6.2.1.1.6 Ensure journald Compress is configured

Information

The journald system includes the capability of compressing overly large files to avoid filling up the system with logs or making the logs unmanageably large.

Uncompressed large files may unexpectedly fill a filesystem leading to resource unavailability. Compressing logs prior to write can prevent sudden, unexpected filesystem impacts.

Solution

Set the following parameter in the [Journal] section in /etc/systemd/journald.conf or a file in /etc/systemd/journald.conf.d/ ending inconf :

Compress=yes

Example:

#!/usr/bin/env bash

{
[ ! -d /etc/systemd/journald.conf.d/ ] && mkdir /etc/systemd/journald.conf.d/
if grep -Psq -- '^h*[Journal]' /etc/systemd/journald.conf.d/60-journald.conf; then
printf '%s
' "Compress=yes" >> /etc/systemd/journald.conf.d/60-journald.conf
else
printf '%s
' "[Journal]" "Compress=yes" >> /etc/systemd/journald.conf.d/60-journald.conf
fi
}

Note: If this setting appears in a canonically later file, or later in the same file, the setting will be overwritten

Run to following command to update the parameters in the service:

# systemctl reload-or-restart systemd-journald

See Also

https://workbench.cisecurity.org/benchmarks/17045