---
title: Logging configurations
description: PingFederate uses log4j2 to write log messages.
component: pingfederate
version: 13.1
page_id: pingfederate:upgrading_pingfederate:pf_logging_configs
canonical_url: https://docs.pingidentity.com/pingfederate/13.1/upgrading_pingfederate/pf_logging_configs.html
llms_txt: https://docs.pingidentity.com/pingfederate/llms.txt
docs_for_agents: https://developer.pingidentity.com/build-with-ai/docs-for-agents.md
revdate: July 5, 2022
section_ids:
  merging-custom-logging-configurations: Merging custom logging configurations
  about-this-task: About this task
  steps: Steps
---

# Logging configurations

PingFederate uses log4j2 to write log messages.

If the configuration file for Log4j 2 (or Log4j) has been modified in the source installation, manually merge the configuration changes into the upgraded environment.

## Merging custom logging configurations

### About this task

The upgrade tools do not support automatic merging of customizations made to the existing logging configuration. Instead, these upgrade tools copy the modified `log4j2.xml` file to the new installation intact and rename the configuration file from the product `.zip` archive using the new PingFederate version number. Both configuration files are located in the same `conf` directory.

|   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
| - | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
|   | If the Upgrade Utility or the PingFederate installer for Windows determines that the log4j2 configuration file ( `<pf_install>/pingfederate/server/default/conf/log4j2.xml`) has changed since it was originally installed, new features are not activated. |

To activate new features:

### Steps

1. Review the new features by comparing the renamed log4j2 configuration file against the `log4j2.xml` file.

2. Modify the `log4j2.xml` file to suit your needs.

3. If you have a clustered PingFederate environment, repeat step 2 for all applicable PingFederate nodes in the cluster.