CSIM Technical Notes

Enable syslog on VMware ESXi server

There is no GUI method to enable syslog on VMware ESXi server (ESXi); it must be enabled using console access and command line.

1. Remote connect to ESXi with ssh(1):

   # ssh root@ESXi
   

2. Enable syslog in ESXi firewall:

   # esxcli network firewall ruleset set --ruleset-id=syslog --enabled=true
   # esxcli network firewall refresh
   

3. Define the syslog server; you must use an IP address, not the server's name:

   # esxcli system syslog config set --loghost='udp://192.41.170.20:514'
   # esxcli system syslog reload
   

4. Check the configuration:

   # esxcli system syslog config get
      Default Network Retry Timeout: 180
      Local Log Output: /scratch/log
      Local Log Output Is Configured: false
      Local Log Output Is Persistent: true
      Local Logging Default Rotation Size: 1024
      Local Logging Default Rotations: 8
      Log To Unique Subdirectory: false
      Remote Host: udp://192.41.170.20:514