Windows Server 2012 features a robust logging system using the Event Viewer, which records detailed information about system activities, application behavior, and security events. Understanding how to leverage Event Logs is crucial for system administrators to troubleshoot issues, monitor server performance, and enhance security.
Windows Server 2012 maintains several types of event logs:
- Application Logs – Track events related to installed software.
- System Logs – Record system-level events, such as hardware issues and driver problems.
- Security Logs – Monitor security-related events, such as user logins, failed attempts, and permission changes.
This guide covers how to access, configure, and analyze event logs on Windows Server 2012 to improve server management and troubleshooting.
Log & Configuration File Locations
Before diving into details, it’s essential to know where Windows Server 2012 stores its logs:
| Log Type | Location |
|---|---|
| Application Logs | Event Viewer > Windows Logs > Application |
| System Logs | Event Viewer > Windows Logs > System |
| Security Logs | Event Viewer > Windows Logs > Security |
| Setup Logs | Event Viewer > Windows Logs > Setup |
| Custom Logs | Event Viewer > Applications and Services Logs |
All logs are stored in binary format files located at:
C:\Windows\System32\winevt\Logs\Understanding Windows Server 2012 Application Logs
What Are Application Logs?
Application logs capture events generated by software applications installed on the server. These logs are essential for:
- Troubleshooting application errors and crashes
- Monitoring software performance
- Analyzing application behavior
Accessing Application Logs
To access application logs:
- Open Event Viewer:
- Press
Win + X, then select Event Viewer. - Alternatively, press
Win + R, typeeventvwr, and press Enter.
- Press
- Expand Windows Logs.
- Click on Application to view a list of application events.
Sample Application Log Entry
Level: Error
Source: Application Error
Event ID: 1000
Task Category: (100)
Message: Faulting application name: w3wp.exe, version: 7.5.7601.17514, faulting module name: ntdll.dll, exception code: 0xc0000374.
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Level | Severity of the event (Information, Warning, Error) |
| Source | The application or service that generated the event |
| Event ID | Numeric code identifying the event |
| Message | Description of the event |
Understanding Windows Server 2012 System Logs
What Are System Logs?
System logs capture system-related events, such as hardware changes, driver updates, and operating system errors. These logs are crucial for:
- Diagnosing server crashes and failures
- Troubleshooting hardware and driver issues
- Monitoring system performance
Accessing System Logs
To access system logs:
- Open Event Viewer.
- Expand Windows Logs.
- Click on System to view system events.
Sample System Log Entry
Level: Warning
Source: Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-Power
Event ID: 41
Message: The system has rebooted without cleanly shutting down first. This error could be caused if the system stopped responding, crashed, or lost power unexpectedly.
Explanation: This log entry indicates that the system was improperly shut down, which could be due to a power failure or crash.
Understanding Windows Server 2012 Security Logs
What Are Security Logs?
Security logs track security-related events, such as user logins, failed access attempts, and changes to system permissions. These logs are essential for:
- Auditing user activity
- Monitoring unauthorized access attempts
- Detecting potential security breaches
Accessing Security Logs
To access security logs:
- Open Event Viewer.
- Expand Windows Logs.
- Click on Security to view security events.
Sample Security Log Entry
Level: Information
Source: Microsoft-Windows-Security-Auditing
Event ID: 4624
Task Category: Logon
Message: An account was successfully logged on. Subject: Security ID: S-1-5-18 Account Name: SERVER\Administrator
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Level | Severity (Information, Success Audit, Failure Audit) |
| Source | Service or application that generated the event |
| Event ID | Unique identifier for the event |
| Task Category | Context of the event (e.g., Logon) |
| Message | Detailed information about the event |
Common Security Event IDs
| Event ID | Description |
|---|---|
| 4624 | Successful logon |
| 4625 | Failed logon attempt |
| 4672 | Special privileges assigned to a new logon |
| 4688 | A new process has been created |
| 4719 | System audit policy was changed |
Using PowerShell to Access Event Logs
PowerShell provides a powerful way to query and filter event logs on Windows Server 2012:
Get a list of available logs:
Get-EventLog -ListView the most recent entries in the System log:
Get-EventLog -LogName System -Newest 10Filter logs by Event ID:
Get-EventLog -LogName Security -InstanceId 4624Export logs to a CSV file:
Get-EventLog -LogName Application -Newest 100 | Export-Csv -Path "C:\logs\application_logs.csv" -NoTypeInformationConfiguring Event Log Size and Retention
To prevent event logs from consuming disk space, adjust their size and retention policies:
- Open Event Viewer.
- Right-click on a log (e.g., Application) and select Properties.
- Adjust the Maximum log size and set Overwrite events as needed.
Best Practice: Set logs to “Overwrite as needed” to avoid filling up disk space.
Using Task Scheduler to Automate Log Monitoring
Windows Server 2012 allows you to create automated tasks based on event logs:
- Open Task Scheduler.
- Create a new task and select Begin the task: “On an event”.
- Specify the log, source, and event ID to trigger the task.
- Configure the task to send an email, run a script, or display a message.
This is useful for monitoring critical events like failed logins or application errors.
Mastering Windows Server 2012 Event Logs is essential for maintaining server performance, security, and stability. By using tools like Event Viewer and PowerShell, you can gain deep insights into your server’s operations, quickly identify issues, and optimize system performance.
Use this guide to enhance your event log management and improve your Windows Server troubleshooting capabilities.