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Managing logs for server groups


You can use the AR System Server Group Administration Console to manage logs for multiple components that belong to a server group. All these components are part of Centralized Configuration and AR System Configuration Generic UI. 

How logs are enabled across servers and server groups

When you enable or disable logging for any component from one of the following forms, the changes are immediately reflected in the remaining two forms:

  • Server Information > Log Files tab
  • AR System Server Group Administration > Server Group Logs Management
  • Centralized Configuration > AR System Configuration Generic UI

For example, if you change the setting for AR Filter Log from the Centralized Configuration > AR System Configuration Generic UI, you can view the changed setting either from the Server Information > Log Files or from the AR System Server Group Administration > Server Group Logs Management.

The Server Group Logs Management form uses only the relative paths to enable the logs. 

By default, all logs (except Flashboard logs and Email Engine logs) are stored in the <installDir>/db folder. You can change it to a different location by setting the Common-Logging-Root-Path parameter in Centralized Configuration. The default value for this parameter is NULL. For more information about the Common-Logging-Root-Path parameter, see Configuration-settings-C-D.

For example, if you want to enable api log, provide the relative path as api.log. The api.log is stored in the default directory at <installDir>\db\api.log location. 
If you have set the Common-Logging-Root-Path parameter, the log file is stored at <common_logging_root_path>\api.log location. For example, C:\test\api.log. Here, C:\test is the common logging root path.

Best Practice
For optimal viewing of the fields on the AR System Server Group Administration Console, we recommend that you set the screen resolution to 1600 x 1200 pixels. The fields on the AR System Server Group Administration Console are not displayed as expected if the screen is not as per the recommendation.

If you cannot see all fields, collapse the application flyout so that all the fields on the AR System Server Group Administration Console are displayed as expected.

Process for enabling logs for the components of a server group

You can perform the following activities on the AR System Server Group Administration Console:

Activity

Description

The AR System Server Name List form allows you to create, modify or, delete the list of specific servers in a server group.

 The Manage Logging Templates form allows you to create, modify or, delete a template

The Advanced Settings on the Server Group Logs Management form allow you to enable additional log settings. Such as client side logging, setting the maximum log file size, creating number of backups, and setting server log filters.

The Server Group Logs Management form allows you to enable logs across server and server groups.

Before you begin

You must be an  Administrator to use the Server Group Logs Management form. 

(Optional) To create a server name list for applying log settings

To apply the same log settings to a group of servers, define a Server Name List that contains the list of servers. For example, if you create a server name list for a type of server, such as user-facing servers or reporting servers, you can apply log settings to those specific servers in that group.
After you create a server name list, you select this list from the Server List field on the Server Group Logs Management form. The following screenshot illustrates the AR System Server Name List form.

image2017-9-23_15-42-32.png

Perform the following steps to create a server name list:

  1. Navigate to AR System Server Group Administration > AR System Server Name List
  2. Enter a new name or select an option from the Server Name List field.
  3. Select a server from the list of available servers.
  4. Click Apply. Repeat step 3 to add more servers.
  5. Close the AR System Server Name List form.

To delete a server, from the Server Name List, expand the Server Name table, select a server from the Server Name List, and click Delete.

(Optional) To configure a template for server group log settings

If you want to preconfigure common log settings, use the Manage Logging Templates form to create, modify or delete a template. You will specify the template when you enable the logs for a server group. 

Perform the following steps to create a new template or modify an existing template:

  1. Navigate to Applications > AR System Server Group Administration > Server Group Logs Management.
  2. On the Server Group Logs Management form, click the Manage Template link. 
    The Manage Logging Templates form opens.
  1. (Optional) On the Manage Logging Templates form, select either Server or Template.
  2. Select an option from the Template Name to modify the existing template or to enter a new template name. 
  3. To enable logs for a specific component, select Enable Log and switch the Apply Setting toggle to green. 
  4. Enter either the file name or the file name with the relative path where the logs are recorded. 
    You must enter the file name with extension.
  5. Click Save Template and then click Close.

To delete a template, select the template from the Template Name field and click Delete.

To enable logs for server group

  1. Navigate to Applications > AR System Server Group Administration > Server Group Logs Management.
    221_Log Management.png
  2. (Optional) Select either Server or Template to load the required settings.
  3. Select either of the following options for Apply to: 
    • All Servers
    • Server
    • Server List
  4. To enable the log for a specific component, select Enable Log and switch the Apply Setting toggle to green. 
  5. Enter either the file name or the file name with the relative path where the logs are recorded.
    You must enter the file name with the extension. 
    When you enter the relative path along with the log file name (for example, test/api.log), the log file is generated in the default log location in the folder you specified (test). However, if you enter only the log file name (api.log), the log file is created directly in the default log location.

    Important

    Follow these guidelines for specifying the relative path:

    • The folder name cannot start with a single dot (.) or double dots (..).
    • (Microsoft Windows) For a folder name, use only the characters that are supported by Microsoft Windows. 
    • (Microsoft Windows) The relative path cannot start with forward-slash (/).
    • (Linux) The relative path cannot start with a backslash (\).

    For the Plug-in log, you must provide a file name with an absolute file path, because a relative file path does not work.

  6. (Optional) Click the Advanced Settings link. For more information, see Advanced settings.
  7. Click Apply.

Configuring logs for the server group

Use the Logs Management screen to efficiently configure the server logs. This screen provides a single location to configure logs. You can configure logs across a single server, a list of servers, or all servers in the server group.

For more information about using this screen, see To enable logs for server group.

Viewing and saving the log files

Use the View Logs screen to retrieve log files from any server in the group. You can retrieve any system logs or any log under the configured log file root directory.

View-logs.png

Security considerations
  • In ar.cfg, if you enable the Disable-View-Log property, you can configure the maximum log file size by using the Max-Get-Log-File-Size property.
  • The default size of the Max-Get-Log-File-Size property is 500 MB.
  • The value you set for AR-Max-Attach-Size property determines the size of the log file. For example, If you set the AR-Max-Attach-Size property to 200 MB and Max-Get-Log-File-Size property to 500 MB, then you cannot view a log file of 500 MB. 
  • Based on your environment settings a performance issue might occur if you exceed the default size of the Max-Get-Log-File-Size property.

To retrieve a log file from the server

  1. In the Server Name field, select a server name.
    • After selecting the Server Name, the File name field shows all log files available on that particular server.
      File-name.png
    • When you select the server name, Root Log Dir and DB Dir fields are automatically populated with the root directories on that server from where files are retrieved.
      1. Root Log Dir
        Displays the configured root log directory on the selected server. 
        By default, all logs (except Flashboard logs and Email Engine logs) are stored in the <installDir>/db folder. You can change the root path to a different location by setting the Common-Logging-Root-Path parameter in Centralized Configuration. The default value for this parameter is NULL. 
        For more information about the Common-Logging-Root-Path parameter, see Configuration-settings-C-D.
      2. DB DirDisplays the database directory along with the product installation path on the selected server. 
  2. Click the Get File button to retrieve the file from the specified server. 
    The file loads in the attachment field.
    AttachmentFromGetFileButton.png
  3. Click Display to view the file.

Server Group Logs Management form fields

This section describes the fields available on the Server Group Logs Management form. The following table describes how to set the fields in the Server Group Logs Management form:

Field name

Description

Load Setting From Server

To load the log settings, select one of the following options: 

  • Server—Select the server from where you want to fetch the log settings. When you select any server from the list, the current log settings for that particular server are fetched.
  • TemplateIf you configured a template, select the template from where you want to fetch the log settings. When you select any template from the list, the current log settings for that particular template are fetched.

Important: When you load settings, the settings are combined with any options that you have already set. If you want to use only the loaded settings, click the Clear All button first.

Clear All

Clears all values in the log settings on the form, except for the Apply To field.

Manage Template

Opens a configuration dialog box to create, modify, or delete a log settings template. For instructions on managing templates, see To configure a template for server group log settings.

Apply To

Indicates the destination server where you want to apply the log settings for the following options:

  • All ServersApplies the settings to all the servers in a server group.
  • ServerApplies the settings to the server that you select from the list.
  • Server ListApplies the settings to the server name list that you select. For more information about the sever name list, see To create a server name list for applying log settings.

Apply

Applies the selected settings to the specified servers.

Advanced Setting

Opens the Advanced Log Configuration Panel so you can enable additional log settings, Such as client side logging, setting the maximum log file size, creating a number of backups, and setting server log filters.. For more information, see Advanced settings.

Apply Setting

Specifies whether the setting is applicable to the selected component. The green toggle indicates that the setting is applied to the selected component, and the red toggle indicates that the setting is not applied to the selected component.

Enable Log

Select to enable the logging options and clear to disable the logging options. Logs are always enabled for the following options; therefore, you cannot disable the logs:

  • Email Engine Log
  • CMDB Engine Log
  • CMDB Service Log
  • Flashboard Log

Name

Enter either the file name or the file name with the relative path where the logs are recorded. For example:

  • (Microsoft Windows) api.log or test\api.log
  • (Linux) api.log or test/api.log

Log Level

Specifies the level of logging for the selected component.

Enable Trace

Enables you to capture the process instance logs in the database so that you can view and download the logs from .

Important: If you enable process logs without selecting the Enable Trace field, the logs are only logged to the file and you will not be able to view or download the logs from .

Define Filter

Enables you to select all the process definitions from  applications and libraries for which you want to enable the log.

Process Filter

Displays all the process definitions you have selected in the Define Filter field. 

Server Group Logs Management form— Advanced Settings

The Advanced Settings Panel allows you to enable additional log settings. The following screenshot illustrates the Advanced Settings panel:

221_Advanced_Settings.png

The following table describes how to set the fields in the Advanced Settings Panel:

Field

Description

Common Server Log Settings

Enables and updates the common server log settings.

Log File Create

Defines how logs are created based one of the following options: 

  • Create Backup—Creates new log files, and the contents of the previous log files are written to logName.bak files.
  • Append to Existing—Log files and their contents are preserved, and new information is appended to them.

Client Side Logging Group

Defines the group that can use logging options in AR System clients. Logging options are disabled for users who are not members of this group. For more information about client logging, see Enabling-logs.

Maximum Log file Size in Bytes

Defines the maximum size (in bytes) for the log file. A value of 0 (the default) specifies no limit. Except for 0, the log file size cannot be set to less than 4096. When the log file reaches the maximum, new information wraps to the top of the file, overwriting the old information. If you do not specify a maximum size limit, you run the risk of running out of disk space on your system.

Important: Applicable for server logs in Server Information form.

Maximum Backups

Defines the maximum number of backup (.bak) log files allowed. A new backup log files is created when the current log file reaches the Maximum Log-File Size value. By default, the number of backup log files allowed is 1, and the maximum number of backup log files allowed is 999.

Important: Applicable for server logs in Server Information form.

Buffer Logged Lines

Buffers logged lines instead of having them immediately written to disk. Selecting this option decreases the impact to AR System performance when logging is enabled. See Server-logging-modes.

Logs per thread

Creates per-thread log files. Selecting this option decreases the impact to AR System performance when logging is enabled. For more information about thread, see Thread-log.

Log Time Period

Enables logs for the specified time.

Server Log Filters

Enables and updates the server log filters.

Users

Restricts logs to a list of user names. Separate the user names with a semicolon. 

For example, Allen;Mike


Client type

Restricts logs to the specified client types (or IDs if the client type is not known). Separate the client types or IDs with a semicolon.
For example, Mid-tier;Developer Studio;Remedy Administrator

Important: Ensure that you use valid values for the Client Type. If you enter an incorrect value, the restriction is not applied.


RPC Queues

Restricts the specified RPC Queues to the API, SQL, and Filter logs. Separate the list of RPC Queue IDs with a semicolon. 
For example, 390600;390680;390620

Maximum Log file Size (MB)

Defines the maximum size (in megabytes) for the non-server components, such as , Java Plug-in, , , and .

Important:

The Advanced Setting link on the Server Group Log Management form shows the maximum log file size in megabytes. The maximum log file size for the Java plugin Log and for the  Log is shown in byes; whereas, the maximum log file size for  Log is shown in kilobytes. These values are displayed on the respective admin consoles.

In the Server Group Log Management form and on the AR System Configuration Generic UI, if the maximum log file size is less than 1 MB, the log file size is displayed as 0 for the following logs:

  • Java plugin Log
  •  Log
  •  Log

Number of Backup Files

Defines the number of backup files for the non server components.

Related topics

1

Using-log-files

Analyzing-logs

 

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