Bash Custom Log Files with Multiple Lines

Question

I have this simple bash script that looks like this:

#!/bin/sh
TIMESTAMP=`date "+%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S"`
echo "$TIMESTAMP restart" /etc/init.d/nginx restart > /usr/local/nginx/logs/restart.log 2>&1

It produces the output in my restart.log like this:

2020-04-17 18:22:30 Restarting nginx (via systemctl): nginx.service.

but the next time the script is run the output line is erased and there is just one line of the last restart instead of it. There is only one line all the time. It looks like it's just "one liner" script, not multiple lines.

Now the question is how do I make it keep all the previous entries like this:

2020-04-17 18:22:30 Restarting nginx (via systemctl): nginx.service.
2020-04-18 19:12:30 Restarting nginx (via systemctl): nginx.service.
2020-04-19 20:02:30 Restarting nginx (via systemctl): nginx.service.

I know it's supposed to be quite simple but I cannot figure it out. Would appreciate any comments / advices / suggestions. Many thanks in advance!

Does this answer your question? What are the shell's control and redirection operators? — αғsнιη, Apr 17 '20 at 13:49
Thank you so much! Yep, that did the trip! I just had to use >> instead of > — Dennis, Apr 17 '20 at 13:54

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Apr 17 '20 at 13:47

1

Hey You are overwriting the o/p:

Please use below to append it:

echo "$TIMESTAMP restart" /etc/init.d/nginx restart >> /usr/local/nginx/logs/restart.log 2>&1

answered Apr 17 '20 at 13:47

Santosh Garole

358

If it works please accept the answer. – Santosh Garole Apr 17 '20 at 13:55
Thank you Santosh! It worked. I would've never guessed it. – Dennis Apr 17 '20 at 13:56
How would you like me to accept this answer, Santosh? Yes, I do accept it. Is there a button somewhere to press? I cannot see it. – Dennis Apr 17 '20 at 13:59
Just follow this: https://meta.stackexchange.com/questions/5234/how-does-accepting-an-answer-work – Santosh Garole Apr 17 '20 at 14:02

Bash Custom Log Files with Multiple Lines

1 Answers1