How can you view Linux system logs?

Viewing Linux system logs is commonly done through the files located in the /var/log directory. This directory is the central place where most of the system logs are stored, including logs for the kernel, services, applications, and system events. Each log file in this directory provides specific information that can help in diagnosing issues, monitoring system activity, and understanding the behavior of different components of the Linux system.

For example, common log files found in /var/log include 'syslog' for general system messages, 'auth.log' for authentication messages, and 'dmesg' for boot and kernel messages. System administrators and users often check these log files using text editors or command-line tools like cat, less, or tail.

The other methods mentioned do not directly lead to viewing system logs. The /etc directory is primarily used for configuration files, the log command does not exist in standard Linux command sets, and while the systemctl command is useful for managing systemd services and checking their status, it does not view logs directly. Instead, systemctl can be used alongside journalctl to access logs when using systemd.