Log Analyzer

The Log Analyzer takes one or more service or activity logs, merges all of the data, and displays the entries.

Based on its symptom database, the tool analyzes and interprets the event or error conditions in the log entries to help you diagnose problems. Log Analyzer has a special feature enabling it to download the latest symptom database from the IBM Web site.

To download the latest updates to the symptom database, use the File > Update Database > WebSphere Application Server Symptom Database option for WebSphere Application Server, or WebSphere Application Server Network Deployment Symptom Database option for WebSphere Application Server Network Deployment in the Log Analyzer interface.

About the service or activity log

The application server creates the service or activity log file from the activity of the various WebSphere Application Server components. Log Analyzer is used to view the service or activity log file. Log Analyzer can merge service or activity log files into one log file. The service or activity log file, activity.log, is a binary file in the logs directory of the app_server_root directory.

You cannot view the service or activity log with a text editor but you can using the Log Analyzer tool.

Viewing a service or activity log file in the absence of a graphical interface

The Log Analyzer tool cannot view remote files. If the operating system on which you are running WebSphere Application Server does not support the use of a graphical interface, transfer the file in binary mode to the system on which you are running the Java administrative console. Use the Log Analyzer tool there.

In cases where transferring the file is impractical or inconvenient, use the alternate viewing tool, showlog, to view the service or activity log file:
  1. Change directories to the app_server_root/bin directory.
  2. Run the showlog command with no parameters to display usage instructions:
    • [Windows] Run the showlog.bat command.
    • [AIX HP-UX Solaris] [Linux] Run the showlog.sh command.

To direct the service or the activity log contents to stdout, use the showlog activity.log command.

To send the service or activity log to a text file for viewing with a text editor, use the showlog activity.log textFileName command.

Accessing Log Analyzer help files

[Windows] You can access Log Analyzer help files using the operating system default Internet browser only. You cannot access the help files using an Internet browser other than the default. However, Windows systems ask you to select either Netscape Navigator or Internet Explorer as the default browser. You cannot select either Netscape or Internet Explorer as the browser to display HTML help files.

[AIX HP-UX Solaris] [Linux] You can access help files using any Internet browser. You can use such browsers as Netscape Navigator, by setting the location of its executable in the Preferences dialog tool . The option enables you to select either Netscape or Internet Explorer as the browser to display HTML help files that is not used .

[AIX HP-UX Solaris] [Linux] Perform the following steps to specify the browser :
  1. Click File > Preferences in the Log Analyzer tool.
  2. Click Help from the General folder in the Log Analyzer Preferences dialog.
  3. Set the path to the Internet browser executable in the Browser Location field.

Installing Log Analyzer silently

Installing Log Analyzer "silently" prevents installation messages from being displayed, but the file responsefile.txt for silent installation needs more information to install Log Analyzer. To silently install Log Analyzer, add the following option to this file:
-P logAnalyzerBean.active="true"

Set the Performance and Analysis Tools property in the file responsefile.txt to true to install the Log Analyzer tool. The property in the responsefile.txt file is: -P performanceAndAnalysisToolsBean.active="true".




Related tasks
[AIX HP-UX Linux Solaris Windows] Using the Log Analyzer
Related reference
[AIX HP-UX Linux Solaris Windows] Viewing the service log
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Last updated: Aug 29, 2010 9:31:45 PM CDT
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