Umask 0022

#
# Where to place spool and state files
#
$WorkDirectory /var/spool/rsyslog

#
# Include all config files in /etc/rsyslog.d/
#
$IncludeConfig /etc/rsyslog.d/*.conf


###############
#### RULES ####
###############

#
# First some standard log files.  Log by facility.
#
auth,authpriv.*            /var/log/auth.log
*.*;auth,authpriv.none        -/var/log/syslog
#cron.*                /var/log/cron.log
daemon.*            -/var/log/daemon.log
kern.*                -/var/log/kern.log
lpr.*                -/var/log/lpr.log
mail.*                -/var/log/mail.log
user.*                -/var/log/user.log

#
# Logging for the mail system.  Split it up so that
# it is easy to write scripts to parse these files.
#
mail.info            -/var/log/mail.info
mail.warn            -/var/log/mail.warn
mail.err            /var/log/mail.err

#
# Logging for INN news system.
#
news.crit            /var/log/news/news.crit
news.err            /var/log/news/news.err
news.notice            -/var/log/news/news.notice

#
# Some "catch-all" log files.
#
*.=debug;\
    auth,authpriv.none;\
    news.none;mail.none    -/var/log/debug

*.=info;*.=notice;*.=warn;\
    auth,authpriv.none;\
    cron,daemon.none;\
    mail,news.none        -/var/log/messages

#
# Emergencies are sent to everybody logged in.
#
*.emerg                :omusrmsg:*

#
# I like to have messages displayed on the console, but only on a
virtual
# console I usually leave idle.
#
#daemon,mail.*;\
#    news.=crit;news.=err;news.=notice;\
#    *.=debug;*.=info;\
#    *.=notice;*.=warn    /dev/tty8

# The named pipe /dev/xconsole is for the `xconsole' utility.  To
use it,
# you must invoke `xconsole' with the `-file' option:
#
#    $ xconsole -file /dev/xconsole [...]
#
# NOTE: adjust the list below, or you'll go crazy if you have a
reasonably
#      busy site..
#
#daemon.*;mail.*;\
#    news.err;\
#    *.=debug;*.=info;\
#    *.=notice;*.=warn    |/dev/xconsole
daemon.*;mail.*;\
    news.err;\
    *.=notice;*.=warn    |/dev/xconsole


Thanks,
Brendan.

Post by David Lang
we would need to see your config to make any guesses.
David Lang

_______________________________________________
rsyslog mailing list
http://lists.adiscon.net/mailman/listinfo/rsyslog
http://www.rsyslog.com/professional-services/
What's up with rsyslog? Follow https://twitter.com/rgerhards
NOTE WELL: This is a PUBLIC mailing list, posts are ARCHIVED by a myriad of sites beyond our control. PLEASE UNSUBSC

[Brendan Simon (eTRIX)]

I just noticed a stray "/cron" line in the Modules section.  I have no
idea how that got there, but I assume that explains it.

Post by Brendan Simon (eTRIX)
#  /etc/rsyslog.conf    Configuration file for rsyslog.
#
#            For more information see
#################
#### MODULES ####
#################
$ModLoad imuxsock # provides support for local system logging
/cron
$ModLoad imklog   # provides kernel logging support
#$ModLoad immark  # provides --MARK-- message capability
# provides UDP syslog reception
#$ModLoad imudp
#$UDPServerRun 514
# provides TCP syslog reception
#$ModLoad imtcp
#$InputTCPServerRun 514
###########################
#### GLOBAL DIRECTIVES ####
###########################
#
# Use traditional timestamp format.
# To enable high precision timestamps, comment out the following line.
#
$ActionFileDefaultTemplate RSYSLOG_TraditionalFileFormat
#
# Set the default permissions for all log files.
#
$FileOwner root
$FileGroup adm
$FileCreateMode 0640
$DirCreateMode 0755
$Umask 0022
#
# Where to place spool and state files
#
$WorkDirectory /var/spool/rsyslog
#
# Include all config files in /etc/rsyslog.d/
#
$IncludeConfig /etc/rsyslog.d/*.conf
###############
#### RULES ####
###############
#
# First some standard log files.  Log by facility.
#
auth,authpriv.*            /var/log/auth.log
*.*;auth,authpriv.none        -/var/log/syslog
#cron.*                /var/log/cron.log
daemon.*            -/var/log/daemon.log
kern.*                -/var/log/kern.log
lpr.*                -/var/log/lpr.log
mail.*                -/var/log/mail.log
user.*                -/var/log/user.log
#
# Logging for the mail system.  Split it up so that
# it is easy to write scripts to parse these files.
#
mail.info            -/var/log/mail.info
mail.warn            -/var/log/mail.warn
mail.err            /var/log/mail.err
#
# Logging for INN news system.
#
news.crit            /var/log/news/news.crit
news.err            /var/log/news/news.err
news.notice            -/var/log/news/news.notice
#
# Some "catch-all" log files.
#
*.=debug;\
    auth,authpriv.none;\
    news.none;mail.none    -/var/log/debug
*.=info;*.=notice;*.=warn;\
    auth,authpriv.none;\
    cron,daemon.none;\
    mail,news.none        -/var/log/messages
#
# Emergencies are sent to everybody logged in.
#
*.emerg                :omusrmsg:*
#
# I like to have messages displayed on the console, but only on a
virtual
# console I usually leave idle.
#
#daemon,mail.*;\
#    news.=crit;news.=err;news.=notice;\
#    *.=debug;*.=info;\
#    *.=notice;*.=warn    /dev/tty8
# The named pipe /dev/xconsole is for the `xconsole' utility.  To
use it,
#
#    $ xconsole -file /dev/xconsole [...]
#
# NOTE: adjust the list below, or you'll go crazy if you have a
reasonably
#      busy site..
#
#daemon.*;mail.*;\
#    news.err;\
#    *.=debug;*.=info;\
#    *.=notice;*.=warn    |/dev/xconsole
daemon.*;mail.*;\
    news.err;\
    *.=notice;*.=warn    |/dev/xconsole
Thanks,
Brendan.

Post by David Lang
we would need to see your config to make any guesses.
David Lang

--
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*eTRIX Services*
PO Box 497, Inverloch, VIC 3996, AUSTRALIA.
(m) 0417-380-984
------------------------------------------------------------------------
_______________________________________________
rsyslog mailing list
http://lists.adiscon.net/mailman/listinfo/rsyslog
http://www.rsyslog.com/professional-services/
What's up with rsyslog? Follow https://twitter.com/rgerhards
NOTE WELL: This is a PUBLIC mailing list, posts are ARCHIVED by a myriad of sites beyond our control. PLEASE UNSUBSCRIBE and DO NOT POST i

[David Lang]

Date: Thu, 6 Dec 2018 14:43:06 +1100
Subject: Re: [rsyslog] rsyslogd writing to '/cron' file
#  /etc/rsyslog.conf    Configuration file for rsyslog.
#
#            For more information see
#################
#### MODULES ####
#################
$ModLoad imuxsock # provides support for local system logging
/cron

this is the line that is causing you to write to /cron.

David Lang
_______________________________________________
rsyslog mailing list
http://lists.adiscon.net/mailman/listinfo/rsyslog
http://www.rsyslog.com/professional-services/
What's up with rsyslog? Follow https://twitter.com/rgerhards
NOTE WELL: This is a PUBLIC mailing list, posts are ARCHIVED by a myriad of sites beyond our control. PLEASE UNSUBSCRIBE and