25.07 unbound - pfblocker - python - syslog
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Yeah it look like this only happens when the remote host actually responds with 'refused'. So local hosts that don't respond to arp or just don't respond at all to the syslog packets will not trigger it.
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thanks for digging in
Interesting - that honestly seems different than the previous version.
The behaviour of the server goes down/ comes up hasn't really changed.
once it gets a "refused". does it ever retry ? (say when the next message is sent)
a "default" syslog system supports retries interval and max retries options for "refused connections" are those options available to us ?
Seems it was working (without any options before) because after any logging server went down under 24.11 logging just resumed when the server came back, as you would expect a syslog sender to do without intervention. and is the case with every other system on the network sending logs to the server..
I'm guess the answer to supporting that options is no ?
hint: I tried adding them to a new conf file I created in /var/etc/syslog.d directory assuming it would process any/all conf files in the directory. sadly the service would not start so removed that config file and restarted it. I'm guessing either pfSense syslog doesn't support those options or it didn't like the second conf file in the directory ? I also just tried adding the options to existing conf file (ya the one that says do not edit
It started, but when I checked the conf the options had been removed from the config. so it didn't like me adding them there. 
I'll just use my script in the interim it works -- in monitors and after the server goes down, then when it comes up, wait a couple of minutes and restarts. syslog and unbound -- everything works perfectly from then on.
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Whether or not it reties it definitely shouldn't kill syslogd! https://redmine.pfsense.org/issues/16362
I would expect it to keep trying though.
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but that's not exactly the case -- it only stops logging and does not resume to the server that went down and came back up --
I would not say it killed syslogd completely because it is still logging to a second server if configured even though it may have received a "refused connection" from either one of the two configured it is only the one going down does not resume. The other just carries on happily receiving logs.
Now perhaps if both remote servers go offline it might stop the syslog service completely (or maybe if there is only one) - I haven't tried shutting them both down at the same time and I haven't tried only having one remote configured - I guess I could try that when things are a little less busy some evening.
I guess you are saying that the retry options are not available in the pfsense version. from the documentation of a standard syslog setup, these options are specifically referenced in the context of a "refused connection" and how many times it should retry at what interval, which is exactly what the case is. Oddly enough not of the other system I have that are sending logs to the same servers are having a problem and have no specific options set.
either way thanks for the investigation. I appreciate it.
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Well in my test setup I can reliably reproduce it killing syslogd. It's fixed in internal dev versions though so something needs back porting.
Now it could be that it keeps functioning as long as at least one remote server is available...
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@stephenw10
In our experience syslogd dies if any target is unreachable, as noted above.
-nic -
This is just information -
I started up my 2.8 test boxPointed to a single syslog server on a different subnet - the subnet is reachable (one that I can log to if I select the correct IP) but has NO syslog server at the IP I selected. this ended in a Connection Refused (9.25:44)
The service was still running, but I hit restart anyway (from the services page) also Connection Refused (9:30:25)
Yup in both cases the IP has no server (offline)Service still running. Changed the IP to a destination on the local subnet (no exception that there is a working server on this IP either).
Notice there is no "Connection Refused" in this case, but rather ends in "Host is down"
The service itself hasn't "died" at least not yet (time of posting this) but radio silence from syslogd (nothing else in the logs)
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Something must be wanting to write syslog (maybe) it has just started aggressively logging this and many times per second (wonder if it is heading for a crash)
This really aggressive syslog host is down lasted until 10:54 (so about 10 minutes) then the stopped logging, the service is still running.
I'm guessing these messages are generated with something is trying to write to syslog - and it feels the constant urge to log that the host is down.(funny I don't see this on the production box when the syslog server is down) that might be a result of the production box having two destinations setup)
Should be able to verify this on the test box.
start case1 - with syslog1 (.35). to a host that goes down, syslog2 (.2) to a valid service. (this would simulate production)
then flip them case 2 - syslog2 (.2) always up, syslog1 (.35) goes down for maintenance (offline)since I don't see "host is down" messages on production (or "connection Refused" for that matter) I'd almost guess the order in which they are listed makes a difference to the message. If the valid service is second on the config it is "overwriting (masking)" failure messages from first server that is offline)
Overall then the system "thinks" the message to both was "sent", even though the first one never got it.
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Yup that's what I see with a target that doesn't respond to arp. I'd guess it gets into a loop logging the host is down and then trying to send that to the syslog server. Repeat!
I was only able to replicate the service failing when using a target that actually responds to the traffic with refused.
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There you go, order matters (but also n both cases there is no indication of a Host is Down or connection refused.
bottom up in the log changed to add a working server in the second spot
(.35) (.2) .35 is offline
switch them
(.2) (.35) . 35 is offlinenotice nginx logged it but syslog itself says nothing in either case ...
That explains why I don't see host down or connection refused in production. it is being masked by having two servers, (in both cases)
I'm going to flip the order in production to see if it changes the overall "it resumes logging" when it goes off line and comes back up.
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so flipping the order on production (.2) (.35). taking .35 offline and back. did not resume the logging to that IP - I still had to kick it. (.2) as before got everything in both cases
Syslog itself still didn't log (down or refused) but at least I have another reference, the nginx message now shows,
same as on the test box. which is at least better then nothing.back to using my auto kick start script for now.
Carry on.
Thanks
