Logcheck devel - Nov 2004 - Bug#281646: bug in logtail regarding command line options

Package: logtail
Version: 1.2.28

We have recently upgraded a machine, and a number of scripts stopped working.
It appears that the way logtail(8) parses its command line has changed.

I do not know if this change occurred during the reimplementation from C to 
perl
(why was that done?  I would have thought that since C is generally both 
more portable and faster, and since the C was already written, it would be 
the preferred implementation?  *shrug*)
or at some other time.


The script fails on a command as follows:

/usr/sbin/logtail /var/log/kern.log /var/local/log_state


It gives the following output:

No logfile to read. Use -f switch.


I note that the -f switch is no longer in brackets on the man page, 
indicating that the author of the man page believes this switch to be 
mandatory.  In previous versions, this switch was optional.  I suspect that 
the man page was wrong, and now the utility has been reimplemented to match 
the man page, thus breaking scripts which previously worked.

I have not included kernel or hardware information (as requested in 
http://www.debian.org/Bugs/Reporting) since I do not think that they are 
relevant.

bfn,

John Newnham
john at interflora.com.au

On Wed, 17 Nov 2004, john at interflora.com.au wrote:
> We have recently upgraded a machine, and a number of scripts stopped 
> working.
> It appears that the way logtail(8) parses its command line has changed.
yup,
the argument parsing changed,
scripts using logtail must use the argument switch for the logfile
and the offsetfile.
> I do not know if this change occurred during the reimplementation from C to
> perl
> (why was that done?  I would have thought that since C is generally both 
> more portable and faster, and since the C was already written, it would be 
> the preferred implementation?  *shrug*)
> or at some other time.
well the reimplementation in perl was done before the new logcheck team
took over. the logcheck package in woody already carries the "new"
logtail, but the script apparently still uses the c version.
anyway this logtail doesn't look that hard to reimplement.
but we won't consider this for sarge.

Perl is quite portable and is in the debian base, beside this it works
on a far nr. of machines.

from changelog for logcheck (1.1.1-11) on 25 Nov 2001
* Do not use logtail.c from the original logcheck package anymore, but a
  perl version by Paul Slootman. This makes the package architecture
  independent.
  Closes: #89614

bugreporter complains to have to compile logtail on "solaris, hp/ux,
etc systems,"

 
> The script fails on a command as follows:
> 
> /usr/sbin/logtail /var/log/kern.log /var/local/log_state
> 
> 
> It gives the following output:
> 
> No logfile to read. Use -f switch.
that's correct. 
> I note that the -f switch is no longer in brackets on the man page, 
> indicating that the author of the man page believes this switch to be 
> mandatory.  In previous versions, this switch was optional.  I suspect that
> the man page was wrong, and now the utility has been reimplemented to match
> the man page, thus breaking scripts which previously worked.
thanks for your hint, 
no the author is a morron when having to deal with manpages.

so the manpge shouldn't have brackets around the -o switch,
but brackets around the -f switch?
strange in normal life i always considered to put unimportant stuff
under brackets or whatever.
 
> I have not included kernel or hardware information (as requested in 
> http://www.debian.org/Bugs/Reporting) since I do not think that they are 
> relevant.
agreed.

--
maks

On Wed, 17 Nov 2004, john at interflora.com.au wrote:
> I do not know if this change occurred during the reimplementation from C to
> perl
> (why was that done?  
forgot to answer this one, the change regarding the args parsing was 
by me much latter.

tags 281646 pending
thanks

On Thu, 18 Nov 2004, john at interflora.com.au wrote:
> At 02:41 PM 18/11/2004, you wrote:
> >> I note that the -f switch is no longer in brackets on the man
page,
> >> indicating that the author of the man page believes this switch to
be
> >> mandatory.  In previous versions, this switch was optional.  I
suspect
> >that
> >> the man page was wrong, and now the utility has been reimplemented
to
> >match
> >> the man page, thus breaking scripts which previously worked.
> >
> >thanks for your hint,
> >no the author is a morron when having to deal with manpages.
> 
> Hmm, I think that I understand your self-deprecating humour here.
> 
> >so the manpge shouldn't have brackets around the -o switch,
> >but brackets around the -f switch?
> >strange in normal life i always considered to put unimportant stuff
> >under brackets or whatever.
> 
> The brackets on a man page syntax entry indicate that the item is optional.
> Lack of brackets indicate that the item is mandatory.
fixed in current cvs of logcheck,
logtail(8) has now the correct denotations. :)

i'll add soon a News.Debian item for logtail, so that the changed
interface gets better documanted for the upgrade path.
 
> This goes back to the syntax diagrams developed for Algol, which is often 
> considered
> the grandfather of C.  More details available in the manual ("man
man").
thanks for your hints, read.

--
maks

Processing commands for control at bugs.debian.org:
> tags 281646 pending
Bug#281646: bug in logtail regarding command line options
There were no tags set.
Tags added: pending
> thanks
Stopping processing here.

Please contact me if you need assistance.

Debian bug tracking system administrator
(administrator, Debian Bugs database)

On Wed, 17 Nov 2004, john at interflora.com.au wrote:
> I note that the -f switch is no longer in brackets on the man page, 
> indicating that the author of the man page believes this switch to be 
> mandatory.  In previous versions, this switch was optional.  I suspect that
> the man page was wrong, and now the utility has been reimplemented to match
> the man page, thus breaking scripts which previously worked.
i misread you in my previous reply.
no the manpage changed later, when the switch got used as mandatory.
previous version had no switch at all, but required the user to
respect the order of args. like:
logtail path_logfile path_offsetfile

anyway your request triggered a cleanup of the logtail manpage,
whose formation was not perfect.

we will also add an news item warning users that the call logic changed.
thanks for your bug report.
maks

On Wed, 17 Nov 2004, john at interflora.com.au wrote:
> We have recently upgraded a machine, and a number of scripts stopped 
> working.
> It appears that the way logtail(8) parses its command line has changed.
> 
added NEWS.Debian entry in cvs to warn logtail(8) users about this change.

thanks + best regards
maks

Your message dated Tue, 07 Dec 2004 11:17:05 -0500
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and subject line Bug#281646: fixed in logcheck 1.2.32
has caused the attached Bug report to be marked as done.

This means that you claim that the problem has been dealt with.
If this is not the case it is now your responsibility to reopen the
Bug report if necessary, and/or fix the problem forthwith.

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Package: logtail
Version: 1.2.28

We have recently upgraded a machine, and a number of scripts stopped working.
It appears that the way logtail(8) parses its command line has changed.

I do not know if this change occurred during the reimplementation from C to 
perl
(why was that done?  I would have thought that since C is generally both 
more portable and faster, and since the C was already written, it would be 
the preferred implementation?  *shrug*)
or at some other time.


The script fails on a command as follows:

/usr/sbin/logtail /var/log/kern.log /var/local/log_state


It gives the following output:

No logfile to read. Use -f switch.


I note that the -f switch is no longer in brackets on the man page, 
indicating that the author of the man page believes this switch to be 
mandatory.  In previous versions, this switch was optional.  I suspect that 
the man page was wrong, and now the utility has been reimplemented to match 
the man page, thus breaking scripts which previously worked.

I have not included kernel or hardware information (as requested in 
http://www.debian.org/Bugs/Reporting) since I do not think that they are 
relevant.

bfn,

John Newnham
john at interflora.com.au


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Source: logcheck
Source-Version: 1.2.32

We believe that the bug you reported is fixed in the latest version of
logcheck, which is due to be installed in the Debian FTP archive:

logcheck-database_1.2.32_all.deb
  to pool/main/l/logcheck/logcheck-database_1.2.32_all.deb
logcheck_1.2.32.dsc
  to pool/main/l/logcheck/logcheck_1.2.32.dsc
logcheck_1.2.32.tar.gz
  to pool/main/l/logcheck/logcheck_1.2.32.tar.gz
logcheck_1.2.32_all.deb
  to pool/main/l/logcheck/logcheck_1.2.32_all.deb
logtail_1.2.32_all.deb
  to pool/main/l/logcheck/logtail_1.2.32_all.deb



A summary of the changes between this version and the previous one is
attached.

Thank you for reporting the bug, which will now be closed.  If you
have further comments please address them to 281646 at bugs.debian.org,
and the maintainer will reopen the bug report if appropriate.

Debian distribution maintenance software
pp.
Todd Troxell <ttroxell at debian.org> (supplier of updated logcheck
package)

(This message was generated automatically at their request; if you
believe that there is a problem with it please contact the archive
administrators by mailing ftpmaster at debian.org)


-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

Format: 1.7
Date: Tuesday, 07 Dec 2004 10:57:39 -0500
Source: logcheck
Binary: logcheck logtail logcheck-database
Architecture: source all
Version: 1.2.32
Distribution: unstable
Urgency: low
Maintainer: Debian logcheck Team <logcheck-devel at
lists.alioth.debian.org>
Changed-By: Todd Troxell <ttroxell at debian.org>
Description: 
 logcheck   - Mails anomalies in the system logfiles to the administrator
 logcheck-database - A database of system log rules for the use of log checkers
 logtail    - Print log file lines that have not been read
Closes: 277644 281646 282378 282842 283331
Changes: 
 logcheck (1.2.32) unstable; urgency=low
 .
   maks:
   * Add rules for jabberd, openvpn, rsnapshot, saslauthd, stunnel at
     level server from Peter Palfrader <weasel at debian.org>.
   * Default reportlevel is "server", correct logcheck.conf thanks
koki.
   * Fix up space in newer xdm logging.
   * Add kernel rule for dvd combi drives at level workstation.
   * Add nss_ldap rule for apache, sshd syslog line at level server.
   * Ignore also ssh disconnect from win clients on level server.
   * Have per package NEWS.Debian files, move them below debian/.
     thanks alfie for hint dh_installchangelogs(1) for multiple NEWS.Debian.
     (closes: #281646)
   * Add and fix hostname match in dnsmasq ruleset. (closes: #283331)
   * Add rules for workstation related to removable media. (closes: #277644)
   * Remove kernel rules related to tainted modules.
   * Fix sudo ignore rule for tty usage.
   * Fix gconfd rules at level workstation for newest gnome.
   alfie:
   * logtail.8: Fixed formating to be consistant, changed OPTION to -r (the
     only OPTION not mentioned yet :))
   jamie:
   * Add rules for nagios, gps.
   * Added new rules for messages from USB joystick use. (closes: #282378)
   * Fix spamd rule to match all hosts. (closes: #282842)
Files: 
 d4fa21997ef1bf4d68510ebfc73441c4 703 admin optional logcheck_1.2.32.dsc
 197466b4414f575d0cc83e04a463ae6c 87932 admin optional logcheck_1.2.32.tar.gz
 c64e2e54d5755356f498a05f38512349 41036 admin optional logcheck_1.2.32_all.deb
 b5a45bec8397a77377f7ce79cf7b5965 55280 admin optional
logcheck-database_1.2.32_all.deb
 7227248dd59bf586666e9f135fc06b90 24894 admin optional logtail_1.2.32_all.deb

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