Event Viewer

[mainstay]

Hi Guys,

A mac mini (2 months old) connected to a GOOD UPS is now rebooting on it's own 3-4 times a day.

There are log files generated for these events but are too detailed for my understanding.

Is there a simple event viewer (like MS eventvwr.msc) that can show me failed services, failed operations, etc., so I can try and track down what the heck is going on?

Any help would be appreciated.

--m

 

[Detrius]

I don't recall off the top of my head whether it's in /var/log/kernel.log or /var/log/system.log, but when the system boots back up, it provides a previous shutdown cause as an integer, and that integer can be used to point you in the right direction. There's not actually a list that's publicly available, but I might be able to find what it means for you.

 

[dyn]

Use Console (it's in the Utilities folder in Applications) and search for events (you want to search in the "All Messages" log). By default it will show everything just like event viewer does but unlike event viewer it allows you to search for something specific. This will narrow down the list tremendously. On the commandline you'd do something similar with tools like grep, tail, head, view, less, etc.

 

[mainstay]

holy smokes! I had no idea there were so many log files.

Thanks for the nudge in the right direction.

I think I must have been looking at a truncated format in the admin console... because this is much more detailed.

Now to backtrack the shutdown times (I haven't completely eliminated electrical issues).

Thanks!

--m

 

[Detrius]

Type "last" in the Terminal and press enter. Anything labeled as a "crash" is simply an improper shutdown. You can also search in Console.app for "previous shutdown cause", and the numbers given can be cross-referenced for why the machine thinks it turned off.

 

[cocacolakid]

Have you removed the mini from the UPS for a few hours to see if it's rebooting on it's own?

 

[mainstay]

Have you removed the mini from the UPS for a few hours to see if it's rebooting on it's own?

I removed the UPS USB connection and the unit seems to have settled down (7 days without reboot).

It no longer is getting communication with the battery backup (and so will not properly shut down at low battery), but this is much preferred to 4-5 times a day.

I also have requested an electrician to check the main power to the sockets supplying power.

Type "last" in the Terminal and press enter....

Nice! - thank you!


Edit: 30 days now without a shutdown... it must have been the USB connection to the APC battery backup.