IIS Logs (Internet Information Services Logs)
- Definition: IIS logs are generated by the web server component (Internet Information Services) in SharePoint.
- Purpose: These logs capture detailed information about HTTP requests and responses processed by the web server.
- Contents: IIS logs include data such as the IP address of the client, requested URLs, response codes, server processing time, and more.
- Usage: Analyzing IIS logs helps troubleshoot issues related to web server connectivity, performance, and errors. It provides insights into web traffic, identifies failed requests, monitors response times, and tracks server activities.
ULS Logs (Unified Logging Service Logs)
- Definition: ULS logs are the primary logging mechanism in SharePoint.
- Purpose: ULS logs capture detailed information about SharePoint operations, errors, warnings, and other events.
- Contents: ULS logs contain a wide range of events, including server events, user actions, workflow executions, and more.
- Usage: ULS logs are essential for troubleshooting SharePoint-specific issues. They provide valuable insights into the internal workings of SharePoint, helping identify error messages, track the flow of operations, and monitor performance. ULS logs are commonly used to pinpoint the root cause of issues and facilitate problem resolution.
We can also enable 'verbose' log for highest level of detail. When verbose logging is enabled, it captures extensive information about SharePoint operations, including step-by-step execution, method calls, and variable values. Verbose logs are particularly helpful when dealing with complex or elusive issues that require a granular understanding of the system behavior.
Example:
To configure the ULS logging level to Verbose,
Set-SpLogLevel -TraceSeverity VerboseTo enable verbose extended logging (VerboseEx) for ULS (Unified Logging Service), which includes capturing SQL queries in the log, please follow the steps below,
Set-SpLogLevel -TraceSeverity VerboseEx To configure the Event Log in addition to the trace log (ULS),
Set-SpLogLevel -TraceSeverity Verbose -EventSeverity VerboseTo reset the log level,
Clear-SPLogLevel
Differences
- Scope: IIS logs focus on web server activities, capturing HTTP-related information. ULS logs cover a broader range of SharePoint-specific events and operations.
- Content: IIS logs primarily record web server-related data, while ULS logs capture detailed information about SharePoint operations, errors, and workflows.
- Usage: IIS logs are helpful for monitoring web server performance, identifying connectivity issues, and analyzing web traffic. ULS logs are critical for troubleshooting SharePoint-specific issues, tracking user actions, and monitoring the overall health and performance of SharePoint environments.
Both IIS and ULS logs play important roles in diagnosing and resolving issues within SharePoint. Analyzing these logs collectively provides a comprehensive view of the SharePoint environment, enabling administrators and developers to identify problems, track user activities, monitor performance, and ensure the smooth operation of SharePoint sites and services.
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