/var/log/messages and /var/adm/messages - Log files are files that contain system status messages and information. There are various types of log files, maintained for various purposes. For example, there are default log files, log files for storing security messages and log files to store cron tasks. By default, /etc/syslog.conf file saves most system messages to the /var/adm/messages file. Boot messages, as well as crash messages are also saved here.General messages and those related to the system are stored by linux in the /var/log/messages folder.