mbox: Convert local email messages to log messages

1: mbox() source options

Using the mbox() driver, AxoSyslog can read email messages from local mbox files, and convert them to multiline log messages.

This driver has only one required option, the filename of the mbox file. To use the mbox() driver, the scl.conf file must be included in your AxoSyslog configuration:

   @include "scl.conf"

The mbox() driver is actually a reusable configuration snippet configured to read log messages using the file() driver. For details on using or writing such configuration snippets, see Reusing configuration blocks. You can find the source of the configuration snippet on GitHub.

Example: Using the mbox() driver

The following example reads the emails of the root user on the AxoSyslog host.

   @include "scl.conf"
    source root-mbox {
        mbox("/var/spool/mail/root");
    };

1 - mbox() source options

The mbox() driver has the following option.

hook-commands()

Description: This option makes it possible to execute external programs when the relevant driver is initialized or torn down. The hook-commands() can be used with all source and destination drivers with the exception of the usertty() and internal() drivers.

Note

The AxoSyslog application must be able to start and restart the external program, and have the necessary permissions to do so. For example, if your host is running AppArmor or SELinux, you might have to modify your AppArmor or SELinux configuration to enable AxoSyslog to execute external applications.

Using `hook-commands()` when AxoSyslog starts or stops

To execute an external program when AxoSyslog starts or stops, use the following options:

`startup()`

Type:	string
Default:	N/A

Description: Defines the external program that is executed as AxoSyslog starts.

`shutdown()`

Type:	string
Default:	N/A

Description: Defines the external program that is executed as AxoSyslog stops.

Using the hook-commands() when AxoSyslog reloads

To execute an external program when the AxoSyslog configuration is initiated or torn down, for example, on startup/shutdown or during a AxoSyslog reload, use the following options:

`setup()`

Type:	string
Default:	N/A

Description: Defines an external program that is executed when the AxoSyslog configuration is initiated, for example, on startup or during a AxoSyslog reload.

`teardown()`

Type:	string
Default:	N/A

Description: Defines an external program that is executed when the AxoSyslog configuration is stopped or torn down, for example, on shutdown or during a AxoSyslog reload.

Example: Using the hook-commands() with a network source

In the following example, the hook-commands() is used with the network() driver and it opens an iptables port automatically as AxoSyslog is started/stopped.

The assumption in this example is that the LOGCHAIN chain is part of a larger ruleset that routes traffic to it. Whenever the AxoSyslog created rule is there, packets can flow, otherwise the port is closed.

   source {
       network(transport(udp)
        hook-commands(
              startup("iptables -I LOGCHAIN 1 -p udp --dport 514 -j ACCEPT")
              shutdown("iptables -D LOGCHAIN 1")
            )
         );
    };