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Configuring System Message Logging

Configuring System Message Logging

This chapter describes how to configure system message logging on the Catalyst 6000 family switches.


Note For complete syntax and usage information for the commands used in this chapter, refer to the Catalyst 6000 Family Command Reference publication.

This chapter consists of these sections:

Understanding How System Message Logging Works

The system message logging software can save messages in a log file or direct the messages to other devices. The system message logging facility has these features:

By default, the switch logs normal but significant system messages to its internal buffer and sends these messages to the system console. You can specify which system messages should be saved based on the type of facility (see Table 21-1) and the severity level (see Table 21-2). Messages are time-stamped to enhance real-time debugging and management.

You can access logged system messages using the switch command-line interface (CLI) or by saving them to a properly configured syslog server. The switch software saves syslog messages in an internal buffer that can store up to 1024 messages. You can monitor system messages remotely by accessing the switch through Telnet or the console port, or by viewing the logs on a syslog server.


Note When the switch first initializes, the network is not connected until the initialization completes. Therefore, messages redirected to a syslog server are delayed up to 90 seconds.

Table 21-1 describes the facility types supported by the system message logs.


Table 21-1: System Message Log Facilities
Facility Name Definition

cdp

Cisco Discovery Protocol

cops

Common Open Policy Service

dtp

Dynamic Trunking Protocol

earl

Enhanced Address Recognition Logic

gvrp

GARP VLAN Registration Protocol

ip

Internet Protocol

kernel

Kernel

mcast

Multicast

mgmt

Management

mls

Multilayer Switching

pagp

Port Aggregation Protocol

protfilt

Protocol Filter

pruning

VTP pruning

qos

Quality of Service

radius

Remote Access Dial-In User Service

security

Security

snmp

Simple Network Management Protocol

spantree

Spanning-Tree Protocol

sys

System

tac

Terminal Access Controller

tcp

Transmission Control Protocol

telnet

Terminal Emulation Protocol

tftp

Trivial File Transfer Protocol

udld

User Datagram Protocol

vtp

Virtual Terminal Protocol

Table 21-2 describes the severity levels supported by the system message logs.


Table 21-2: Severity Level Definitions
Severity Level Description

0---emergencies

System unusable

1---alerts

Immediate action required

2---critical

Critical condition

3---errors

Error conditions

4---warnings

Warning conditions

5---notifications

Normal bug significant condition

6---informational

Informational messages

7---debugging

Debugging messages

System Log Message Format

System log messages begin with a percent sign (%) and can contain up to 80 characters. Messages are displayed in the following format:

mm/dd/yyy:hh/mm/ss:facility-severity-MNEMONIC:description

Table 21-3 describes the elements of syslog messages.


Table 21-3: System Log Message Elements
Element Description

mm/dd/yyy:hh/mm/ss

Date and time of the error or event. This information appears only if configured using the set logging timestamp enable command.

facility

Indicates the facility to which the message refers (for example, SNMP, SYS, etc.).

severity

Single-digit code from 0 to 7 that indicates the severity of the message.

MNEMONIC

Text string that uniquely describes the error message.

description

Text string containing detailed information about the event being reported.

This example shows typical switch system messages (at system startup):

1999 Apr 16 10:01:26 %MLS-5-MLSENABLED:IP Multilayer switching is enabled
1999 Apr 16 10:01:26 %MLS-5-NDEDISABLED:Netflow Data Export disabled
1999 Apr 16 10:01:26 %SYS-5-MOD_OK:Module 1 is online
1999 Apr 16 10:01:47 %SYS-5-MOD_OK:Module 3 is online
1999 Apr 16 10:01:42 %SYS-5-MOD_OK:Module 6 is online
1999 Apr 16 10:02:27 %PAGP-5-PORTTOSTP:Port 3/1 joined bridge port 3/1
1999 Apr 16 10:02:28 %PAGP-5-PORTTOSTP:Port 3/2 joined bridge port 3/2

Default System Message Logging Configuration

Table 21-4 describes the default system message logging configuration.


Table 21-4: Default System Message Logging Configuration
Configuration Parameter Default Setting

System message logging to the console

Enabled

System message logging to Telnet sessions

Enabled

Logging buffer size

500

Logging history size

1

Timestamp option

Enabled

Logging server

Disabled

Syslog server IP address

None configured

Server facility

LOCAL7

Server severity

Warnings (4)

Facility/severity level for system messages

sys/5
dtp/5
pagp/5
mgmt/5
mls/5
cdp/4
udld/4
all other facilities/2

Configuring System Message Logging

These sections describe how to configure system message logging on the switch:

Configuring Session Logging Settings

By default, system logging messages are sent to console and Telnet sessions based on the default logging facility and severity values. If desired, you can disable logging to the console or logging to a given Telnet session.

When you disable or enable logging to console sessions, the enable state is applied to all future console sessions. For example, if you disable logging to the console, disconnect from the console port, and later reconnect, logging is still disabled for the console.

In contrast, when you disable or enable logging to a Telnet session, the enable state is applied only to that session. If you disable logging to a Telnet session, disconnect the session, and later reconnect, logging is enabled for the new session.


Note If you enter the set logging session command while connected through the console port, the command has the same effect as entering the set logging console command. However, if you enter the set logging console command while connected through a Telnet session, the default console logging enable state is changed.

To change the logging enable state for console sessions, perform this task in privileged mode:
Task Command

Step 1 Change the default logging enable state for console sessions.

set logging console {enable | disable}

Step 2 Verify the logging configuration.

show logging [noalias]

This example shows how to disable logging to the current and future console sessions:

Console> (enable) set logging console disable
System logging messages will not be sent to the console.
Console> (enable) 
 
 

To change the logging enable state for the current Telnet session, perform this task in privileged mode:
Task Command

Step 1 Change the logging enable state for a Telnet session.

set logging session {enable | disable}

Step 2 Verify the logging configuration.

show logging [noalias]

This example shows how to disable logging to the current Telnet session:

Console> (enable) set logging session disable
System logging messages will not be sent to the current login session.
Console> (enable) 

Configuring the System Message Logging Levels

You can change the severity level for each logging facility using the set logging level command. Use the all keyword to specify all facilities. Use the default keyword to make the specified severity level the default for the specified facilities. If you do not use the default keyword, the specified severity level applies only to the current session.

To change the system message logging severity level setting for a logging facility, perform this task in privileged mode:
Task Command

Step 1 Set the severity level for logging facilities.

set logging level {all | facility} severity [default]

Step 2 Verify the system message logging configuration.

show logging [noalias]

This example shows how to set the logging severity level to 5 for all facilities (for the current session only):

Console> (enable) set logging level all 5
All system logging facilities for this session set to severity 5(notifications)
Console> (enable) 
 
 

This example shows how to set the default logging severity level to 3 for the cdp facility:

Console> (enable) set logging level cdp 3 default
System logging facility <cdp> set to severity 3(errors)
Console> (enable) 

Changing the Logging Timestamp Enable State

To enable or disable the logging timestamp, perform this task in privileged mode:
Task Command

Step 1 Specify the logging timestamp enable state.

set logging timestamp {enable | disable}

Step 2 Verify the logging timestamp enable state.

show logging [noalias]

This example shows how to enable the timestamp display on system logging messages:

Console> (enable) set logging timestamp enable
System logging messages timestamp will be enabled.
Console> (enable)

Specifying the Logging Buffer Size

To specify the number of messages to log to the logging buffer, perform this task in privileged mode:
Task Command

Step 1 Set the number of messages to log to the logging buffer.

set logging buffer buffer_size

Step 2 Verify the system message logging configuration.

show logging [noalias]

This example shows how to set the logging buffer size to 200 messages:

Console> (enable) set logging buffer 200
System logging buffer size set to <200>
Console> (enable)

Configuring the Syslog Daemon on a UNIX Syslog Server

Before you can send system log messages to a UNIX syslog server, you must configure the syslog daemon on a UNIX server. Log in as root, and perform these steps:

Step 1 Add a line such as the following to the file /etc/syslog.conf:

    user.debug/var/log/myfile.log
    

The switch sends messages according to specified facility types and severity levels. The user keyword specifies the UNIX logging facility used. The messages from the switch are generated by user processes. The debug keyword specifies the severity level of the condition being logged. You can set UNIX systems to receive all messages from the switch.

Step 2 Create the log file by entering these commands at the UNIX shell prompt:

    $ touch /var/log/myfile.log
    $ chmod 666 /var/log/myfile.log
     
    

Step 3 Make sure the syslog daemon reads the new changes by entering this command:

    $ kill -HUP \Qcat /etc/syslog.pid
    

Configuring Syslog Servers


Note Before you can send system log messages to a UNIX syslog server, you must configure the syslog daemon on the UNIX server as described in the "Configuring the Syslog Daemon on a UNIX Syslog Server" section.

To configure the switch to log messages to a syslog server, perform this task in privileged mode:
Task Command

Step 1 Specify the IP address of one or more syslog servers1.

set logging server ip_addr

Step 2 Set the facility and severity levels for syslog server messages.

set logging server facility server_facility_parameter

set logging server severity server_severity_level

Step 3 Enable system message logging to configured syslog servers.

set logging server enable

Step 4 Verify the configuration.

show logging [noalias]

1You can configure a maximum of three syslog servers.

This example shows how to specify a syslog server, set the facility and severity levels, and enable logging to the server:

Console> (enable) set logging server 10.10.10.100
10.10.10.100 added to System logging server table.
Console> (enable) set logging server facility local5
System logging server facility set to <local5>
Console> (enable) set logging server severity 5
System logging server severity set to <5>
Console> (enable) set logging server enable
System logging messages will be sent to the configured syslog servers.
Console> (enable)
 
 

To remove a syslog server from the syslog server table, perform this task in privileged mode:
Task Command

Delete a syslog server from the syslog server table.

clear logging server ip_addr

This example shows how to remove a syslog server from the syslog server table:

Console> (enable) clear logging server 10.10.10.100
System logging server 10.10.10.100 removed from system logging server table.
Console> (enable) 
 
 

To disable logging to the syslog server, perform this task in privileged mode:
Task Command

Disable system message logging to configured syslog servers.

set logging server disable

This example shows how to disable logging to syslog servers:

Console> (enable) set logging server disable
System logging messages will not be sent to the configured syslog servers.
Console> (enable)

Displaying the Logging Configuration

Use the show logging command to display the current system message logging configuration. Use the noalias keyword to display the IP addresses instead of the host names of the configured syslog servers.

To display the current system message logging configuration, perform this task:
Task Command

Display the current system message logging configuration.

show logging [noalias]

This example shows how to display the current system message logging configuration:

Console> (enable) show logging
Logging buffered size:       500
        timestamp option:    enabled
Logging history size:        1
Logging console:             enabled
Logging server:              disabled
        server facility:     LOCAL7
        server severity:     warnings(4)
 
 
Facility        Default Severity        Current Session Severity
-------------  -----------------------  ------------------------
cdp             4                            4
cops            2                            2
dtp             5                            5
dvlan           2                            2
earl            2                            2
filesys         2                            2
gvrp            2                            2
ip              2                            2
kernel          2                            2
mcast           2                            2
mgmt            5                            5
mls             5                            5
pagp            5                            5
protfilt        2                            2
pruning         2                            2
qos             2                            2
radius          2                            2
security        2                            2
snmp            2                            2
spantree        2                            2
sys             5                            5
tac             2                            2
tcp             2                            2
telnet          2                            2
tftp            2                            2
udld            4                            4
vtp             2                            2
 
0(emergencies)        1(alerts)             2(critical)
3(errors)             4(warnings)           5(notifications)
6(information)        7(debugging) 
Console> (enable)

Displaying System Messages

Use the show logging buffer command to display the messages in the switch logging buffer. If you do not specify number_of_messages, the default is to display the last 20 messages in the buffer (-20).

To display the messages in the switch logging buffer, perform one of these tasks:
Task Command

  • Display the first number_of_messages messages in the buffer.

show logging buffer [number_of_messages]

  • Display the last number_of_messages messages in the buffer.

show logging buffer -[number_of_messages]

This example shows how to display the first five messages in the buffer:

Console> (enable) show logging buffer 5
1999 Apr 16 08:40:11 %SYS-5-MOD_OK:Module 1 is online
1999 Apr 16 08:40:14 %SYS-5-MOD_OK:Module 3 is online
1999 Apr 16 08:40:14 %SYS-5-MOD_OK:Module 2 is online
1999 Apr 16 08:41:15 %PAGP-5-PORTTOSTP:Port 2/1 joined bridge port 2/1
1999 Apr 16 08:41:15 %PAGP-5-PORTTOSTP:Port 2/2 joined bridge port 2/2
 
 

This example shows how to display the last five messages in the buffer:

Console> (enable) show logging buffer -5
%PAGP-5-PORTFROMSTP:Port 3/1 left bridge port 3/1
%SPANTREE-5-PORTDEL_SUCCESS:3/2 deleted from vlan 1 (PAgP_Group_Rx)
%PAGP-5-PORTFROMSTP:Port 3/2 left bridge port 3/2
%PAGP-5-PORTTOSTP:Port 3/1 joined bridge port 3/1-2
%PAGP-5-PORTTOSTP:Port 3/2 joined bridge port 3/1-2
Console> (enable)
 
 


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Posted: Wed Nov 10 13:12:05 PST 1999
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