Section A: Planning summary for log content and management

Planning for log management configuration

Log switching technique and schedule

NetCache provides the following log switching techniques, which apply to all logs but the Messages log:

• (Default) Rotating logs on the NetCache appliance

  With this technique, up to 10 logs of each log type can be stored. When a new log is created, the oldest log is deleted.

• Pushing logs to an FTP server or a Web server

By default, logs are rotated when the log file size reaches 10 MB. You can change the maximum log file size and schedule log rotation or log pushing at specific intervals.

Note
The log switching technique is a global setting that applies to all log files except the Messages log. Messages log handling is not configurable.

• If log rotation when logs reach a maximum file size of 10 MB is acceptable for your organization, you do not need to reconfigure the global log settings (on the Setup tab > System > Log Files page).
• Pushing logs to an FTP server or a Web server is particularly useful for organizations that need to archive logs or need postprocessing log analysis.
• If your disk usage chart in the Appliance Manager shows a considerable amount of space being used by log files, consider taking the following actions:
  • Reduce the size of your log files.
  • Push log files to an HTTP or FTP server.

Whether you want system (syslog) messages that appear on the NetCache console to be sent immediately to a remote server's syslog daemon that is listening on port 514

Enable the Send NetCache Messages to a Remote Server option, if appropriate.

• You could, for example, monitor unauthorized use of this NetCache appliance in real time because the remote server would receive immediate notification if someone logged in to the NetCache appliance through the console.

Planning for log content configuration

Whether the default log format is acceptable for each log

By default, the logs are generated in a default log format specific to each log. You can select other predefined formats or customize the log file format to meet your requirements. The predefined log formats and available log headers vary according to log type.

• If you are using a log analyzer tool, what type of format is required? For example, do you require Netscape extended format or Common log format for HTTP data?
• For data about some features, for example, SmartFilter or DynaBLocator WebWasher, to be logged, you must configure a custom log and include headers specific to the feature in the log.

See the Guide to Messages and Log File Entries for available formats for each log file.