This task describes how to set up a log file for monitoring. It allows you to designate any log file on your system.

Before you begin

• The PATROL KM for Log Management can monitor log files that change names.
• If you want a new file to read from the end, instead of from the beginning (the default), see Changing configuration settings by adding variables.
• If you want to change the way the KM handles custom events, changes to configuration, or changes to file size, see Changing configuration settings by adding variables.
• Once you specify a log file, the KM monitors the log for the
• File Size - stored in the File-Size-in-Bytes-LOGFileSize  or File-Size-in-MegaBytes-LOGFileSizeMB
• Growth Rate - stored in the Rate-of-Growth-LOGGrowthRate parameter

To monitor a log file

1. Access the LOG application menu as described in Accessing KM Menu Commands.
2. Select Add Instance.

3. In the Add-Instance-dialog-box, enter a name for the log file in the Enter Label for New File to be Added text box. The name you enter is displayed underneath the icon that represents the log file in the KM. For information on dynamic file name resolution, see Using-regular-expressions-to-monitor-log-files-with-dynamic-names.
   
   

   Warning

   Note

   The log file label or name cannot exceed 20 characters or use spaces. If the label name contains a space, for example "AA BB", the label is displayed as "AABB". The Console cannot monitor this file because it has a space in the label name.

4. Click Accept.
5. In the Add-File-for-Label-instanceName-dialog-box, in enter the full path and file name for the log file (Text or XML)you want to monitor in the File/Pipe Name text box. The PATROL Agent default account must be able to read this file. You can use wild cards to specify log file names.
6. For a text instance, select the Binary File type option in the Add File for Label: instanceName dialog box to monitor a binary log file. Enter the name of the program that translates the file to ASCII text in the Filter Program text box. If you specify a filter program, PATROL periodically dumps the log file into the program for scanning. Select Latest or All as the file disposition.
7. For an XML instance, select the File Disposition from the the Add File for Label: instanceName dialog box.
8. Configure the search string for the Configuring-the-search-criteria-for-a-text-instance or the Configuring-the-search-string-for-an-XML-instance.
    PATROL displays a new LOG application instance in the Desktop tree tab.

Related topics

• How to
• Changing configuration settings by adding variables