It\u2019s a jungle out there, and when things go wrong in web hosting, they often go terribly wrong. It\u2019s a tragic fact of life that not all technology is full-proof (or fool-proof) but just because you\u2019ve encountered a problem doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s the end of the world. In fact, with the handy help of a little bit of Linux log files, you\u2019ll soon have your system right as rain!<\/p>\n
What Are Log Files?<\/strong><\/p>\n Log files are essentially transcripts of all the processes that are run underneath your operating system. They track what scripts are initiated, as well as how each initiation goes. If there\u2019s an error that occurs, the log will say what kind of error it was, when it occurred, and what process caused the issue. A good way to think about logs is to imagine them as tiny memos for meetings within your operating system. They function in a similar manner, and they\u2019re every bit as helpful.<\/p>\n The logs we\u2019ll be talking about here are standard for most Linux operating system varieties\u2014If you\u2019re using a Windows-based server<\/a>, you\u2019ll have to look elsewhere for information specific to your platform. However, no matter what Linux branch you\u2019re running, you can expect to find most, if not all, of the files we mention. This is inherent to the way the operating system is constructed, and is yet another boon for using Linux on your servers.<\/p>\n