# freshStartTail

On first start, seeks to the end of existing files and processes only new lines.

This parameter applies to imfile: Text File Input Module.

Name:

  freshStartTail

Scope:

  input

Type:

  boolean

Default:

  off

Required?:

  no

Introduced:

  at least 8.x, possibly earlier

## Description

Causes rsyslog to seek to the end of input files at the initial start and process only new log messages. Useful when deploying rsyslog and only new logs are of interest. This parameter applies only to files that exist when rsyslog performs its initial processing of file monitors.

Warning

Depending on the number and location of existing files, startup may take time. If another process creates a new file exactly during startup and writes data to it, rsyslog may treat that file as preexisting and skip it. The same risk exists for log data written between the last shutdown and the next start. Some data loss is therefore possible. The rsyslog team advises against activating `freshStartTail`.

## Input usage

    input(type="imfile"
          File="/var/log/example.log"
          Tag="example"
          freshStartTail="on")

## Notes

- Legacy documentation used the term `binary` for the type. It is treated as boolean.

## See also

See also imfile: Text File Input Module.

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