Managing the Log Files

There are three logfiles kept by the server:

The console log (normally httpd.log)
The access log (normally \logs\access.log)
The error log (normally \logs\error.log)

The access and error logs accumulate indefinitely. The server has a feature where it can "cycle" either or both of the logs on command, while it is running. To do this simply run the logcycle.exe program in the /support directory. The command line arguments control which logs get cycled. There is also a DLL in the /support directory that signals the server to cycle the log(s) and which can be used from Windows programs such as Visual Basic.

The cycled logs are renamed .001, .002 and so forth. The server will keep a maximum of 30 logfile cycles. Older ones are deleted. See the docs in the /support subdirectory.

For servers being run in a production mode, you can use the WinCron program that comes with httpd to shedule logfile cycling. If you schedule a daily run of logcycle, only the past 30 days' (30 cycles) log data will be kept.

The console log is cleared each time the server is started.

Return to the Administration Overview

Robert B. Denny <rdenny@netcom.com>