The SAS Logging Facility

Using the SAS Logging Facility in the SAS Intelligence Platform

About the Initial Logging Configuration for SAS Servers

When you install the SAS Intelligence Platform, the installation process performs the following configuration steps:

It enables logging for each server by specifying the LOGCONFIGLOC= option in the server's configuration file.
For each server, it provides a logging configuration file called logconfig.xml that is located in the server's configuration directory.
For each server, it provides an alternative logging configuration file called logconfig_trace.xml that can be used for troubleshooting.

For more information, see the following topics in the SAS Intelligence Platform: System Administration Guide:

"Initial Logging Configuration for SAS Servers"
"Default Locations for Server Logs"

Viewing SAS Logging Messages and Adjusting Logging Levels in Client Applications

The initial logging configurations for some SAS servers include appender definitions that make logging messages available in the following client applications:

SAS Management Console. From this application, you can view logging messages for metadata servers, object spawners, OLAP servers, pooled workspace servers, and stored process servers. In this example, the metadata server log is displayed:

You can also use the Loggers tab in SAS Management Console to dynamically adjust server logging levels, without the need to restart the server. The following example shows the Loggers tab for the metadata server:

For more information, see "Using SAS Management Console to Monitor SAS Servers" in the SAS Intelligence Platform: System Administration Guide.
SAS Data Integration Studio. From this application, you can view performance-related events that are associated with a SAS Data Integration Studio job. For more information, see the product Help.

You can also use enterprise systems management products to view server logging messages and dynamically adjust server logging levels. For more information, see the Enterprise Management Integration Web page at http://support.sas.com/rnd/emi.

Best Practices for SAS Server Logging

When using the logging facility for SAS servers, follow these best practices:

Use the initial logging configuration files that are created during installation. These files provide a good starting point for server logging.
If you need to change a server's logging configuration, back up the initial configuration file before making changes. Make configuration changes incrementally, and evaluate the effect of each change before making additional changes.
Do not use the TRACE and DEBUG levels unless you are directed to do so by SAS Technical Support, since these logging levels can affect performance. You can use either of these methods to adjust logging levels for SAS Technical Support:
- Enable the logconfig_trace.xml file that is provided for the server.
- Use the server manager features of SAS Management Console to adjust levels temporarily and avoid having to restart the servers.

For more information, see the following documents:

"Administering Logging for SAS Servers" in the SAS Intelligence Platform: System Administration Guide.
SAS Interface to Application Response Measurement (ARM): Reference, which describes SAS features that are compliant with the ARM 2.0 and ARM 4.0 standards and that enable you to monitor the performance of SAS applications.

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