Because of its versatility, reliability, and security, Linux has emerged as the most powerful and well-liked platform in the era of operating systems. The Syslog system is a crucial part of the Linux operating system but is frequently overlooked by end users. Syslog is an essential component that saves and manages log messages produced by running services and other installed programs in a Linux system. In this post, we’ll talk about Linux Syslog’s creation and examine its purpose and features.

Introduction

For application messages and logging systems, Syslog is recognized as a standard protocol in Linux. It enables the transmission of log messages from numerous services and applications to a single, central place. Those central locations are referred to as Syslog servers. These log messages must be gathered and stored by it for further troubleshooting and analysis. Other operating systems, including BSP, macOS, and numerous more, now frequently use Syslog.

How does Syslog Work?

Syslog consists of three vital components:

• Syslog Server
• Syslog Client
• Syslog Protocol

Syslog Server

The Syslog server, often known as syslogd, collects all incoming log messages from a certain port while running in the background. Receiving messages from various syslog clients, processing them, and then storing them in log files for particular services or applications are its duties.

Syslog Client

This component works for generating and sending log messages to a Syslog server. Services and applications running on Linux systems can use system calls or syslog libraries to transmit log messages to the syslog server (syslogd). The Syslog client is responsible for transmitting crucial details such as hostname, actual log content, timestamp, and severity level. 

Syslog Protocol

The Syslog protocol contains a set of rules that are defined for effective communication between the Syslog server and the client. It also defines the format of log messages that can be stored in the Syslog server, responsible for specifying different severity levels such as starting from debugging to emergency, allows the admin to prioritize and filter the log messages based on their need and importance.

Key functionalities

Syslog is equally important for both system administrators and developers. Here are some of its key benefits and functionalities

Flexibility

The Syslog is flexible enough that it allows the administrators to configure the log actions and destinations as per desire and need. Log messages can be stored in files locally, transmitted to servers, trigger notifications, forward the log files to other Syslog servers, and can also work on scripts containing specific conditions.

Centralized Logging

Syslog offers a centralized approach to log management. This centralized-based approach helps the administrator to access the log messages and analyze them for multiple services and applications from a single place because all the log messages are stored in a single server. Therefore, it makes troubleshooting easier along with auditing and monitoring the activity.

Scalability

Syslog is extremely scalable when it comes to scalability, which makes it more appropriate for a large number of devices and systems within an environment. Syslog is capable of handling many clients’ including services and applications log messages simultaneously and ensuring that no logs are lost or missed.

Long term Storage

The Syslog authorizes long-term storage and log file archiving. Administrators can easily control the size of log files by configuring log rotation policies and also retention periods, which can ensure the logs are properly retained for historical analysis and compliance.

Prioritization and Filtering

The Syslog enables the administrators to apply filters on log messages based on sources, severity levels, and other criteria. This prioritization and filtering allow the administrators to focus on critical events and reduce the number of less important logs.

Crestron Virtual Processors running on Linux with VC4

Crestron’s VC 4 documentation provides some guidance (and a configuration example) for non-Linux experts on how to filter entries from the main syslog into a dedicated Crestron log file. While this is useful information, users of VC4 in a server environment will soon find that this level of filtering is not suitable for quick review and the resultant logs are still too noisy to be useful.

Crestron Help Article ( Requires Login)

The team at LCD has some hints and tips below as to how to make the syslog filtering work for your vc4 architecture.

Filtering for Logic Engine and SimplPlus

Log entries coming from simpl Windows programs running on VC4 have two patterns, One is logging from the program Logic Engine and the 2nd is from the Simpl+ process. The entries below in the config file create two filtered log files and filter entries for each of the processes into the respective files.

The log entries below are from a room named “55” which is running a Simpl Windows program.

We can use the naming of different entries in the syslog to filter into more granular log files.

See the example below for details of how to create a single log file for Logic engine and Simpl Plus Logs.

The code below shows a snippet from the  /etc/rsyslog.d/ conf file.

Filtering per Room or Group of Rooms

One step further you can create a dedicated log with messages from the specific room logic engine or group of Engines you want to capture.

For example, if your rooms have a standard naming pattern in VC4 then you can leverage this to filter log messages from them into a single file.

In Summary

Setting up granular logging can make a great difference in the time to diagnosis. If you need help configuring your systems to make the most of modern logging then contact us to find out more.

Once upon a time, in the realm of .NET development, a titan named Visual Studio stood a shoulder above the rest. Visual Studio was the supreme go-to tool for a long time, offering a vast and robust Integrated Development Environment (IDE) that even audio-visual programmers couldn’t resist in the epic showdown of JetBrains Rider vs. Microsoft Visual Studio – The IDE Battle for Audio Visual Programmers.

Seemingly, the honeymoon was over when a new contender emerged from the depths of innovation—JetBrains Rider! An upstart IDE shook the very dominance of Microsoft Visual Studio in the .NET world.

JetBrains Rider emerged as a worthy adversary, boasting a sleek interface, lightning-fast performance, and a host of cutting-edge tools.

Suddenly, developers were at a crossroads between loyalty to the tried-and-true Visual Studio and the allure of Rider’s modern charm. So, which side of the IDE battle should audio-visual programmers lean on?

While both IDEs are powerful and capable, distinctive differences can be a dealbreaker for some of us audio-visual programmers.

Microsoft Visual Studio: The Industry Standard

Microsoft Visual Studio has been a long-standing industry-standard IDE catering to a wide range of developers, including audio-visual programmers. Visual Studio Code is also a powerful tool in its own right!

With its rich set of tools, extensive documentation, and strong manufacturer support, Visual Studio provides a reliable and familiar environment for developers. Familiarity is good as it makes the work easier for audio-visual programmers.

One of Visual Studio’s key strengths lies in its robust ecosystem and vast community support. Its extensive documentation and tutorials make it easier for audio-visual programmers to find resources and solutions to common challenges.

Microsoft actively maintains and updates Visual Studio for compatibility with the latest technologies and frameworks. This is in addition to support for various programming languages, such as JavaScript, HTML, C#, C, C++, .NET, and others. Unfortunately, Microsoft removed the support for Java in 2017.

Visual Studio offers seamless integration with platforms like Crestron, and the developers can leverage the platform’s full potential.

JetBrains Rider: Unleashing Cross-Platform Power

JetBrains Rider, on the other hand, is a robust IDE with cross-platform capabilities. It is versatile to support various programming languages, including C#, C++, JavaScript, and more.

Rider supports plugins developed by ReSharper and IntelliJ platform and others, but the standout feature is Rider’s seamless integration with the JetBrains ecosystem.

This provides a consistent experience across the brand’s suite of tools.

A more notable advantage is Rider’s advanced code analysis and refactoring capabilities. The IDE bundles debugging tools, intelligent code completion, and a powerful search engine, allowing you, as the developer, more straightforward navigation through large projects.

Rider’s excellent support for Git version control is really usable (although we complement it with a tool called gitkracken), as it simplifies workgroup collaboration. But it’s not so simple as Visual Studio is the defacto standard Rider suffers.

The reason is that the majority of learning platforms and example code videos all use visual studio as their IDE and the same is true for audio-visual programming might fall short. Official documentation and support for specific platforms, like Crestron, may be lacking. These can cause issues with the development process for applications meant for those platforms.

The Showdown

Both Rider and Visual Studio allow the consumption of privately hosted NuGet packages in the epic showdown of JetBrains Rider vs. Microsoft Visual Studio – The IDE Battle for Audio Visual Programmers – which is beneficial for audio-visual programmers relying on customized project packages. Such flexibility enhances productivity by enabling efficient management of dependencies.

This broad support helps automate the programming process and extend the feature list – invaluable for audio-visual coding.

But that doesn’t mean Visual Studio falls short regarding plugins. It has its bunch to enhance the coding process, even though it may struggle to match Visual Studio in that way. Check your current project requirements before migrating.

Rider takes the day when it comes to code inspection. No doubt Microsoft Visual Studio can detect issues with a handful of languages, but JetBrains Rider stretches this to multiple languages. For instance, Rider’s code inspections are over 1600 compared to 800 for Visual Studio.

Rider also gallops ahead regarding user experience with a clean, intuitive, and responsive interface. Users can choose keyboard bindings and color schemes, among other customizing features. Rider is also a savvy pick for those that prioritize performance. The JetBrains IDE starts and codes faster than Visual Studio. On the other hand, there have been reports of a freezing Visual Studio, especially in the face of solutions with many projects.

Microsoft Visual Studio shines with its extensive documentation, robust ecosystem, and strong support for platform support with edge case examples ( which is where we sit in the Audio Visual world). But Rider gets one over Visual Studio for its compatibility with Linux.

Ultimately, the choice between Rider and Visual Studio boils down to individual preferences, specific project requirements, and the targeted audio-visual platforms. Performance and familiarity with the IDE also significantly influence your choice.

But whether you prioritize cross-platform power or comprehensive manufacturer support, both IDEs offer robust features that can fuel your audio-visual programming endeavors.

Last week, Madrid played the host to a groundbreaking event as Crestron, a leader in workplace technology solutions, brought together two exciting conferences under one roof. Unveiling the Synergy of Sales and Technical Brilliance: Recap of the Crestron Event in Madrid

The Modern Workplace Summit and Crestron Masters that ran between the 23rd and 25th of May seamlessly merged sales and technical expertise, showcasing what was in store for the future workplace.

Here are the event highlights, with a particular focus on the VC4 Under the Hood and the Extensibility in Microsoft Teams Rooms.

The Modern Workplace Summit

The Modern Workplace Summit, held as part of the event, offered a deep dive into the latest trends and innovations in workplace technology. The summit highlighted the digital transformation that is penetrating the workplace.

The event explored how people and new technology can work effectively in concert—a hybrid workplace.

Experts from Microsoft, Shure, Intel, and Zoom, among others, gathered to discuss the transformative power of technology and its impact on the modern work environment. Microsoft’s Ilya Bukshteyn and Craig Durr of Wainhouse Research were part of the presenters at the summit.

The Modern Workplace Summit also explored the various Crestron hybrid workplace solutions through the Crestron Solutions for Modern Work presentation. The focus was on three new products. The first was The Desk Touch and Desk Q, a desk scheduling solution that minimizes the physical footprint for organizations.

The other solution is Crestron Flex Pods, which provide audio solutions in multi-purpose spaces, and lastly, the Crestron Videobar 70 uses an intelligent video to track the speaker.

From collaborative solutions to intelligent automation, the Summit explored how organizations can augment productivity, boost employee experience, and adapt to the fast-evolving work landscape. Crestron presented a bevy of hardware and software solutions for hybrid work

Crestron Masters – The Technical Marvels

At the same time, the Crestron Masters event catered to technical enthusiasts, offering a platform to refine skills and explore advanced capabilities. The new skills and capabilities are vital for the hybrid workplace.

Participants had the opportunity to attend various sessions, workshops, and courses designed to elevate their understanding of Crestron’s technology stack. The intention of the Crestron Masters was a focus on the core competencies of the people taking the courses.

The VC4 Under the Hood session was particularly interesting, as experts provided an in-depth examination of Crestron’s versatile VC4 platform and its potential to transform workplace communication and collaboration.

Empowering Microsoft Teams with Crestron The Modern Workplace Summit had the Extensibility in Microsoft Teams Rooms among the highlights.

This session shed light on the seamless integration of Crestron solutions with Microsoft Teams, a popular collaboration platform.

Participants gained insights into the power of combining Crestron’s cutting-edge technology with the versatility of Teams, enabling organizations to create immersive and engaging meeting experiences.

Notably, the course featured an exclusive Q&A session with Ilya Bukshteyn, a distinguished Microsoft representative who played a significant role in the Modern Workplace Summit and the event.

The Integration of Sales and Technical Expertise

The Crestron event was exceptional because of its successful technical brilliance and sales integration. This helped bridge the gap between visionary concepts and practical implementations.

By bringing together professionals from both realms, the event fostered a collaborative atmosphere where ideas could flow freely, resulting in innovative solutions for the modern workplace.

Crestron Masters was the perfect platform to explore the technical aspects of Crestron’s solutions and understand their real-world implications and value propositions.

By combining the Modern Workplace Summit and Crestron Masters, attendees gained a comprehensive understanding of the entire ecosystem, from high-level strategies to the nitty-gritty of implementation.

The interaction between Ilya Bukshteyn and attendees during the Q&A session exemplified this synergy, as sales and technical minds converged to discuss the future of workplace technology.

Bukshteyn’s insights and expertise further emphasized aligning sales strategies with technical advancements, ensuring seamless integration and optimal customer satisfaction.

Looking Ahead: A Revolutionized Workforce

Crestron’s event in Madrid was a catalyst for innovation, leaving attendees inspired and eager to embrace the future of work. With its commitment to cutting-edge technology and seamless integration with popular platforms like Microsoft Teams, Crestron is poised to revolutionize how organizations collaborate and communicate.

The event provided a glimpse into the potential of the modern workplace, where intelligent automation, immersive experiences, and enhanced productivity converge.

Takeaway

The Crestron event in Madrid was a resounding success, uniting sales and technical expertise to showcase the transformative power of workplace technology. Through the Modern Workplace Summit and Crestron Masters, attendees gained valuable insights into the latest trends and innovations. Unveiling the Synergy of Sales and Technical Brilliance: Recap of the Crestron Event in Madrid.

Spending time with peers in the software development community as well as meeting new and old contacts from the wider audio-visual community in person is always time well spent. Having my Masters Gold Level Certificate awarded during the leveling up ceremony was something special to share with my friends in the community!

The VC4 Under the Hood class and the Extensibility in Microsoft Teams Rooms were highlighted, offering a deep dive into Crestron’s cutting-edge solutions. As we move forward, LCD’s commitment to innovation promises along with Crestron’s new solutions to redefine how we work and elevate the workplace experience to new heights.