Hunting for the Invisible log file

aboka

hi, i hv a similar issue to this post - https://forums.openvpn.net/viewtopic.php?t=22485. But since it has been many years, so I create a new post here.

I am using Warrior script to install OpenVPN 2.4.7 on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS. The issue is I can't locate the log file anywhere(/var/log/openvpn.log, /var/log/messages, /var/log/syslog. search for openvpn.log with find command returns nothing). I would like to see whats the different verbosity will show and the users activities like where they have surf etc

The default server config does not have a log-append, so I thought I will just add it and it will show up. But after adding and applying, the VPS will lockup and there is no way i could access it even after rebooting. Resulting in a reinstallation of everything 🙁

Do you think this is relate to the link in the post above(daemon)? if yes, how could i change the PrivateTmp? would that affect anything?
I read somewhere and their issue is relate to 'permission' or something as they did some test with different path, and some will work, and some not. But since it will lockup the VPS and hvto reinstall everything, i am scare to simply trying anything online Please advice.

Thank you,

aboka

i dont know why this post end in Configuration, as i choose Off Topic as usual. any admin could help transfer this to the correct Topic? or how do i delete this and repost it again? thank you.

Pippin

Your question basically is how and where to place the log file.
That sounds like configuration.

For VPS support, ask your VPS provider...

What if you specify the same path as where the configuration file is located?

See

--log file

and

--log-append file

in manual 2.4: https://community.openvpn.net/openvpn/wiki/Openvpn24ManPage

aboka

hi, my assumption is by default OpenVPN will create a log file when it is installed. anyway, my issue is i can't find the log file anywhere, and the default server.config file does not have log or log-append on it. But it has 'status' and its working fine writing out whos connected etc. And if i add log-append to the file and restart OpenVPN, the whole VPS will lockup. Think this has nothing to do with the VPS

i never try 'log' before, only 'log-append'. as scare to do anything as risk losing everything again
;log openvpn.log #will log but file will be clear after restart
log-append openvpn.log #data will be kept even after restart

i remember i put as above, so that is /etc/openvpn/server/ and it is the same path as server.conf

i suspect the lockup is bcoz 'they are fighting' so the system seems not responsive. one fight to create/write the log but the other prevent it. is this possible? anyway i could avoid or 'reboot' the system in case it happens again? When it 'hangs' the whole system is not responsive - not able to ssh, or connect using console from the vps, even after Reboot on the vps control panel

thank you,

aboka

p/s - im login as root as the default user and there is no problem to create the file openvpn.log using touch inside that path - /etc/openvpn/server/

im not sure how to check which user OpenVPN privilege is running on, but using htop, it show 'nobody' and 'root' as the user. not sure if this is related or useful thou

Screen-shot - https://pasteboard.co/JifRFEk.png

p/ss - try to share the image with the image tag but it wont show up

aboka

hi, hv take the risk and add 'log-append' to the Pi, and it works now. i find that, systemctl restart openvpn does not apply the change, hvto reboot the system then it will work. hv no idea why it did not previously and lockup the system. hopefully this works for X86_64 too.

thank you,