Questions about submitting new syslog-ng package

[laleger]

Greetings,

I've just finished development on a new syslog-ng package for pfSense and I have two questions on how to proceed from here.

1. I'm using the current FreeBSD syslog-ng package (version 3.3.6_2). I've seen the notice regarding the PBI package requirement, however I'm not familiar with these packages. Is there assistance available on building these packages from a standard FreeBSD Package? The plan is to only make this package available to pfSense version 2.1+.

2. I'm using the FreeBSD 8.3 "newsyslog" binary as part of the package, what is the best way to incorporate this binary file? I assume that I could create a separate PBI package or try to bundle it with the syslog-ng PBI package (this is not the preferred option if I'm going to maintain the package).

NOTE: It currently looks like pfSense v2.1 has an existing cron for newsyslog even though pfSense does not include newsyslog. This doesn't really pose a problem to my package as I plan to store the newsyslog.conf file in /usr/local/etc instead of /etc.

This service is not intended to replace the internal pfSense syslog server but rather acts as an independent syslog server which stores logs in /var/syslog-ng. I would imagine some users would still like to forward pfSense logs via the Remote Logging Options.

Thanks in advance for any assistance!

[laleger]

So in regards to question #2, I see that there is a seperate logrotate package available for FreeBSD. I'm going to look at the feasibility of using logrotate vs newsyslog. This way my package would only rely on packages that are already available and supported by the FreeBSD community. I also found some information on creating PBI packages so I will attempt to create these packages myself.

[stephenw10]

Not any help I'm afraid but I'd like to suggest you add the location where you store the logs as a user selectable variable. There are numerous questions on the forum about using a separate partition or drive for logging.

Steve

[laleger]

Hey Steve, good to hear from you again :)

I now remember you suggesting this before and I agree that it's a good idea. I will go ahead make the log location user definable. I'm hoping to tie up some loose ends on the package this weekend so that I can submit for release. Will keep everyone posted.

[laleger]

Final changes have been made to my package. I've got a local repository setup and I'm registered with github. I can see see my package via my local repository but the install fails (install message and pkg_config.8.xml ouput is below). Anyway to get the install to succed without the PBI packages?

================ Begin pkg_config.8.xml ================

<package><name>syslog-ng</name>
        <website>http://www.balabit.com/network-security/syslog-ng/</website>
        <descr>Syslog-ng syslog server. This service is not intended to replace
        <category>Services</category>
        <version>3.3.4_1</version>
        <status>ALPHA</status>
        <required_version>2.1</required_version>
        <depends_on_package_base_url>http://ftp.freebsd.org/pub/FreeBSD/ports/i3
        <depends_on_package>syslog-ng-3.3.4_1.tbz</depends_on_package>
        <depends_on_package>logrotate-3.7.9.tbz</depends_on_package>
        <build_port_path>/usr/ports/sysutils/syslog-ng</build_port_path>
        <build_port_path>/usr/ports/sysutils/logrotate</build_port_path>
        <build_pbi><port>sysutils/syslog-ng</port>
                <port>sysutils/logrotate</port></build_pbi>

<maintainer>laleger@gmail.com</maintainer>
        <config_file>http://www.pfsense.com/packages/config/syslog-ng/syslog-ng.
        <configurationfile>syslog-ng.xml</configurationfile></config_file></depends_on_package_base_url></descr></package>

================ End pkg_config.8.xml ================
================ Begin Error Message ================

Beginning package installation for syslog-ng .
Downloading package configuration file… done.
Saving updated package information... done.
The syslog-ng package is not installed.

Installation aborted.Backing up libraries...
The syslog-ng package is not installed.

Deletion aborted.Cleaning up... Failed to install package.

Installation halted.

================ End Error Message ================

I would like to get the package installing from my local repository to run a few last tests before I request the "pull". Any help from the dev guru's would be most appreciated. Thanks! :)

[laleger]

Package is ready. I submitted a pull request, but not sure if I did it correctly. If a developer could confirm that would be great. Thanks!

[jimp]

I don't see any pull requests in our queue that resemble this, give it another try.

[laleger]

Ooops. Thanks for checking. Just re-submitted. I'm assuming that I don't have to provide the pbi packages myself?

[jimp]

No just setup the build tags properly and we build them on our server.

[laleger]

Also just committed two fixes to my original package entry in pkg_config.8.xml, sorry about that.

[jimp]

There were some other problems with the tags and how things were setup, but I fixed them up, built the PBIs, and they should be up now.

Or it will be as soon as you see the pkg report it's version as 3.3.6_2

[laleger]

Great, thanks! I tested the package install yesterday with a clean 2.1 build and it's working as expected. I'll move onto development for Bro 2.0 and OSEEC packages now :)

[terry_e]

I'm wondering if this syslog-ng package is available, and if so, how can I get it?

Thanks very much for all participants for the work involved.  I've been trying to install syslog-ng myself and have encountered quite a number of issues.

[Oliver_]

@laleger
I must say "Thank you for that Package and all the work you have done".
It always thought, wouldn't it be great to use the Diskspace for some long-time logging. For example Captive-Portal logging, which User was online and was doing which crime…

@terry_e
It is only available for Pfsense 2.1