1.1 Using VLOG with the NSS Auditing Engine

When VLOG is running, it intercepts, parses, filters, augments, and displays auditing records received from the NSS Auditing Engine (vigil). For information about configuring and using the VLOG utility, see Section 3.0, VLOG Utility Man Page.

The basic functionality includes:

1.1.1 Logged Output

By default, vlog sends its output to stdout in an XML record format. VLOG also supports output in CSV (comma-separated values) format and SENT format (for Novell Sentinel/Log Manager products). For information, see VLOG Options.

1.1.2 Paths to Include or Exclude

VLOG allows you to specify which files and directories are to be monitored. You can specify patterns for the file and directory names by using a defined set of search characters. You can specify which file paths are to be included or excluded. For information, see Path Element Options. For examples of path patterns, see Path Element Examples.

1.1.3 File System Events to Monitor

VLOG can be configured to log various file system events on files and directories that are reported by the NSS Auditing Engine, including:

  • delete

  • create

  • open

  • close

  • rename

  • link

  • metadata modified

  • trustee added or removed

  • inherited rights modified

For information, see Event Types and Event Type Examples.

1.1.4 NSS, NCP, and CIFS Event Sub-Types to Monitor

These NSS file system events can be audited by NSS, NCP (NetWare Core Protocol), and CIFS sub-types. For information, see Event Sub-Types NSS, NCP, and CIFS and Event Sub-Type Examples.

1.1.5 VIGIL Events to Monitor

VLOG can also be configured to report various events internal to the NSS Auditing Engine, referred to as VIGIL events, such as:

  • Starting or stopping the vigil.ko kernel module

  • Starting or stopping the vigil.ncp.ko kernel module

  • Starting or stopping the vigil.nss.ko kernel module

  • Starting or stopping the vigil.cifs.ko kernel module

  • Starting or stopping the Auditing Client (an internal construct of the NSS Auditing Engine)

  • Starting or stopping the Auditing Client User (an internal construct of the NSS Auditing Engine)

  • Rolling the audit record log file over to a new file when the log reaches an administrator-specified maximum size

For information, see Patterns for Filtering Records of Type VIGIL and Examples for Filtering VIGIL Events.