6.0.1

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 ten, 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.
You can use the log.rotateSize parameter to affect all log files, not just the virtual machine log files.
You can change the value of vmx.log.rotateSize for all virtual machine s from the vSphere Web Client or
by using a PowerCLI script.
Prerequisites
Turn off the virtual machine.
Procedure
1 Find the virtual machine in the vSphere Web Client inventory.
a Select a data center, folder, cluster, resource pool, or host.
b Click the Related Objects tab and click Virtual Machines.
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.rotateSize parameter to the maximum file size before log information is
added to a new file, or to the first log file if you have more log files than the vmx.log.keepOld parameter
specifies.
Specify the size in bytes.
6 Click OK.
Collecting Log Files
VMware technical support might request several files to help resolve technical issues. The following sections
describe script processes for generating and collecting some of these files.
Set Verbose Logging
You can specify how verbose log files will be.
You can only set verbose logging for vpxd logs.
Procedure
1 Select Administration > vCenter Server Settings.
2 Select Logging Options.
vSphere Monitoring and Performance
168 VMware, Inc.