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``messages``
============

.. code-block:: console

    $ target-query <path/to/target> -f messages


.. list-table:: Details
    :widths: 20 80

    * - Module
      - ``os.unix.log.messages.MessagesPlugin``
    * - Output
      - ``records``

**Module documentation**

No documentation

**Function documentation**

Return contents of /var/log/messages*, /var/log/syslog* and cloud-init logs.

Note: due to year rollover detection, the contents of the files are returned in reverse.

The messages log file holds information about a variety of events such as the system error messages, system
startups and shutdowns, change in the network configuration, etc. Aims to store valuable, non-debug and
non-critical messages. This log should be considered the "general system activity" log.

References:
    - https://geek-university.com/linux/var-log-messages-file/
    - https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/file-timestamps-mtime-ctime-and-atime-in-linux/
    - https://cloudinit.readthedocs.io/en/latest/development/logging.html#logging-command-output