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I'm running a java tool as a command line app using cronjob: java -jar /var/java/-myfile.jar

By default I'm using logback and write to /var/log/mylogfile.log.

Problem: the user running the jar has no permissions to write to the /var/log/ folder. That folder has only permissions to `root syslog'.

Question: should I run the jar as sudo? Or should I give the running user write permissions to that folder? If yes, how?

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    Don't run the .jar as sudo; every mistake (wrong paths e.g.) could destroy your system. As syslog has write access, you might add the user to that group: adduser <user> syslog. – ridgy May 12 '17 at 8:31
  • Thanks for you opinion. You might want to add this as an answer, so I could accept it lateron? – membersound May 12 '17 at 8:50
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Should I run the jar as sudo?

No. Far too dangerous since you could then change about anything to the system and a single misplaced space could remove your whole system.

Or should I give the running user write permissions to that folder? If yes, how?

Yes. The 2 main commands are to change write permissions and change the USER of your log file: 

   sudo chmod 664 /var/log/{yourdir}/mylogfile.log
   sudo chown $USER:$USER /var/log/{yourdir}/mylogfile.log

where $USER is your current active user and {yourdir}/ is a directory you defined (mysql and apache for instance use their own directory in /var/log/ instead of filling up /var/log/). It is a slightly better method.

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  • Might be slightly better to actually create a directory within /var/log and change ownership of that directory as this allows the app to create or re-create the log file. – Hindol Nov 18 '19 at 12:39
  • I agree :) editted. – Rinzwind Nov 18 '19 at 12:59

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