How to Check System Logs on Linux Mint

Learn how to access and view system logs on Linux Mint, including finding log files and using graphical tools.

By İbrahim Korucuoğlu ( @siberoloji) | Wednesday, February 05, 2025

2 minute read

Introduction to System Logging

System logs are critical for understanding system behavior, troubleshooting issues, and monitoring system health in Linux Mint.

# View entire log
less /var/log/syslog

# View last part of log
less /var/log/syslog.1

# Real-time log monitoring
tail -f /var/log/syslog

# Show last 50 lines
tail -n 50 /var/log/syslog

# Search for specific messages
grep "error" /var/log/syslog

# Case-insensitive search
grep -i "warning" /var/log/syslog

# View system journal
journalctl

# Filter by severity
journalctl -p err

# Show logs since last boot
journalctl -b

# View login attempts
cat /var/log/auth.log | grep "Failed login"

# Recent kernel messages
dmesg | tail

# Filter specific kernel events
dmesg | grep -i "usb"

Effective log management is crucial for maintaining system health, security, and performance in Linux Mint.

Tip: Always exercise caution and understand log contents before taking actions.

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