Connectrix: How to Configure Syslog on MDS Switch

Summary: The syslog facility allows the device to send a copy of the message log to a host for more permanent storage. This feature allows you to examine the logs over a long period of time or if the device is not accessible. ...

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Instructions

This example shows how to configure the device to use the syslog facility on a Solaris platform, although the syslog configuration on all UNIX and Linux systems is similar.

You should configure the syslog server so that the Cisco NX-OS messages are logged to a different file from the standard syslog file. This way, they cannot be confused with other non-Cisco syslog messages. Do not locate the logfile on the /file system. You do not want log messages to fill up the /file system.

This example uses the following values:

syslog client: SANswitch
syslog server: 172.22.36.211
(Solaris) syslog facility: local1
syslog severity: notifications (level 5, the default)
File to log Cisco NX-OS messages to: /var/adm/nxos_logs

Configure the syslog feature on Cisco NX-OS, follow these steps:

switch# config terminal
switch(config)# logging server 192.0.2.1 6 facility local1

Verify the syslog configuration on the switch:

switch1# show logging server
Logging server:                 enabled
{172.22.36.211}
        server severity:        notifications
        server facility:        local1
        server VRF:             management

Configure a syslog server by following these steps:

local1.notice /var/adm/nxos_logs
  1. Modify /etc/syslog.conf to handle local1 messages. For Solaris, you must allow at least one tab between the facility.severity and the action (/var/adm/nxos_logs).
local1.notice /var/adm/nxos_logs
  1. Create the log file.
touch /var/adm/nxos_logs
  1. Restart the syslog process.
/etc/init.d/syslog stop 
/etc/init.d/syslog start
  1. Verify that the syslog process has started.
ps -ef |grep syslogd
  1. Test the syslog server by creating an event in Cisco NX-OS.
In this case, port e1/2 was shut down and reenabled, and the following was listed on the syslog server. The IP address of the device is listed in brackets.
tail -f /var/adm/MDS_logs

Sep 17 11:07:41 [172.22.36.142.2.2] : 2013 Sep 17 11:17:29 pacific: PORT-5-IF_DOWN_INITIALIZING: %$VLAN 1%$ Interface e 1/2 is down (Initializing)

Sep 17 11:07:49 [172.22.36.142.2.2] : 2013 Sep 17 11:17:36 pacific: %PORT-5-IF_UP: %$VLAN 1%$ Interface e 1/2 is up in mode access

Sep 17 11:07:51 [172.22.36.142.2.2] : 2013 Sep 17 11:17:39 pacific: %VSHD-5-VSHD_SYSLOG_CONFIG_I: Configuring console from pts/0 (dhcp-171-71-49-125.cisco.com

Additional Information

For more details on syslog configuration and UNIX system syslog configuration, see the Cisco MDS9000 System Management Configuration Guide This hyperlink is taking you to a website outside of Dell Technologies.

Affected Products

Connectrix MDS-Series

Products

Connectrix MDS-Series Firmware
Article Properties
Article Number: 000212298
Article Type: How To
Last Modified: 17 May 2026
Version:  7
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