---
name: "xconsole"
section: "1x"
platform: "linux"
package: "xbase-clients"
version: "4.3.0.dfsg.1-14sarge7"
release: "Debian 3.1 (Sarge)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/xconsole/1x"
---

# xconsole(1x)

monitor system console messages with X

## NAME

xconsole - monitor system console messages with X

## SYNOPSIS

**xconsole** \[-*toolkitoption* ...\] \[-file *file-name*\] \[-notify\] \[-stripNonprint\] \[-daemon\] \[-verbose\] \[-exitOnFail\]

## DESCRIPTION

The *xconsole* program displays messages which are usually sent to /dev/console.

## OPTIONS

*Xconsole* accepts all of the standard X Toolkit command line options along with the additional options listed below:

- **-file *file-name***

  To monitor some other device, use this option to specify the device name. This does not work on regular files as they are always ready to be read from.

- **-notify -nonotify**

  When new data are received from the console and the notify option is set, the icon name of the application has " \*" appended, so that it is evident even when the application is iconified.  -notify is the default.

- **-daemon**

  This option causes *xconsole* to place itself in the background, using fork/exit.

- **-verbose**

  When set, this option directs *xconsole* to display an informative message in the first line of the text buffer.

- **-exitOnFail**

  When set, this option directs *xconsole* to exit when it is unable to redirect the console output.

- **-saveLines *count***

  When set, *xconsole* only preserves *count* lines of message history instead of growing the text buffer without bound (a *count* of zero - the default - is treated as placing no limit on the history).

## X DEFAULTS

This program uses the *Athena Text* widget, look in the *Athena Widget Set* documentation for controlling it.

*Xconsole* otherwise accepts resources of the same names as the command-line options (without the leading dash).  "file" is a string type, "saveLines" an integer, and the remaining options are booleans.

## WIDGETS

In order to specify resources, it is useful to know the hierarchy of the widgets which compose *xconsole*.  In the notation below, indentation indicates hierarchical structure.  The widget class name is given first, followed by the widget instance name.

```
XConsole  xconsole
	XConsole  text
```

## ENVIRONMENT

- **DISPLAY**

  to get the default host and display number.

- **XENVIRONMENT**

  to get the name of a resource file that overrides the global resources stored in the RESOURCE\_MANAGER property.

## FILES

- */etc/X11/app-defaults/XConsole*

  specifies required resources

## SEE ALSO

[X(7x)](/X/7x.md), [xrdb(1)](/xrdb/1.md), Athena Text widget

## AUTHOR

Keith Packard (MIT X Consortium)