diff --git a/xCAT-server-2.0/sbin/xcatconfig b/xCAT-server-2.0/sbin/xcatconfig
index 0b59501fd..e61b78996 100644
--- a/xCAT-server-2.0/sbin/xcatconfig
+++ b/xCAT-server-2.0/sbin/xcatconfig
@@ -368,28 +368,33 @@ if (( ! -r "/etc/xcat/policy.sqlite" ) || $::FORCE) {
     }
 }
 
-# setup syslog
-my $syslogcmds;
-$syslogcmds = "cp /etc/syslog.conf /etc/syslog.conf.ORIG;";
-$syslogcmds .= "echo '*.debug   /var/log/localmessages' > /etc/test.tmp;";
-$syslogcmds .= "echo '*.crit   /var/log/localmessages' >> /etc/test.tmp;";
-$syslogcmds .= "cat /etc/test.tmp >> /etc/syslog.conf;";
-$syslogcmds .= "rm /etc/test.tmp;";
-$syslogcmds .= "touch /var/log/localmessages;";
-if ($::osname eq 'AIX') {
-	$syslogcmds .= "stopsrc -s syslogd;";
-	$syslogcmds .= "startsrc -s syslogd;";
-} else {
-	$syslogcmds .= "/etc/rc.d/init.d/syslog stop;";
-	$syslogcmds .= "/etc/rc.d/init.d/syslog start;";
-}
+#
+# set up syslog
+#
+#  if backup file exists assume it's already set up
+if (( ! -r "/etc/syslog.conf.ORIG" ) || $::FORCE) {
+	my $syslogcmds;
+	$syslogcmds = "cp /etc/syslog.conf /etc/syslog.conf.ORIG;";
+	$syslogcmds .= "echo '*.debug   /var/log/localmessages' > /etc/test.tmp;";
+	$syslogcmds .= "echo '*.crit   /var/log/localmessages' >> /etc/test.tmp;";
+	$syslogcmds .= "cat /etc/test.tmp >> /etc/syslog.conf;";
+	$syslogcmds .= "rm /etc/test.tmp;";
+	$syslogcmds .= "touch /var/log/localmessages;";
+	if ($::osname eq 'AIX') {
+		$syslogcmds .= "stopsrc -s syslogd;";
+		$syslogcmds .= "startsrc -s syslogd;";
+	} else {
+		$syslogcmds .= "/etc/rc.d/init.d/syslog stop;";
+		$syslogcmds .= "/etc/rc.d/init.d/syslog start;";
+	}
 
-my $outref = xCAT::Utils->runcmd("$syslogcmds", 0);
-if ($::RUNCMD_RC  != 0)
-{
-    xCAT::MsgUtils->message('E', "Could not set up syslog.\n");
-} else {
-    xCAT::MsgUtils->message('I', "Started syslog daemon.\n");
+	my $outref = xCAT::Utils->runcmd("$syslogcmds", 0);
+	if ($::RUNCMD_RC  != 0)
+	{
+    	xCAT::MsgUtils->message('E', "Could not set up syslog.\n");
+	} else {
+    	xCAT::MsgUtils->message('I', "Started syslog daemon.\n");
+	}
 }
 
 #