Deleting /private/var/log files ?

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Level 1

57 points

Deleting /private/var/log files ?

Anybody know if it is possible to delete old stuff from the folder /private/var/log ?

I can see that the files in use right now is just called .log at the end and older files is called .log.0.bz2, .log.1.bz2, .log.2.bz2, .log.3.bz2 etc. etc. Its like if old used log files is getting stuffed to .bz2 files.

Is it safe to delete all the ones ending on .log.x.bz2 ? old log files ?
Or are OS X still using those old log files.

Thx

MBP 15" Penryn - MB Alu - Mac Pro 08 - PB 17" - iPhone 1G, Mac OS X (10.5.6)

Posted on Feb 4, 2009 5:44 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Camelot

Level 9

58,263 points

Feb 4, 2009 5:52 PM in response to sjøgren

The old files are simply archived files, there for prosperity only so you can throw them away if you like - just be aware that you won't be able to research any events that occurred in the timeframe they relate to.

Also bear in mind that you'll be chasing your tail - the OS is set to automatically rotate the active logs every week so even if you throw the old, compressed files away you'll find you start to get new ones almost immediately.

In addition, in most cases the files should be pretty small, so you're not going to gain much space as a result. Therefore if you're that stressed for disk space I suggest looking elsewhere since deleting old logs is a never-ending task.

If your logs are large then there may be some issue on your machine that it's trying to tell you about, so it would be worth checking into that (which obviously you can't do once you trash the logs).

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Answer 2

V.K.

Level 9

56,192 points

Feb 4, 2009 5:51 PM in response to sjøgren

it's quite safe to delete but why do you want to? OS X periodically recycles them itself. there should be no reason to delete them by hand unless they grow abnormally large. is that the case?

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Answer 3

sjøgren Author

Level 1

57 points

Feb 8, 2009 9:54 AM in response to Camelot

Hi V.K & Camelot

Thx a lot for your answers 🙂 that helped.

I just thought i had to many of them.. heh

Anyway. As you guys say, the compressed files are very small so i just leave them.

Thx again.

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Answer 4

Mar 8, 2009 4:15 PM in response to V.K.

Hi V.K.

This is just the problem I'm having. My system log files have grown to 20gb, 6gb and a couple of smaller ones. I'd like to get my gb back. Will these log files tell someone what is wrong? I took my PowerBook over to the local Mac specialists (not the Apple store) and they loaded up MacJanitor and Disk Inventory X which then allowed us to clear up my very large log files. But two weeks later they are just as big and now the MacJanitor doesn't seem to be doing the job. Any ideas?

LeRoy

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