Description of problem:

Syslogd fails to open a log file that resides outside of /var/log on 64 bit
systems. It works fine on ia32. For example, if /etc/syslog.conf has the
following contents:

  # cat /etc/syslog.conf
    *.debug         /all.log

The syslogd process fails to open /all.log on startup:

  # strace -f /sbin/syslogd -d
    ...
    write(1, "filename: /all.log\n", 19)    = 19
    open("/all.log", O_WRONLY|O_APPEND|O_CREAT|O_NOCTTY, 0644) = -1 EACCES
(Permission denied)
    write(1, "Error opening log file: /all.log"..., 33) = 33
    ...

The file /all.log is just an example. Syslogd fails to open any file that is
outside of /var/log or its subdirectories. If one copies /sbin/syslogd from an
ia32/rhel4 or x86_64/rhel3 system and uses that instead, it works fine.

When using using the ia32/rhel4 version, it works as expected:

  # strace -f /tmp/syslogd.fangorn -d
    ...
    write(1, "filename: /all.log\n", 19filename: /all.log)    = 19
    open("/all.log", O_WRONLY|O_APPEND|O_CREAT|O_NOCTTY|0x8000, 0644) = 4
    ioctl(4, SNDCTL_TMR_TIMEBASE or TCGETS, 0xffffaab8) = -1 ENOTTY
(Inappropriate ioctl for device)
    ...

And also when using the x86_64/rhel3 version:

  # strace -f /tmp/syslogd.diger -d
    ...
    write(1, "filename: /all.log\n", 19filename: /all.log)    = 19
    open("/all.log", O_WRONLY|O_APPEND|O_CREAT|O_NOCTTY, 0644) = 4
    ioctl(4, SNDCTL_TMR_TIMEBASE or TCGETS, 0x7fbfffcf00) = -1 ENOTTY
(Inappropriate ioctl for device)
    ...

Syslog facilities doesn't matter, I get the same results with e.g.
'logger -p news.err foo'. Conclusion is that syslogd on x86_64/rhel4 only works
on /var/log (or any subdirectory thereof), while syslogd from other rhel
versions works regardless of where the logfile is located.

Version-Release number of selected component (if applicable):
sysklogd-1.4.1-26_EL

How reproducible:
Always

Steps to Reproduce:
1. Spesify a log file outside of /var/log in /etc/syslog.conf
2. (Re)start syslog
3. Monitor the outcome..
  
Actual results:
Explained above.

Expected results:
Syslogd should work regardless of logfile placement.

Additional info: