UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

Please help with the following command

tail -f /appdata/logs/alert_audit517.txt | grep "Sep 02"

The problem I have is with the file name "alert_audit517.txt". The 3 digit number at the end of the file name changes, so I need the file name to use a wildcard. Ive tried alert_audit***.txt, but thats not working. I also have other files in the directory that begin with the filename alert_audit, but do not end with a 3 digit number.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Use ? instead of *

? is not working either

You could also do alert_audit[0-9][0-9][0-9].txt which would be guaranteed to only match ones with three-digit numbers. Remember to not put the name in quotes, it won't expand to match the filename if it's in quotes.

Code:

tail -f /appdata/logs/alert_audit[0-9][0-9][0-9].txt | grep "Sep 02"

This will not allow for the filename changing during the run of "tail -f".
If that is going to happen we will need a more sophisticated log monitor which does not keep the log file open.

GNU tail can open more then one file.

To have gnu tail you must install coreutills.