
:guide-id: logging
:guide-title: Configuring logging
:guide-summary: Learn how to configure Logging
:guide-priority: 999
:guide-tile-visible: true
:version: 26.0.2

include::../attributes.adoc[]

[[logging]]
= Configuring logging

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{project_name} uses the JBoss Logging framework.
The following is a high-level overview for the available log handlers with the common parent log handler `root`:

        * console 
        * file 
        * syslog 

== Logging configuration

Logging is done on a per-category basis in {project_name}.
You can configure logging for the root log level or for more specific categories such as `org.hibernate` or `org.keycloak`.
It is also possible to tailor log levels for each particular log handler.

This {section} describes how to configure logging.

=== Log levels

The following table defines the available log levels.

[%autowidth]
|===
|Level|Description

|FATAL|Critical failures with complete inability to serve any kind of request.
|ERROR|A significant error or problem leading to the inability to process requests.
|WARN|A non-critical error or problem that might not require immediate correction.
|INFO|{project_name} lifecycle events or important information. Low frequency.
|DEBUG|More detailed information for debugging purposes, such as database logs. Higher frequency.
|TRACE|Most detailed debugging information. Very high frequency.
|ALL|Special level for all log messages.
|OFF|Special level to turn logging off entirely (not recommended).
|===

=== Configuring the root log level
When no log level configuration exists for a more specific category logger, the enclosing category is used instead. When there is no enclosing category, the root logger level is used.

To set the root log level, enter the following command:

[source,bash]
----
bin/kc.[sh|bat] start --log-level=<root-level>
----

Use these guidelines for this command:

* For `_<root-level>_`, supply a level defined in the preceding table.
* The log level is case-insensitive. For example, you could either use `DEBUG` or `debug`.
* If you were to accidentally set the log level twice, the last occurrence in the list becomes the log level. For example, if you included the syntax `--log-level="info,...,DEBUG,..."`, the root logger would be `DEBUG`.

=== Configuring category-specific log levels
You can set different log levels for specific areas in {project_name}. Use this command to provide a comma-separated list of categories for which you want a different log level:

[source,bash]
----
bin/kc.[sh|bat] start --log-level="<root-level>,<org.category1>:<org.category1-level>"
----

A configuration that applies to a category also applies to its sub-categories unless you include a more specific matching sub-category.

.Example
[source,bash]
----
bin/kc.[sh|bat] start --log-level="INFO,org.hibernate:debug,org.hibernate.hql.internal.ast:info"
----

This example sets the following log levels:

* Root log level for all loggers is set to INFO.
* The hibernate log level in general is set to debug.
* To keep SQL abstract syntax trees from creating verbose log output, the specific subcategory `org.hibernate.hql.internal.ast` is set to info. As a result, the SQL abstract syntax trees are omitted instead of appearing at the `debug` level.

== Enabling log handlers
To enable log handlers, enter the following command:

[source,bash]
----
bin/kc.[sh|bat] start --log="<handler1>,<handler2>"
----

The available handlers are:

        * console 
        * file 
        * syslog 

The more specific handler configuration mentioned below will only take effect when the handler is added to this comma-separated list.

== Specify log level for each handler

The `log-level` property specifies the global root log level and levels for selected categories.
However, a more fine-grained approach for log levels is necessary to comply with the modern application requirements.

To set log levels for particular handlers, properties in format `log-<handler>-level` (where `<handler>` is available log handler) were introduced.

It means properties for log level settings look like this:

* `log-console-level` - Console log handler
* `log-file-level` - File log handler
* `log-syslog-level` - Syslog log handler

NOTE: The `log-<handler>-level` properties are available only when the particular log handlers are enabled.
More information in log handlers settings below.

Only log levels specified in <<Log levels>> section are accepted, and *must be in lowercase*.
There is no support for specifying particular categories for log handlers yet.

=== General principle

It is necessary to understand that setting the log levels for each particular handler *does not override the root level* specified in the `log-level` property.
Log handlers respect the root log level, which represents the maximal verbosity for the whole logging system.
It means individual log handlers can be configured to be less verbose than the root logger, but not more.

Specifically, when an arbitrary log level is defined for the handler, it does not mean the log records with the log level will be present in the output.
In that case, the root `log-level` must also be assessed.
Log handler levels provide the *restriction for the root log level*, and the default log level for log handlers is `all` - without any restriction.

=== Examples

.Example: `debug` for file handler, but `info` for console handler:
[source,bash]
----
bin/kc.[sh|bat] start --log=console,file --log-level=debug --log-console-level=info
----

The root log level is set to `debug`, so every log handler inherits the value - so does the file log handler.
To hide `debug` records in the console, we need to set the minimal (least severe) level to `info` for the console handler.

.Example: `warn` for all handlers, but `debug` for file handler:
[source,bash]
----
bin/kc.[sh|bat] start --log=console,file,syslog --log-level=debug --log-console-level=warn --log-syslog-level=warn
----

The root level must be set to the most verbose required level (`debug` in this case), and other log handlers must be amended accordingly.

.Example: `info` for all handlers, but `debug`+`org.keycloak.events:trace` for Syslog handler:
[source,bash]
----
bin/kc.[sh|bat] start --log=console,file,syslog --log-level=debug,org.keycloak.events:trace, --log-syslog-level=trace --log-console-level=info --log-file-level=info
----

In order to see the `org.keycloak.events:trace`, the `trace` level must be set for the Syslog handler.

== Console log handler
The console log handler is enabled by default, providing unstructured log messages for the console.

=== Configuring the console log format
{project_name} uses a pattern-based logging formatter that generates human-readable text logs by default.

The logging format template for these lines can be applied at the root level. The default format template is:

* `%d{yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss,SSS} %-5p [%c] (%t) %s%e%n`

The format string supports the symbols in the following table:

[%autowidth]
|===
|Symbol|Summary|Description

|%%|%|Renders a simple % character.
|%c|Category|Renders the log category name.
|++%d{xxx}++|Date|Renders a date with the given date format string.String syntax defined by `java.text.SimpleDateFormat`
|%e|Exception|Renders a thrown exception.
|%h|Hostname|Renders the simple host name.
|%H|Qualified host name|Renders the fully qualified hostname, which may be the same as the simple host name, depending on the OS configuration.
|%i|Process ID|Renders the current process PID.
|%m|Full Message|Renders the log message and an exception, if thrown.
|%n |Newline|Renders the platform-specific line separator string.
|%N|Process name|Renders the name of the current process.
|%p|Level|Renders the log level of the message.
|%r|Relative time|Render the time in milliseconds since the start of the application log.
|%s|Simple message|Renders only the log message without exception trace.
|%t|Thread name|Renders the thread name.
|%t++{id}++|Thread ID|Render the thread ID.
|%z{<zone name>}|Timezone|Set the time zone of log output to <zone name>.
|%L|Line number|Render the line number of the log message.
|===

=== Setting the logging format
To set the logging format for a logged line, perform these steps:

. Build your desired format template using the preceding table.
. Enter the following command:
+
[source,bash]
----
bin/kc.[sh|bat] start --log-console-format="'<format>'"
----

Note that you need to escape characters when invoking commands containing special shell characters such as `;` using the CLI. Therefore, consider setting it in the configuration file instead.

.Example: Abbreviate the fully qualified category name
[source,bash]
----
bin/kc.[sh|bat] start --log-console-format="'%d{yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss,SSS} %-5p [%c{3.}] (%t) %s%e%n'"
----

This example abbreviates the category name to three characters by setting `[%c{3.}]` in the template instead of the default `[%c]`.

=== Configuring JSON or plain console logging
By default, the console log handler logs plain unstructured data to the console. To use structured JSON log output instead, enter the following command:

[source,bash]
----
bin/kc.[sh|bat] start --log-console-output=json
----

.Example Log Message
[source, json]
----
{"timestamp":"2022-02-25T10:31:32.452+01:00","sequence":8442,"loggerClassName":"org.jboss.logging.Logger","loggerName":"io.quarkus","level":"INFO","message":"Keycloak 18.0.0-SNAPSHOT on JVM (powered by Quarkus 2.7.2.Final) started in 3.253s. Listening on: http://0.0.0.0:8080","threadName":"main","threadId":1,"mdc":{},"ndc":"","hostName":"host-name","processName":"QuarkusEntryPoint","processId":36946}
----

When using JSON output, colors are disabled and the format settings set by `--log-console-format` will not apply.

To use unstructured logging, enter the following command:

[source,bash]
----
bin/kc.[sh|bat] start --log-console-output=default
----

.Example Log Message
[source]
----
2022-03-02 10:36:50,603 INFO  [io.quarkus] (main) Keycloak 18.0.0-SNAPSHOT on JVM (powered by Quarkus 2.7.2.Final) started in 3.615s. Listening on: http://0.0.0.0:8080
----

=== Colors
Colored console log output for unstructured logs is disabled by default. Colors may improve readability, but they can cause problems when shipping logs to external log aggregation systems. To enable or disable color-coded console log output, enter following command:

[source,bash]
----
bin/kc.[sh|bat] start --log-console-color=<false|true>
----

=== Configuring the console log level
Log level for console log handler can be specified by `--log-console-level` property as follows:

[source,bash]
----
bin/kc.[sh|bat] start --log-console-level=warn
----

For more information, see the section <<Specify log level for each handler>> above.

== File logging
As an alternative to logging to the console, you can use unstructured logging to a file.

=== Enable file logging
Logging to a file is disabled by default. To enable it, enter the following command:

[source,bash]
----
bin/kc.[sh|bat] start --log="console,file"
----

A log file named `keycloak.log` is created inside the `data/log` directory of your {project_name} installation.

=== Configuring the location and name of the log file

To change where the log file is created and the file name, perform these steps:

. Create a writable directory to store the log file.
+
If the directory is not writable, {project_name} will start correctly, but it will issue an error and no log file will be created.

. Enter this command:
+
[source,bash]
----
bin/kc.[sh|bat] start --log="console,file" --log-file=<path-to>/<your-file.log>
----

=== Configuring the file handler format
To configure a different logging format for the file log handler, enter the following command:

[source,bash]
----
bin/kc.[sh|bat] start --log-file-format="<pattern>"
----

See <<Configuring the console log format>> for more information and a table of the available pattern configuration.

=== Configuring the file log level
Log level for file log handler can be specified by `--log-file-level` property as follows:

[source,bash]
----
bin/kc.[sh|bat] start --log-file-level=warn
----

For more information, see the section <<Specify log level for each handler>> above.

== Centralized logging using Syslog

{project_name} provides the ability to send logs to a remote Syslog server.
It utilizes the protocol defined in https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc5424[RFC 5424].

=== Enable the Syslog handler
To enable logging using Syslog, add it to the list of activated log handlers as follows:

[source,bash]
----
bin/kc.[sh|bat] start --log="console,syslog"
----

=== Configuring the Syslog Application Name
To set a different application name, add the `--log-syslog-app-name` option as follows:

[source,bash]
----
bin/kc.[sh|bat] start --log="console,syslog" --log-syslog-app-name=kc-p-itadmins
----

If not set, the application name defaults to `keycloak`.

=== Configuring the Syslog endpoint

To configure the endpoint(_host:port_) of your centralized logging system, enter the following command and substitute the values with your specific values:

[source,bash]
----
bin/kc.[sh|bat] start --log="console,syslog" --log-syslog-endpoint=myhost:12345
----

When the Syslog handler is enabled, the host is using `localhost` as host value.
The Default port is `514`.

=== Configuring the Syslog log level
Log level for Syslog log handler can be specified by `--log-syslog-level` property as follows:

[source,bash]
----
bin/kc.[sh|bat] start --log-syslog-level=warn
----

For more information, see the section <<Specify log level for each handler>> above.

=== Configuring the Syslog protocol
Syslog uses TCP as the default protocol for communication.
To use UDP instead of TCP, add the `--log-syslog-protocol` option as follows:

[source,bash]
----
bin/kc.[sh|bat] start --log="console,syslog" --log-syslog-protocol=udp
----

The available protocols are: `tpc`, `udp`, and `ssl-tcp`.

=== Configuring the Syslog log format
To set the logging format for a logged line, perform these steps:

. Build your desired format template using the preceding table.
. Enter the following command:
+
[source,bash]
----
bin/kc.[sh|bat] start --log-syslog-format="'<format>'"
----

Note that you need to escape characters when invoking commands containing special shell characters such as `;` using the CLI. Therefore, consider setting it in the configuration file instead.

.Example: Abbreviate the fully qualified category name
[source,bash]
----
bin/kc.[sh|bat] start --log-syslog-format="'%d{yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss,SSS} %-5p [%c{3.}] (%t) %s%e%n'"
----

This example abbreviates the category name to three characters by setting `[%c{3.}]` in the template instead of the default `[%c]`.

=== Configuring the Syslog type

Syslog uses different message formats based on particular RFC specifications.
To change the Syslog type with a different message format, use the `--log-syslog-type` option as follows:

[source,bash]
----
bin/kc.[sh|bat] start --log-syslog-type=rfc3164
----

Possible values for the `--log-syslog-type` option are:

        * rfc5424  (default)
        * rfc3164 

The preferred Syslog type is https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc5424[RFC 5424], which obsoletes https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc3164[RFC 3164], known as BSD Syslog protocol.

=== Configuring the Syslog maximum message length

To set the maximum length of the message allowed to be sent (in bytes), use the `--log-syslog-max-length` option as follows:

[source,bash]
----
bin/kc.[sh|bat] start --log-syslog-max-length=1536
----

The length can be specified in memory size format with the appropriate suffix, like `1k` or `1K`.
The length includes the header and the message.

If the length is not explicitly set, the default values are set based on the `--log-syslog-type` option as follows:

* `2048B` - for RFC 5424
* `1024B` - for RFC 3164

=== Configuring the Syslog structured output
By default, the Syslog log handler sends plain unstructured data to the Syslog server.
To use structured JSON log output instead, enter the following command:

[source,bash]
----
bin/kc.[sh|bat] start --log-syslog-output=json
----

.Example Log Message
[source, bash]
----
2024-04-05T12:32:20.616+02:00 host keycloak 2788276 io.quarkus - {"timestamp":"2024-04-05T12:32:20.616208533+02:00","sequence":9948,"loggerClassName":"org.jboss.logging.Logger","loggerName":"io.quarkus","level":"INFO","message":"Profile prod activated. ","threadName":"main","threadId":1,"mdc":{},"ndc":"","hostName":"host","processName":"QuarkusEntryPoint","processId":2788276}
----

When using JSON output, colors are disabled and the format settings set by `--log-syslog-format` will not apply.

To use unstructured logging, enter the following command:

[source,bash]
----
bin/kc.[sh|bat] start --log-syslog-output=default
----

.Example Log Message
[source, bash]
----
2024-04-05T12:31:38.473+02:00 host keycloak 2787568 io.quarkus - 2024-04-05 12:31:38,473 INFO  [io.quarkus] (main) Profile prod activated.
----

As you can see, the timestamp is present twice, so you can amend it correspondingly via the `--log-syslog-format` property.


== Relevant options

[cols="12a,4",role="options"]
|===
| |Value

|
[.options-key]#``log``# 

[.options-description]#Enable one or more log handlers in a comma-separated list.#

[role="options-extended"]
--


*CLI:* `--log` +
*Env:* `KC_LOG`
--



|
`+console+`, `+file+`, `+syslog+`

|
[.options-key]#``log-console-color``# 

[.options-description]#Enable or disable colors when logging to console.#

[role="options-extended"]
--


*CLI:* `--log-console-color` +
*Env:* `KC_LOG_CONSOLE_COLOR`
--

Available only when Console log handler is activated


|
`+true+`, `+false+` (default)

|
[.options-key]#``log-console-format``# 

[.options-description]#The format of unstructured console log entries.#

[role="options-extended"]
--
[.options-description-extended]#If the format has spaces in it, escape the value using "<format>".#

*CLI:* `--log-console-format` +
*Env:* `KC_LOG_CONSOLE_FORMAT`
--

Available only when Console log handler is activated


|[.options-default]#`+%d{yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss,SSS} %-5p [%c] (%t) %s%e%n+`# (default)

|
[.options-key]#``log-console-include-trace``# 

[.options-description]#Include tracing information in the console log.#

[role="options-extended"]
--
[.options-description-extended]#If the `log-console-format` option is specified, this option has no effect.#

*CLI:* `--log-console-include-trace` +
*Env:* `KC_LOG_CONSOLE_INCLUDE_TRACE`
--

Available only when Console log handler and Tracing is activated


|
`+true+` (default), `+false+`

|
[.options-key]#``log-console-level``# 

[.options-description]#Set the log level for the console handler.#

[role="options-extended"]
--
[.options-description-extended]#It specifies the most verbose log level for logs shown in the output. It respects levels specified in the `log-level` option, which represents the maximal verbosity for the whole logging system. For more information, check the Logging guide.#

*CLI:* `--log-console-level` +
*Env:* `KC_LOG_CONSOLE_LEVEL`
--

Available only when Console log handler is activated


|
`+off+`, `+fatal+`, `+error+`, `+warn+`, `+info+`, `+debug+`, `+trace+`, `+all+` (default)

|
[.options-key]#``log-console-output``# 

[.options-description]#Set the log output to JSON or default (plain) unstructured logging.#

[role="options-extended"]
--


*CLI:* `--log-console-output` +
*Env:* `KC_LOG_CONSOLE_OUTPUT`
--

Available only when Console log handler is activated


|
`+default+` (default), `+json+`

|
[.options-key]#``log-file``# 

[.options-description]#Set the log file path and filename.#

[role="options-extended"]
--


*CLI:* `--log-file` +
*Env:* `KC_LOG_FILE`
--

Available only when File log handler is activated


|[.options-default]#`+data/log/keycloak.log+`# (default)

|
[.options-key]#``log-file-format``# 

[.options-description]#Set a format specific to file log entries.#

[role="options-extended"]
--


*CLI:* `--log-file-format` +
*Env:* `KC_LOG_FILE_FORMAT`
--

Available only when File log handler is activated


|[.options-default]#`+%d{yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss,SSS} %-5p [%c] (%t) %s%e%n+`# (default)

|
[.options-key]#``log-file-include-trace``# 

[.options-description]#Include tracing information in the file log.#

[role="options-extended"]
--
[.options-description-extended]#If the `log-file-format` option is specified, this option has no effect.#

*CLI:* `--log-file-include-trace` +
*Env:* `KC_LOG_FILE_INCLUDE_TRACE`
--

Available only when File log handler and Tracing is activated


|
`+true+` (default), `+false+`

|
[.options-key]#``log-file-level``# 

[.options-description]#Set the log level for the file handler.#

[role="options-extended"]
--
[.options-description-extended]#It specifies the most verbose log level for logs shown in the output. It respects levels specified in the `log-level` option, which represents the maximal verbosity for the whole logging system. For more information, check the Logging guide.#

*CLI:* `--log-file-level` +
*Env:* `KC_LOG_FILE_LEVEL`
--

Available only when File log handler is activated


|
`+off+`, `+fatal+`, `+error+`, `+warn+`, `+info+`, `+debug+`, `+trace+`, `+all+` (default)

|
[.options-key]#``log-file-output``# 

[.options-description]#Set the log output to JSON or default (plain) unstructured logging.#

[role="options-extended"]
--


*CLI:* `--log-file-output` +
*Env:* `KC_LOG_FILE_OUTPUT`
--

Available only when File log handler is activated


|
`+default+` (default), `+json+`

|
[.options-key]#``log-level``# 

[.options-description]#The log level of the root category or a comma-separated list of individual categories and their levels.#

[role="options-extended"]
--
[.options-description-extended]#For the root category, you don't need to specify a category.#

*CLI:* `--log-level` +
*Env:* `KC_LOG_LEVEL`
--



|[.options-default]#`+[info]+`# (default)

|
[.options-key]#``log-syslog-app-name``# 

[.options-description]#Set the app name used when formatting the message in RFC5424 format.#

[role="options-extended"]
--


*CLI:* `--log-syslog-app-name` +
*Env:* `KC_LOG_SYSLOG_APP_NAME`
--

Available only when Syslog is activated


|[.options-default]#`+keycloak+`# (default)

|
[.options-key]#``log-syslog-endpoint``# 

[.options-description]#Set the IP address and port of the Syslog server.#

[role="options-extended"]
--


*CLI:* `--log-syslog-endpoint` +
*Env:* `KC_LOG_SYSLOG_ENDPOINT`
--

Available only when Syslog is activated


|[.options-default]#`+localhost:514+`# (default)

|
[.options-key]#``log-syslog-format``# 

[.options-description]#Set a format specific to Syslog entries.#

[role="options-extended"]
--


*CLI:* `--log-syslog-format` +
*Env:* `KC_LOG_SYSLOG_FORMAT`
--

Available only when Syslog is activated


|[.options-default]#`+%d{yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss,SSS} %-5p [%c] (%t) %s%e%n+`# (default)

|
[.options-key]#``log-syslog-include-trace``# 

[.options-description]#Include tracing information in the Syslog.#

[role="options-extended"]
--
[.options-description-extended]#If the `log-syslog-format` option is specified, this option has no effect.#

*CLI:* `--log-syslog-include-trace` +
*Env:* `KC_LOG_SYSLOG_INCLUDE_TRACE`
--

Available only when Syslog handler and Tracing is activated


|
`+true+` (default), `+false+`

|
[.options-key]#``log-syslog-level``# 

[.options-description]#Set the log level for the Syslog handler.#

[role="options-extended"]
--
[.options-description-extended]#It specifies the most verbose log level for logs shown in the output. It respects levels specified in the `log-level` option, which represents the maximal verbosity for the whole logging system. For more information, check the Logging guide.#

*CLI:* `--log-syslog-level` +
*Env:* `KC_LOG_SYSLOG_LEVEL`
--

Available only when Syslog is activated


|
`+off+`, `+fatal+`, `+error+`, `+warn+`, `+info+`, `+debug+`, `+trace+`, `+all+` (default)

|
[.options-key]#``log-syslog-max-length``# 

[.options-description]#Set the maximum length, in bytes, of the message allowed to be sent.#

[role="options-extended"]
--
[.options-description-extended]#The length includes the header and the message. If not set, the default value is 2048 when `log-syslog-type` is rfc5424 (default) and 1024 when `log-syslog-type` is rfc3164.#

*CLI:* `--log-syslog-max-length` +
*Env:* `KC_LOG_SYSLOG_MAX_LENGTH`
--

Available only when Syslog is activated


|

|
[.options-key]#``log-syslog-output``# 

[.options-description]#Set the Syslog output to JSON or default (plain) unstructured logging.#

[role="options-extended"]
--


*CLI:* `--log-syslog-output` +
*Env:* `KC_LOG_SYSLOG_OUTPUT`
--

Available only when Syslog is activated


|
`+default+` (default), `+json+`

|
[.options-key]#``log-syslog-protocol``# 

[.options-description]#Set the protocol used to connect to the Syslog server.#

[role="options-extended"]
--


*CLI:* `--log-syslog-protocol` +
*Env:* `KC_LOG_SYSLOG_PROTOCOL`
--

Available only when Syslog is activated


|
`+tcp+` (default), `+udp+`, `+ssl-tcp+`

|
[.options-key]#``log-syslog-type``# 

[.options-description]#Set the Syslog type used to format the sent message.#

[role="options-extended"]
--


*CLI:* `--log-syslog-type` +
*Env:* `KC_LOG_SYSLOG_TYPE`
--

Available only when Syslog is activated


|
`+rfc5424+` (default), `+rfc3164+`


|===
