Re: How to define Log, Event, and Alert?

Good point. So:

Event = something that happened on a system.
Log = a TIMED record of the above occurence.


On Thu, Jul 24, 2008 at 7:23 PM, Bill Scherr IV <[email protected]> wrote:
> So...
>
> I gather a temporal mention to be appropriate beyond the definition of the Log.  Also, most systems break off their logs by
> size, not time.  Although there is a definite time to each log, they are not consistent, even with the same log gatherer.  Right or
> wrong, that is how I find them.  Suggestions below (if I may be so bold):
>
> Circa 11:26, 23 Jul 2008, a note, claiming source Heinbockel, Bill <[email protected]>, was sent to me:
>
> From:                   "Heinbockel, Bill" <[email protected]>
> To:                     <[email protected]>
> Subject:                [logs] How to define Log, Event, and Alert?
>
>>
>>
>> Here is our initial shot at defining these terms:
>>
>>
>> Event:
>>       A discrete, distinct, and discernible state change in an
>> environment.
>
> A discrete, distinct, and discernible state change in an environment at a recorded (or given) time.
>>
>> Alert (n):
>>       A warning or notification generated in response to an event.
>>
>> Alert (v):
>>       The act of generating, transport, or displaying a warning or
>> notification in response to an event.
>>
>> Log Entry:
>>       The record of an event in a log. Event log, event record, log
>> message, log record, and audit record are all synonyms that have been
>> used to refer to log entries.
>
> The record of an event in a log, in sequence, usually with a timestamp.  <thesaurus reference to follow>
>>
>> Log (n):
>>       The record comprising one or more log entries accumulated over
>> a given period. This may be electronic (e.g. stored in memory, disk,
>> software, database, text file, etc), physical (e.g. on paper), or even
>> verbal (e.g., "Between 10:00 and 10:01 we received a series of several
>> thousand SYN packets that we acknowledged, but full TCP connections
>> were not completed. At 10:02, our server resources exceeded the
>> maximum tolerable level and crashed.").
>>
>> Log (v):
>>       The act of recording or storing one or more events.
>>
>>
>>
>> What do you think?
>> Can these definitions be changed/improved in anyway?
>> Is there any examples, synonyms, or clarifications that should be
>> added?
>>
>
> Event:  The same state change may occur repeatedly.
> Log Entry:  No entry happens without context.
>
>
>
>
> Bill Scherr IV, GSEC, GCIA
> Principal Security Engineer
> EWA Information and Infrastructure Technologies
> [email protected]
> [email protected]
> 703-478-7608
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