---
title: Logging
description: PingAccess logging is handled by the log4j2 asynchronous logging library. This library is configurable in the conf/log4j2.xml file.
component: pingaccess
version: 9.0
page_id: pingaccess:configuring_and_customizing_pingaccess:pa_logging_info
canonical_url: https://docs.pingidentity.com/pingaccess/9.0/configuring_and_customizing_pingaccess/pa_logging_info.html
revdate: March 27, 2024
---

# Logging

PingAccess logging is handled by the log4j2 asynchronous logging library. This library is configurable in the `conf/log4j2.xml` file.

|   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| - | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
|   | Audit logs are also configurable in `conf/log4j2.xml`. These logs record a select subset of transaction log information at runtime plus additional details. For more information, see [Security Audit Logging](pa_security_audit_logging.html). |

By default, logging information outputs to `<PA_HOME>/logs/pingaccess.log`, and file logging uses the rolling file appender. PingAccess keeps a maximum of 10 log files, each with a maximum size of 100 MB. Once 10 files accumulate, PingAccess deletes the oldest.

> **Collapse: Changing defaults**
>
> You can change these defaults by locating and modifying the following properties in the `<Appenders>` section of `conf/log4j2.xml`:
>
> * To rename the log file, modify:
>
>   ```
>   <RollingFile name="File"
>               fileName="${sys:pa.home}/log/pingaccess.log"
>               filePattern="${sys:pa.home}/log/pingaccess.log.%i"
>               ignoreExceptions="false">
>   ```
>
> * To set the maximum log size, modify:
>
>   ```
>   <SizeBasedTriggeringPolicy size="100000 KB"/>
>   ```
>
> * To set the maximum number of log files, modify:
>
>   ```
>   <DefaultRolloverStrategy max="10"/>
>   ```

> **Collapse:&#x20;**
>
> In addition to the standard log4j2 items, PingAccess adds a custom item which is usable in the `log4j2.xml``<PatternLayout>` configuration. This custom item, `exchangeId`, identifies the ID for a specific request-response pair.
>
> For example, the following line from the `conf/log4j2.xml` file incorporates the `exchangeId` in the output:
>
> ```
> <pattern>%d{ISO8601} %5p [%X{exchangeId}] %c:%L - %m%n</pattern>
> ```
>
> |   |                                                                                              |
> | - | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
> |   | The `%X` conversion character is required to ensure that the `exchangeID` displays properly. |