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Asked: 2024-09-26T14:57:03+05:30 In:

How can I configure systat sar to execute every minute on Ubuntu 22?

I’ve been trying to get into system monitoring on my Ubuntu 22 setup and I’ve hit a bit of a wall. So, I’m diving into using `systat` and `sar` to keep an eye on system performance, but I can’t seem to figure out how to get it to automatically execute every minute. I’ve read a bunch of stuff about cron jobs and systemd timers, but honestly, some of it is way over my head.

Here’s where I’m at: I’ve got `sysstat` installed without a hitch, but I’m not sure if I should use the built-in cron that comes with it or if I should set up my own cron job. I mean, I tried setting one up but nothing seems to get logged. I even double-checked the configuration file because I found out that `sar` needs to be enabled in ‘/etc/default/sysstat’ and that was a bit tricky.

Also, what should the cron job look like? Do I just add a line to the crontab like `* * * * * /usr/bin/sar -u > /var/log/sysstat/sar.log`? Is that too basic, or am I missing something? And while I’m at it—what’s the best way to ensure that the logs are rolling over properly so I don’t end up with a massive log file cluttering up my system?

Honestly, I could really use some guidance here. It feels like I’m missing simple steps or something, and whenever I search online, I either come across old posts that don’t quite match my version or overly complicated explanations that just leave me more confused. I want to eventually use these logs for some kind of performance analysis, but right now, I just want to make sure that something is being logged consistently.

If anyone has gone through this process and can break it down in a way that makes sense, I’d really appreciate it. I’m kind of a newbie when it comes to system administration, so any tips or pointers that you could share would be super helpful!

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    2 Answers



    1. Getting Started with Sysstat on Ubuntu 22

      Using Sysstat for Monitoring on Ubuntu 22

      It sounds like you’re on the right track with sysstat! Let’s break this down step by step so it makes a bit more sense.

      1. Enabling Sar

      First off, make sure that you have sar enabled. You should have edited the /etc/default/sysstat file to set ENABLED="true". This will allow the sysstat service to start collecting data.

      2. Setting up Cron Jobs

      You mentioned wanting to log data every minute. The system should already come with a cron job set up for sysstat in /etc/cron.d/sysstat. You can check there if it’s set up to run every 10 minutes, but here’s how you can set it up for your needs:

      If you want to set it manually, you can do the following:

      sudo crontab -e

      Then, add this line:

      * * * * * /usr/bin/sar -u >> /var/log/sysstat/sar.log 2>&1

      This line will append (>>) the output to your log file every minute. The 2>&1 part is to capture any error messages as well, which is helpful for debugging.

      3. Managing Log Size

      To manage the size of your logs, you can use logrotate. Fortunately, sysstat should come with its own logrotate configuration. You can find it in /etc/logrotate.d/sysstat. Make sure that it’s set up to rotate your logs based on size or time, so they don’t grow too big.

      4. Double-checking

      If you set up your cron job and data still isn’t being logged, check:

      • Is the sysstat service running? You can check with sudo systemctl status sysstat.
      • Examine the log file directly to see if there are any messages that might indicate what’s wrong.
      • Look at /var/log/sysstat/ to check if logs are being generated.

      5. Final Tips

      Don’t be afraid to ask questions in forums or communities when you hit a wall! Many people have gone through similar struggles. With time, you’ll find this sort of thing to be second nature!

      Good luck with your monitoring setup!



    2. To automate the execution of `sar` for system monitoring on your Ubuntu 22 setup, you should first ensure that sysstat is properly configured. You’re right that you need to enable `sar` in the configuration file located at `/etc/default/sysstat`. Make sure the line `ENABLED=”true”` is set to allow the service to run. If you still wish to create a custom cron job, you can indeed set one up to execute `sar` every minute. The line you suggested for the crontab is nearly correct, but instead of redirecting the output to a file directly in the crontab, it’s more efficient to use sysstat’s built-in logging. Just open crontab with `crontab -e` and add the line `* * * * * /usr/lib/sysstat/sa1 1 1` which captures the system activity at one-minute intervals and stores it automatically in `/var/log/sysstat/` without cluttering your own scripts.

      Regarding log management, `sar` logs are already configured to rotate by default with sysstat. You can check the parameter settings in `/etc/sysstat/sysstat` for `SYSLOG` and `LOG_DIR`, and adjust them if needed. The log files will typically roll over, preventing massive growth. If you want to customize the retention of log files further, you can find options in the sysstat documentation or simply modify the entries for log retention or frequency as desired. To view or analyze the collected data, use `sar` commands like `sar -u` for CPU usage or explore other options available in the sysstat suite. If you continue facing issues, consider checking the sysstat service status using `systemctl status sysstat` to ensure it is actively running and collecting the statistics.


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