Simple log files in macOS are text-based files that store system and application messages, errors, and debugging information. These logs help administrators diagnose issues and monitor system activity. Simple log files can also be archived for further analysis.
Jamf Protect's telemetry feature begins monitoring and collecting entries from the designated log files from the moment telemetry is enabled on the computer. New log entries are then streamed to their destination each minute.
Configured simple log file entries have to be separated by a new line.
Examples of simple log files include:
- System logs
- Contain general system messages, kernel events, and errors. Located in /var/log/system.log.
- System update logs
- Contain software updates and macOS installations. Located in /var/log/install.log.
- Jamf logs
- Contain log messages written by the Jamf binary, useful for monitoring or troubleshooting Jamf binary activity. Located in /private/var/log/jamf.log.
Asterisks (*) are supported in simple log file paths. Use asterisks to designate parts of a file name that can be a variable.
| Simple Log File Path | Example Files Collected |
|---|---|
/var/log/log_file01.log | log_file01.log |
/var/log/log_file*.log | log_file01.log log_file10.log log_file_last.log |
/var/log/*log_file.log | 01log_file.log ABC_log_file.log lastlog_file.log |
/var/log/*log_file*.log | Alog_file9.log 02log_fileZ.log XY_log_file_Z.log |