Inotify: Build a monitoring script
noorbeast — Sat, 2010-06-26 21:35
The inotify tools are great for monitoring files and scripting some subsequent actions. To install on Ubuntu do the following: sudo apt-get install inotify-tools
I use inotifywait to monitor the CQLUG IRC via the command line chat program centerim, and link it to sound and system notifications as follows:
#!/bin/sh
while inotifywait -e modify ~/.centerim/i#cqlug/history; do
MSG=`tail -n 1 -q ~/.centerim/i#cqlug/history`
notify-send -i ~/tarazan-virusp.png -u normal -t 20000 "CQLUG" "$MSG"; play /home/user/.centerim/Sounds/Question.wav;done
done
However, there are many other possible uses. For example it could be used as a trigger for an automated backup of a critical file, whenever that file is changed, or to monitor proc information, or even monitoring log files. It is only limited by your imagination and needs.