Easy access to log files

Here is the scoop: I need to provide access to multiple log files spread across multiple directories of multiple machines. For example – the JBoss log files and nohup.out, ATG log files, and so on – so that the testers can see what happened on server side when something looks fishy on front end.

One option would be to write a document that contails IP’s of the machines, create user accounts, make sure that they have just enough access rights to see the files but not disturb anything else …

Other option is to leverage the already installed Python across all the servers. I wish it was Ruby, but one cannot have everything.

On each machine, I created directory – e.g. ~/webaccess and made symbolic links to all log files or log directories required. Then I placed this python script into the directory:

#!/usr/bin/python

import SimpleHTTPServer
import SocketServer

# minimal web server.  serves files relative to the
# current directory.

PORT = 9999

Handler = SimpleHTTPServer.SimpleHTTPRequestHandler

Handler.extensions_map.update({
'': 'application/octet-stream', # Default
'.out': 'text/plain',
'.log': 'text/plain'
})
httpd = SocketServer.TCPServer(("", PORT), Handler)

print "serving at port", PORT
httpd.serve_forever()


and started it as
nohup ./simpleserver.py &
From this moment on, all files linked (actually all files in subtree of server directory) are accessible by going to http://SERVERNAME:9999/ – which shows directory listing for linked files.
On one of the machine, I have placed additional file – index.html that contained links to all other server names.
Thanks to this page for inspiration.
					

			

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