This routine provides a structured approach to reviewing system and service logs on a DirectAdmin-managed VPS. It is intended to detect early warning signs, confirm normal operation after changes, and support informed decision-making before issues escalate.
Scope and intent
- Identify errors, warnings, or abnormal patterns early
- Confirm expected behavior after updates or incidents
- Establish a repeatable, lightweight log review habit
- Support correlation with other verification routines
When to run this routine
- After server, DirectAdmin, or service updates
- After a reboot or unexpected service restart
- When performance, mail, or service issues are suspected
- As part of periodic operational review
Prerequisites
- Root or administrative shell access
- Basic familiarity with system and service log locations
1. Define the review window
- Identify the time range relevant to the event or check
- Focus on recent entries rather than historical noise
- Note any exact timestamps tied to reported issues
2. Review system logs
- Scan system logs for errors, warnings, or repeated failures
- Look for kernel messages, disk I/O errors, or memory pressure indicators
- Confirm no unexpected reboots or service crashes occurred
3. Review DirectAdmin and service logs
- Check DirectAdmin logs for failed actions or permission issues
- Review web server logs for startup errors or repeated restarts
- Review mail service logs for delivery failures or authentication errors
4. Identify recurring patterns
- Look for repeated errors rather than single, isolated messages
- Identify trends such as retries, timeouts, or resource exhaustion
- Flag patterns that correlate with load or scheduled tasks
5. Correlate with system state
- Cross-check log entries against disk, memory, and load observations
- Confirm errors align with known maintenance or changes
- Be cautious of acting on log entries without context
6. Classify findings
- Benign: expected messages with no operational impact
- Notable: unusual but non-fatal entries requiring monitoring
- Actionable: errors indicating required follow-up or remediation
7. Record observations
- Document what logs were reviewed and why
- Record notable or actionable findings
- Note any follow-up routines that should be run
Completion criteria
- Relevant logs have been reviewed for the defined window
- No unexplained critical errors remain unacknowledged
- Next actions, if any, are clearly identified
Next step — based on your current state:
- If errors indicate instability, proceed to Incident Recovery Sanity Check.
- If logs followed recent updates, consider After Server Update Verification Checklist.
- If logs are clean, return to normal operations or continue scheduled maintenance.
Reminder after publishing:
- Return to the following posts and insert the internal URL for this routine where flagged:
- Mail Service Verification Routine
- Disk, Memory, and Load Sanity Check