rctest

rctest [OPTIONS]

-v
    Enables verbose output, providing more detailed information about the checks being performed and any issues encountered.

-h
    Displays a help message showing the available options.

The rctest command is a simple utility primarily used for developers working on Systemd. Its purpose is to verify the logical correctness and integrity of Systemd journal files. It examines the journal's internal structure, checking for inconsistencies, corruption, or other errors. This tool helps ensure that the journal files, which are crucial for system logging and debugging, are functioning correctly. While not typically used directly by end-users, rctest is invaluable during the development and testing phases of Systemd to guarantee the reliability of the journaling system. It is intended to be run against journal files that are expected to be free of errors, providing confidence in the journal's functionality before deployment or release.

This tool is primarily for Systemd developers. Running it on a live, actively used journal may produce misleading results or interfere with ongoing logging.

rctest is intended for debugging and validating journal files, not for repairing them. If inconsistencies are found, it indicates a potential issue with the journal implementation or an external factor that corrupted the journal data. Using it on live, read-write journal is not advised since it may cause issues.

rctest is part of the Systemd project, and its development is directly tied to the evolution of Systemd's journaling system. It was created as a tool for Systemd developers to rigorously test the correctness and stability of journal files during development and debugging cycles. Its usage is primarily within the Systemd development community rather than as a general-purpose tool for system administrators. The command is regularly updated in line with changes to the Systemd journaling format to keep the reliability of the journal.

journalctl(1), systemd-journald.service(8)