Setting the debug_level on Unix, Linux and Macintosh Clients

Products

• IT Management Suite
• Notification Server Agent for Macintosh (Altiris)
• Notification Server Agent for Unix/Linux (Altiris)

Issue/Introduction

How do I set the debug_level on a UNIX, Linux or Mac client?

Environment

ITMS 8.x

Resolution

On occasion, it is important to get detailed agent logging on a UNIX or Linux client for Altiris Support Services. This setting can be configured as follows. Note: These commands require root or sudo privileges.

1.  Set logging settings:

aex-helper agent -s "Configuration" debug_level DEVNOTE
aex-helper agent -s "Configuration" debug_file_size 0

mkdir /tmp/nse
aex-helper agent -s "Event Queue" backup_dir /tmp/nse

aex-helper agent restart

sudo rm /opt/altiris/notification/nsagent/var/*log*
sudo rm /tmp/nse/*

2. Run the requested process as directed by Symantec Technical Support.

3. Gather all requested files immediately after the task finishes:

• Gather all *log* files from /opt/altiris/notification/nsagent/var/ (default location. If configured different by customer, get them from custom location.)
• Gather all files in the /tmp/nse directory, if directed to do so.

4. Reset the logging settings: 

aex-helper agent -s "Configuration" debug_level ERROR
aex-helper agent -s "Configuration" debug_file_size 1024
aex-helper agent -s "Event Queue" backup_dir ""
aex-helper agent restart

NOTE:

1. A 'debug_file_size=0' is unlimited, so you will either want to monitor disk space usage of these log files or set it to something more manageable, such as 10-15MB or whatever is required to gather pertinent debug data and is appropriate for the system in question.
2. The file size other than 0 is the total file size of all log files combined, not of each individual log file. There is a current log and up to five backup log files.
3. The number of backup log files is also configurable in the client.conf file.