Change the Puppet run log location using "--logdest" in Puppet Enterprise

By default, both global system messages and Puppet runs log to /var/log/messages/. That can make it difficult to find critical system messages in the log. Use these steps to manage the location that Puppet runs log to with Puppet Enterprise.

Version and installation information

PE version: All supported versions
OS: *nix

Solution

Use the --logdest option to change the log location for scheduled or manual Puppet runs.

Change the manual Puppet run log location

Changing the manual Puppet run log location affects only the current run and does not change where scheduled runs are logged.

1. Change the manual Puppet run log location using puppet agent -t with the --logdest option.

   For example: puppet agent -t --logdest /var/log/pe-puppet/agent.log

Change the scheduled Puppet run log location

Changing the scheduled Puppet run log location affects only scheduled runs and does not change where manual runs are logged. The log location persists on future runs.

1. On the target node, edit the following file:
   • All *nix (except for Debian): /etc/sysconfig/puppet
   • Debian: /etc/default/puppet Add the --logdest option to the PUPPET_EXTRA_OPT line, for example: PUPPET_EXTRA_OPTS=--logdest=/var/log/puppetlabs/agent.log
2. Restart the agent by running:

• puppet resource service puppet ensure=stopped
• puppet resource service puppet ensure=running