VMware ESXi and vSphere Cluster Management

Configure Log Levels in VMware vCenter Server

Learn what vCenter Server log levels mean, when to use verbose or trivia logging, and how to change logging settings in the vSphere Web Client.

vCenter Server is the central management platform for a VMware vSphere environment. Its logs record activity, warnings, failures, and diagnostic details that help administrators and support personnel understand what the system was doing.

A log level is a filtering and verbosity threshold. It controls which categories of messages vCenter Server writes. The normal production setting is information.

Why vCenter Server Log Levels Matter

Logging levels determine both the amount and the detail of events written by vCenter Server. A lower level produces fewer messages and consumes less storage. A higher level provides more diagnostic context, but increases log volume and can make important events harder to find.

For routine administration, information provides the normal balance between useful operational context and manageable log growth. Higher levels should generally be enabled only for a defined troubleshooting period.

Available vCenter Server Log Levels

The levels below are listed from lowest to highest verbosity. Each level above none includes messages from the levels below it, plus additional messages at its own detail level. The exception is none, which disables logging output for the configured scope.

Level	Messages Included	Relative Volume	Typical Use	Operational Caution
none	No logging output	None	Only when suppression is explicitly required and approved	Investigation evidence can be unavailable while logging is disabled
error	Failure-related messages	Low	Retaining only messages that indicate failures during a constrained period	Warnings, routine activity, and diagnostic context are omitted
warning	Warnings and errors	Low to moderate	Monitoring abnormal conditions without routine informational activity	Useful context may be missing when diagnosing complex issues
information	Informational activity, warnings, and errors	Moderate	Normal production operation and routine administration	This is the default operational level; higher detail is not recorded
verbose	Information-level messages plus more detailed diagnostic messages	High	Temporary investigation when normal logs do not explain a failure	Increases storage use and should be disabled after evidence collection
trivia	The broadest listed set, including low-level diagnostic detail and all lower-level entries	Highest	Short, vendor-directed troubleshooting windows requiring maximum detail	Can generate substantial volume and reduce the signal-to-noise ratio

Understanding Each Level

none: Disables logging output for the configured scope. Avoid this in normal environments unless logging suppression is explicitly required and approved.
error: Records failure-related messages only. It minimizes output while preserving basic evidence of failures.
warning: Records warning conditions in addition to errors. It is useful when abnormal behavior matters more than routine activity.
information: Records routine informational activity as well as warnings and errors. This is the default and normal production setting.
verbose: Adds more detailed diagnostic messages to information-level output. Use it temporarily while reproducing an issue that cannot be diagnosed at the normal level.
trivia: Provides the highest listed verbosity, including low-level diagnostic detail and all lower-level entries. Use it for a short, controlled period, often at the request of VMware Support.

When to Increase Logging Detail

Increase logging only when the normal information level does not provide enough evidence. A typical workflow is to enable verbose, reproduce the problem, collect the relevant evidence, and return to information. If a VMware Support engineer requests maximum diagnostic detail, use trivia for the agreed evidence-collection window.

Verbose and trivia logging can produce substantially more messages. This may consume disk capacity faster, shorten the time that older records remain available under retention rules, and make useful events more difficult to locate among low-level details. Always define an end time or review point before enabling an elevated level.

Change the Log Level in the vSphere Web Client

The vSphere Web Client is the browser-based administrative interface used to manage vCenter Server settings. Use the following path to change the active logging level:

Select the target vCenter Server object in the inventory.
Open Manage.
Select Settings.
Open the General settings area.
Start the edit workflow for the vCenter Server settings.
Select the Logging settings category.
Choose the required logging level: none, error, warning, information, verbose, or trivia.
Save the configuration.
Return to the vCenter Server settings and verify that the selected level is displayed.

Inventory: vCenter Server > Manage > Settings > General > Edit vCenter Server settings > Logging settings

Effect of the Configuration Change

The selected logging level becomes active immediately after the configuration is saved. A vCenter Server restart is not necessary for this particular setting change.

The new level affects messages generated after the setting is applied. It does not retroactively add diagnostic detail to records that were written while a lower level was active. If the issue occurred before the level was increased, the missing detail cannot be reconstructed from those existing records.

Safe Operational Practices

Record the current logging level before making a temporary change.
Write down the reason for the change, the problem being investigated, and the systems or operations that must be reproduced.
Set an expected end time or review point for verbose or trivia logging.
Coordinate the selected level and evidence-collection window with VMware Support when a support case is involved.
Monitor available disk capacity while elevated logging is enabled.
Consider log retention behavior because increased volume can cause older records to age out sooner.
Return the setting to information when collection is complete or the issue is resolved.
Avoid none in normal environments unless logging suppression has been explicitly required and approved.

Recommended Level by Situation

Situation	Suggested Level	Duration	Follow-Up Action
Normal administration	information	Ongoing	Keep the standard production setting and review logs as part of normal operations
Initial incident investigation	verbose	Temporary, while reproducing the issue	Collect relevant evidence, then return to information
Vendor-directed troubleshooting	trivia	Only for the support-approved collection window	Coordinate reproduction and evidence collection with support, then restore information
Post-troubleshooting cleanup	information	Ongoing after diagnostics	Verify the setting, review disk capacity, and document the change

Troubleshooting Log-Level Problems

Expected Detailed Events Are Missing

Possible causes:

The active level is too low for the required diagnostic detail.
The issue occurred before the higher level was enabled.

Resolution:

Confirm the current level in the vCenter Server logging settings.
Temporarily raise the level to verbose or trivia, as appropriate.
Reproduce the issue during the elevated logging window.
Collect the new evidence and return the level to information.

Log Storage Grows Quickly

Possible causes: Verbose or trivia logging generated substantially more messages, or the elevated level remained enabled longer than intended.

Resolution: Return the setting to information when diagnostics are complete. Then review available log storage and applicable retention procedures.

A Restart Was Expected

Log-level selection is applied immediately and does not require a vCenter Server restart. Do not restart vCenter Server solely because this setting was changed.

Logging Was Disabled

Possible causes: The none level was selected, or the required event occurred while logging was disabled.

Resolution: Restore an appropriate level, normally information or a temporary diagnostic level. Document the coverage gap and collect new evidence if the issue can be reproduced.

Exam-Relevant Notes

information is the default operational level and the normal production choice.
The verbosity order is none, error, warning, information, verbose, trivia.
Higher levels include entries from lower levels; none disables logging rather than including all messages.
Verbose and trivia should normally be temporary because they increase log volume and storage consumption.
A saved log-level change becomes active immediately and does not require a vCenter Server restart.
Changing the level cannot add detail to records created before the change.

Summary

Use information for normal vCenter Server operation. Raise the level to verbose when an incident needs additional diagnostic context, or to trivia when maximum detail is requested for a controlled support investigation. Change the setting through the selected vCenter Server object's Manage, Settings, General, and Logging settings areas. Save the change, verify the displayed value, monitor storage, and restore information after troubleshooting.

For related guidance, see vCenter Server log levels.