STREAMS Error and Trace Logging

STREAMS error and trace loggers are provided for debugging and for administering STREAMS modules and drivers. This facility consists of log(7D), strace(1M), strclean(1M), strerr(1M), and strlog(9F).

Any module or driver in any stream can call the STREAMS logging function strlog(9F) (see also log(7D)). strlog(9F) sends formatted text to the error logger strerr(1M), the trace logger strace(1M), or the console logger.

strerr(1M) runs as a daemon process initiated at system startup. A call to strlog(9F) requesting an error to be logged causes an M_PROTO message to be sent to strerr(1M), which formats the contents and places them in a daily file. strclean(1M) purges daily log files that have not been modified for three days.

strlog(9F) also sends a similar M_PROTO message to strace(1M), which places it in a user-designated file. strace(1M) is initiated by a user. The user designates the modules and drivers and the severity level of the messages accepted for logging by strace(1M).

A user process can submit its own M_PROTO messages to the log driver for inclusion in the logger of its choice through putmsg(2). The messages must be in the same format required by the logging processes and are switched to the loggers requested in the message.

The output to the log files is formatted ASCII text. The files can be processed by standard system commands such as grep(1) or by developer-provided routines.