Logging is an important feature in networking, providing valuable information for troubleshooting and monitoring network activity. To enable logging on a router and send log messages to a syslog server, you can use the logging command in the Cisco IOS command-line interface (CLI). This command allows you to specify the IP address of the syslog server to which the router should send its logs. In this article, we will discuss how to use the logging command and its optional parameters to start a router logging to a syslog server.
What Command Would Start a Router Logging To a Syslog Server
To start a router logging to a syslog server, you would use the following command:
logging <syslog-server-IP-address>Replace <syslog-server-IP-address> with the IP address of the syslog server you want to use. This command will enable logging on the router and direct all log messages to the specified syslog server. To view the router’s logging status and settings, you can use the following command:
show loggingThis command will display the current logging settings, including the logging buffer size, severity levels, and destination syslog server.
Additionally, you can use the following optional parameters with the logging command:
severity-level: This parameter sets the severity level of the logs to be sent to the syslog server. The default level is 6 (Informational), but you can set it to any value from 0 (Emergency) to 7 (Debugging). For example, the command logging <syslog-server-IP-address> informational would only send logs with a severity level of Informational or higher to the specified syslog server.
facility: This parameter sets the facility code for the syslog messages. The default is local7, but you can specify any valid facility code from local0 to local7. For example, the command logging <syslog-server-IP-address> facility local3 would send logs with the facility code of local3 to the specified syslog server.
source-interface: This parameter specifies the source interface to use for sending syslog messages. By default, the router will use the interface closest to the destination IP address. For example, the command logging <syslog-server-IP-address> source-interface Loopback0 would use the router’s Loopback0 interface to send syslog messages to the specified server.
By using these additional parameters with the logging command, you can customize the logging settings to meet your specific needs and preferences.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the logging command in the Cisco IOS CLI is a useful tool for configuring logging on a router and sending log messages to a syslog server. By specifying the IP address of the syslog server and using optional parameters such as severity level, facility, and source interface, you can customize the logging settings to meet your specific needs. With the ability to monitor and troubleshoot network activity through logging, you can ensure that your network is operating smoothly and address any issues that may arise in a timely manner.
