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ConsoleWorks 3.0 Frequently Asked Questions

Section: Logging / Log File questions


Question Index:



Question:
Can logging be moved back from the alternate to the primary logging directory without a shutdown?


Answer:
1. Logging can be moved back to the primary log area using a variety of methods:

- Stop and restart the ConsoleWorks server
- Generate a Console Logging report for each affected console
- (OpenVMS:) Edit the primary log area logical name to something 
  different that points to the primary log area for each console

The first method is the easiest but with the attendant small downtime while the ConsoleWorks server is recycling. The second method flushes and closes the log file for each console being reported, pulls the information from the log file(s) then reopens the log, primary location first, secondary location if that fails. The third method closes the current log file for each console then opens/re-opens the console's log file in the "new" directory.

The following information is OpenVMS-Specific:
Before you attempt to do this, you will need to determine what caused ConsoleWorks to switch to the alternate logging directory in the first place. ConsoleWorks will switch to the alternate logging area if it gets a failure to write a log entry for ANY reason. Lack of disk space is certainly something that would cause it to switch; having 17M free blocks says this is probably not the cause. Having a directory file too fragmented is a more likely cause. If you have been running hundreds of system log files to the same directory for months, you will likely have thousands of log files pointed to by that directory file. If that directory file gets too fragmented, you may be unable to create new files in it. I suggest you use the DFU utility to check the directory for fragmentation. See the DFU DIRECTORY command for help on checking directory fragmentation. You will likely be interested in the /COMPRESS option if you find your directory file too fragmented.

Another possible cause would be that the disk has used up all of its file headers. My experience has been that the INIT command tends to be somewhat shy on the maximum number of headers it allocates, particularly if you create a lot of small files. If you've exhausted all your file headers on the primary logging disk drive, ConsoleWorks will be unable to create additional files. This would cause it to switch to the alternate logging directory. You can use the DFU REPORT command to check this. Pay attention to the INDEXF.SYS fragments, maximum # of files and free headers. If your INDEXF.SYS file is too fragmented, you may not be able to expand it even if you have enough headers left. Also consider that files with extension headers use 1 (or more) file headers to keep track of all the mapping pointers to the files. Volume defragmentation would help if this is the case.

These are just suggestions for things to look at. I suspect something along these lines is what caused ConsoleWorks to move the logs to the alternate disk.



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Question:
If I have log files in the alternate logging directory, must I move them to the primary directory for proper reporting?


Answer:
No. The Console Messages report takes into account both the primary and alternate logging directories. Thus, any information that you get from it will be logically complete and chronologically in order.

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Question:
What ConsoleWorks Event is triggered if ConsoleWorks switches to the alternate logging directory?


Answer:
ConsoleWorks generates either the CONWRKS_ALTLOGINV or CONWRKS_ALTLOGFAIL event if it must switch to the alternate logging directory. The ALTLOGINV is for when it switches; the ALTLOGFAIL is for when it cannot write a log entry to the alternate logging directory, the alternate logging directory doesn't exist, the disk that it is on fails, or similar errors. As with all ConsoleWorks events, you can run an action routine to Email or page you or to do whatever you deem reasonable for the event.

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Question:
How can I see a list of all log files generated to date and theri sizes?


Answer:
At this time, you must use facilities provided by your Operating System to accomplish this.

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