bug#62163: Suppress logging shepherd evaluation in mcron.log

[Bruno Victal]

Hi Ludo’,

On 2023-04-27 14:24, Ludovic Courtès wrote:
> Hi Bruno,
> 
> Ludovic Courtès <ludo@gnu.org> skribis:
> 
>> Bruno Victal <mirai@makinata.eu> skribis:
>>
>>> On 2023-03-30 11:22, Ludovic Courtès wrote:
>>>>
>>>> You can send messages to the bitbucket with:
>>>>
>>>>   (parameterize ((shepherd-message-port (%make-void-port "w0")))
>>>>     …)
>>>
>>> While it does work for expunging them from mcron log, I noticed that
>>> these lines are also polluting /var/log/messages and the snippet above
>>> doesn't handle that.
>>> Is there perhaps something else I'm missing?
>>
>> Nope, you cannot prevent them from ending up in /var/log/messages; they
>> are purposefully logged.

Perhaps we could have a “low-noise” way to query for running services? (or non 
modifying actions done on shepherd)
Filling /var/log/messages with messages of (IMO) dubious value seems 
counterproductive.

> What should we do about this bug?  Am I right that the conclusion is
> that ‘my-heartbeat-job’ could send herd/shepherd output to the bit
> bucket?  If yes, we can close this bug.

Parameterizing the shepherd-message-port did cut the shepherd messages from the 
mcron log, yes.


Cheers,
Bruno