System Utilities

System utilities help you inspect MacTain logs, local DNS configuration, and reclaimable storage. Use them when a workflow fails before you change container or Blueprint configuration.

Command Reference

Command	Description	Typical use
`mactain system logs`	Shows MacTain Engine logs.	Diagnose Engine, runtime, and container failures.
`mactain system logs --app`	Shows MacTain app logs.	Diagnose app-side installation or UI issues.
`mactain system logs --lines <n>`	Shows only the last N log lines.	Capture a bounded support-friendly log sample.
`mactain system logs --follow`, `-f`	Follows logs.	Watch logs while reproducing a failure.
`mactain system dns create <domain>`	Creates a local resolver entry and configures Local Domains.	Enable a local domain for MacTain-managed names.
`mactain system dns delete <domain>`	Deletes a resolver entry and removes the configured domain.	Remove a local DNS domain.
`mactain system dns list`	Shows configured domains, default domain, and resolver health.	Inspect DNS state before changing it.
`mactain system dns default set <domain>`	Sets the default local domain.	Choose the default domain for local name workflows.
`mactain system dns default unset`	Clears the default local domain.	Return to no configured default domain.
`mactain system dns default show`	Shows the current default local domain.	Confirm which default is active.
`mactain system storage reclaimable`	Reports reclaimable disk space from unused or orphaned resources.	Decide whether cleanup is worth doing.
`mactain system docs`	Shows built-in system examples.	Get installed-release examples from the CLI.

Defaults And Behavior

system logs reads Engine logs by default; use --app for app logs.
system logs supports bounded line output with --lines and live output with --follow.
DNS create/delete can require admin authorization because they change host resolver configuration.
DNS default commands change MacTain's local-domain preference; they are not a substitute for creating the host resolver entry.
system storage reclaimable reports space; it does not delete resources.
Use system commands to inspect before changing container, Blueprint, network, or storage configuration.

Practical Use Cases

Use case: collect recent logs for troubleshooting

Use this when a command failed and you need context from MacTain.

mactain system logs --lines 200
mactain system logs --app --lines 200

Do not share secrets, credentials, tokens, or private registry passwords when copying logs into support requests.

Use case: follow logs while reproducing a failure

Use this when a command fails only while you perform a specific action.

mactain system logs --follow

Stop following logs after the failure is captured, then copy only the relevant bounded excerpt into a support request.

Use case: inspect local DNS domains

Use this when local service names or domains do not resolve as expected.

mactain system dns list
mactain system dns default show

Create and delete DNS resolver entries only when you understand the local domain you are changing. Those commands can require admin privileges.

Use case: set a default local DNS domain

Use this when you intentionally want MacTain-managed local names to use a specific default domain.

mactain system dns default set test
mactain system dns default show

Use mactain system dns default unset to remove the default.

Use case: create and remove a local DNS domain

Use this when you intentionally want MacTain-managed names under a local domain.

mactain system dns create test
mactain system dns default set test
mactain system dns list

Creating or deleting resolver entries can require admin privileges. Remove the domain when you no longer use it:

mactain system dns default unset
mactain system dns delete test

Use case: check reclaimable disk space

Use this before deleting images, volumes, or other local resources.

mactain system storage reclaimable
mactain system storage reclaimable --json

The JSON form is useful for automation and preflight checks.

Next Steps

Continue to Troubleshooting when a system check points to a specific failure.