/var/adm/lp/log file very large

[Randall L. Kline]

I just wanted to check if it is alright to clear the /var/adm/lp/log file. I have one that is over 200MB, and I was going to clear it, but I wanted to check to make sure that is alright. Any ideas?

[Rick Garland · Accepted solution]

The /var/adm/lp/log file is a log of all LP actions. Usually it is a print job.

If this file is large in a short period of time then you seem to have a lot of print jobs going through the system. (Lots of trees being used)

No harm in removing the file.

I find the file useful because sometimes I get calls from users saying their print job(s) did not work. I look in this log file and I see the job printed (usually another user took the printout) or the user sent the job to another printer (the user finds their job on that other printer).

This file is /dev/null'ed each time the lpspooler is stopped and restared. Notice at top of file it tells you when the LP was started.

[Randall L. Kline]

Thanks for your answer. I wasn't finding much is the man pages related to this log. It looked like a safe one to clear.

[Jeff Schussele]

Hi Randall,

Just to add...
Don't delete the file - just null it with

> /var/adm/lp/log

You could hang the spooler IF you delete it.

My $0.02,
Jeff

[Randall L. Kline]

Thanks. I alway null log files just to be on the safe side. Points have already been applied. I appreciate your help.