Where to Find NetworkManager Logs in Ubuntu?

In Ubuntu, NetworkManager logs are crucial for diagnosing network-related issues. These logs contain detailed information about the network activities on your system. However, finding these logs can be a bit tricky if you’re not familiar with the Ubuntu file system. In this article, we will guide you through the process of locating NetworkManager logs in Ubuntu.

Understanding NetworkManager

NetworkManager is a system network service that manages your network devices and connections, trying to keep active network connectivity when available. It’s designed to be user-friendly and work out of the box.

Where to Find NetworkManager Logs

The location of NetworkManager logs can vary depending on your Ubuntu version and system configuration. Here are some common locations:

Using Journalctl Command

On Ubuntu 16.04 and later versions, you can use the journalctl command to view the NetworkManager logs. This command is used to query the contents of the systemd journal. Run the following command in your terminal:

journalctl /usr/sbin/NetworkManager

In this command, /usr/sbin/NetworkManager is the path to the NetworkManager binary. The journalctl command will display all logs related to this binary.

Syslog File

In some Ubuntu systems, NetworkManager logs can be found in the /var/log/syslog file. This file is a standard log file that captures messages from various system services, including NetworkManager. You can use any text editor to view this file, or use the cat or less command in the terminal:

cat /var/log/syslog

Using Journalctl with -u Option

Another way to view NetworkManager logs is by using the journalctl command with the -u NetworkManager option. This option allows you to filter logs by a specific system service. Run the following command in your terminal:

journalctl -u NetworkManager

In this command, -u stands for “unit” and NetworkManager is the name of the system service. This command will display all logs related to the NetworkManager service.

Enabling NetworkManager Logging

If you can’t find any NetworkManager logs, it’s possible that logging is not enabled for NetworkManager on your system. You can enable logging by setting the log level to “info” using the following command:

sudo dbus-send --system --print-reply --dest=org.freedesktop.NetworkManager /org/freedesktop/NetworkManager org.freedesktop.NetworkManager.SetLogging string:"info" string:""

In this command, dbus-send is a utility to send a message to a D-Bus message bus system. --system means the message is sent to the system bus. --print-reply prints the reply to standard output. --dest=org.freedesktop.NetworkManager specifies the destination of the message. /org/freedesktop/NetworkManager is the object path of the destination. org.freedesktop.NetworkManager.SetLogging is the method to be invoked. string:"info" string:"" sets the log level to “info”.

Conclusion

Understanding how to locate and interpret NetworkManager logs in Ubuntu is a valuable skill when troubleshooting network issues. Remember that the exact location of these logs may vary depending on your system configuration and Ubuntu version. If you have any questions or need further assistance, don’t hesitate to consult the Ubuntu documentation or seek help from the Ubuntu community.