6.7

Table Of Contents
This procedure discusses limiting the virtual machine log file number on an individual virtual machine.
To limit the number of log files for all virtual machines on a host, edit the /etc/vmware/config file. If the
vmx.log.KeepOld property is not defined in the file, you can add it. For example, to keep ten log files for
each virtual machine, add the following to /etc/vmware/config:
vmx.log.keepOld = "10"
You can use a PowerCLI script to change this property on all the virtual machines on a host.
You can use the log.keepOld parameter to affect all log files, not just the virtual machine log files.
Prerequisites
Turn off the virtual machine.
Procedure
1 Log in to a vCenter Server system using the vSphere Web Client and find the virtual machine.
a In the Navigator, select VMs and Templates.
b Find the virtual machine in the hierarchy.
2 Right-click the virtual machine and click Edit Settings.
3 Select VM Options.
4 Click Advanced and click Edit Configuration.
5 Add or edit the vmx.log.keepOld parameter to the number of files to keep for this virtual machine.
For example, to keep 20 log files and begin deleting the oldest files as new ones are created, enter
20.
6 Click OK.
Control When to Switch to New Virtual Machine Log Files
The vmx.log.rotateSize parameter specifies the log file size at which the switch to new log files
happens for the logs for individual virtual machines. Use this parameter together with the
vmx.log.keepOld parameter to ensure acceptable log file sizes without losing critical logging
information.
The vmx.log.keepOld parameter determines how many virtual machine log file instances the ESXi host
retains before overwriting the first log file. The default value of vmx.log.keepOld is 10, a suitable number
to properly log complex operations such as vMotion. You must increase this number significantly when
you change the value of vmx.log.rotateSize.
This procedure discusses changing the virtual machine rotate size on an individual virtual machine.
To limit the rotate size for all virtual machines on a host, edit the /etc/vmware/config file. If the
vmx.log.KeepOld property is not defined in the file, you can add it. You can use a PowerCLI script to
change this parameter for selected virtual machines on a host.
vSphere Monitoring and Performance
VMware, Inc. 203