Okay, I know why it does not start the system log file. Firestarter expects to see the file /var/log/messages . This file does
not exist at system start up. I can create the file, after start up, by using the 'touch' command ( touch /var/log/messages ).
However, the file is not there when I re-boot.

Can anybody tell me how to keep the file intact through shutdown and reboot ?
I suppose I could execute a script, during boot, that would re-create the file each time I boot but that seems so clunky!

Thanks