On Feb 3, 2006, at 12:33 PM, R. A. Cantrell wrote:
on 2/3/06 11:46 AM, Bruce Johnson at [EMAIL PROTECTED]
wrote:
Since 10.0, OS X has been set to perform numerous Unix-y maintenance
tasks at 3AM.
Thanks Bruce. Anywhere to find out more about exactly what these
tasks might
be?
The hard way is to fire up terminal, cd /etc and do 'more' on the
files daily, weekly and monthly to see the actual scripts.
It's full of things like:
echo ""
printf %s "Rotating log files:"
cd /var/log
for i in wtmp install.log; do
if [ -f "${i}" ]; then
printf %s " $i"
if [ -x /usr/bin/gzip ]; then gzext=".gz"; else gzext=""; fi
if [ -f "${i}.3${gzext}" ]; then mv -f "${i}.3${gzext}" "$
{i}.4${gzext}"; fi
if [ -f "${i}.2${gzext}" ]; then mv -f "${i}.2${gzext}" "$
{i}.3${gzext}"; fi
if [ -f "${i}.1${gzext}" ]; then mv -f "${i}.1${gzext}" "$
{i}.2${gzext}"; fi
if [ -f "${i}.0${gzext}" ]; then mv -f "${i}.0${gzext}" "$
{i}.1${gzext}"; fi
if [ -f "${i}" ]; then mv -f "${i}" "${i}.0" && if [ -x /usr/
bin/gzip ]; then
gzip -9 "${i}.0"; fi; fi
touch "${i}" && chmod 644 "${i}" && chown root:admin "${i}"
fi
done
Basically, it's rotating logs (move the current logfile to and
archive file, and getting rid of the oldest archive file, you can see
this if you start Console, and click on Logs (in 10.4 and 10.3, at
least) and poke around at some of the logs.) which is what the above
fragment does, clearing out temp files, creating backups of certain
important files.
There may be other scripts it runs, but since they're handled by
launchd not cron, I'll have to dig a bit to find them all.
This helos your mac out because it keeps the logfiles from filling up
your hard drive, and the logginc process from consuming all your
memory, because the memory used is proportional (though not directly)
to the size of the logfile.
--
Bruce Johnson
This is the sig who says 'Ni!'
--
G-List is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and...
Small Dog Electronics http://www.smalldog.com | Refurbished Drives |
-- We have Apple Refurbished Monitors in stock! | & CDRWs on Sale! |
Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html>
G-List list info: <http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-list.shtml>
--> AOL users, remove "mailto:";
Send list messages to: <mailto:g-list@mail.maclaunch.com>
To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/g-list%40mail.maclaunch.com/>
iPod Accessories for Less
at 1-800-iPOD.COM
Fast Delivery, Low Price, Good Deal
www.1800ipod.com
