Log files can help you troubleshoot problems by recording the activities that take place when you work with a product. In IBM Cognos Analytics, we see multiple logging tools that can be a great help in troubleshooting issues. In this blog, I will describe 9 log utilities that are found in the logs folder which is found in install_location/logs.
Transfer log file
This log file records the components that were installed. It includes information about disk space used, selections made in the transfer dialogs and includes errors encountered while transferring components. It also includes activities that were performed while transferring files.
An example name of this log file would be IBM_Cognos_Analytics_Install_04_21_2021_00_59.log
Installation Configuration log file
This log file records configuration activities during the installation. As an example, it would record available ports for the dispatcher.
This file is called install_configuration.log.
The Startup Configuration File
This log file records configuration choices chosen every time the property settings are saved.
If there are problems with the configuration file, Cognos provides a backup configuration file which can be used.
An example name of this log file would be cogstartup_2002011231540.xml
The Startup Configuration Lock File
This log file is created each time IBM Cognos Configuration is opened. Its design is to prevent the opening of more that one Configuration window. If the Cognos Configuration window does not shut down properly, you will get an error indicating that the configuration is locked. You can delete the lock file and try open Cognos Configuration again.
This file is in the install_location/configuration directory and is called cogstartup.lock.
The Local Configuration File
This log file records the choices made in IBM Cognos Configuration for product and content locales, for local mapping and currency support.
This file is in the install_location/configuration directory and is given a name similar to coglocale_202011231540.xml
The Runtime Log File
This log file or other log files that you configure to receive messages from the log server records information after you start the Cognos Analytics service. These logs can be sent to a file or a database.
The default name for this file is cogaudit.log
The Gateway Log File
This log file contains information to troubleshoot problems that prevent the gateway from processing request or from using encryption. Symptoms of these problems would be:
- User IDs and password are not working.
- Single signon is not working.
- The dispatcher is running buy users get an error message saying that IBM Cognos Analytics server is not available.
This log file uses a naming format that includes “gw” and the gateway, as an example gwcgi.log for cgi gateway and gwisapi.log for the ISAPI gateway and gwapache.log for the Apache gateway
The Uninstallation Log file
This log file records activities that the Uninstall wizard preformed while it was uninstalling files. This file can be used to troubleshoot problems related to installing Cognos Analytics components
This file is called cognos_uninst_log.htm
The Silent Mode Log File
This log file records activities that the Uninstall Wizard performed while running in silent mode.
This file is called cogconfig_response.csv