I thought it would be a good idea to monitor this folder for new files and to be alerted by email when a change in the folder contents is detected, i.e. when a new error report is generated so that I am aware of Magento errors as soon as they happen.

I put together a quick PHP script and then converted it into a Magento Extension that runs as part of the magento scheduled cron tasks. The extension will check the /var/report folder every hour and send an email alert when a change in this folder is detected with the latest error report file attached.

The extension uses the Magento scheduler which should be enabled. And the Magento scheduler script cron.php should be configured to run periodically in your crontab.

To install the extension, copy the extension app folder to your magento store app folder. Refresh your magento cache. Logout from admin, and login again. Check out your var/reports folder, if you have not checked it for a while there could be reports there, it is quite safe to remove old reports.

The first time the extension runs you will receive an email if there are existing files in your var/report folder showing the total number of reports with the newest report attached. After that you will be alerted each time new reports are detected.

Configure the extension with a valid email addresses, in the My Extensions, Monitor Reports admin section.

Tested with Magento 1.3.x, 1.5.x

Download the extension here.