VMware ESXi and vSphere Cluster Management

Configure vCenter Server Log Levels

Learn what each vCenter Server logging level records and how to change it in the vSphere Web Client for troubleshooting and VMware Support.

vCenter Server is the central management service for vSphere inventory, ESXi hosts, virtual machines, and related platform operations. Its logs provide evidence about normal activity, warnings, failures, and diagnostic behavior.

A log level is a verbosity threshold that determines which classes of messages vCenter Server records. Choosing a level is a balance: higher verbosity can provide more useful troubleshooting detail, but it also creates more log data and can consume storage faster.

vCenter Server Logging Level Hierarchy

The supported levels, from least to greatest detail, are none, error, warning, information, verbose, and trivia. Except for none, each higher level includes the message categories provided by the levels below it.

Level	Relative verbosity	Message categories included	Typical use	Operational caution
none	Disabled	No messages for the applicable setting	Only when logging must be suppressed under an explicitly approved procedure	Useful evidence is not captured; use with deliberate operational approval
error	Lowest enabled detail	Error messages only	Confirming that failures are occurring while minimizing log volume	Warnings and ordinary operational context are omitted
warning	Low	Warning and error messages	Reviewing nonfatal concerns and failures	Informational activity and additional diagnostic context are omitted
information	Normal operational detail	Informational, warning, and error messages	Routine production operation	Recommended as the normal setting
verbose	High	Verbose diagnostics plus informational, warning, and error messages	Targeted troubleshooting or a support-requested collection window	Can increase log volume quickly; use temporarily
trivia	Highest	Trivia messages plus every lower-level category	Highly detailed, targeted investigation when specifically needed	Produces the greatest volume; monitor storage and restore the normal level promptly

What each level means

None: Disables logging for the controlled vCenter Server logging setting. It should not be used casually because future diagnostic evidence will be unavailable.
Error: Records error conditions only. This is appropriate when an intentionally small logging footprint is more important than warnings and normal activity.
Warning: Records warnings and errors. It can help identify recurring nonfatal concerns without recording ordinary informational messages.
Information: Records informational, warning, and error messages. This is the normal operational level because it preserves useful context without the volume of elevated diagnostic levels.
Verbose: Adds verbose diagnostic messages to the information, warning, and error categories.
Trivia: Records the most detailed trivia messages as well as every lower-level category. It is the maximum-detail setting.

Choosing an Appropriate Log Level

Use the lowest level that still captures the evidence needed for the task. Reducing verbosity can conserve storage, but it can also remove context needed to understand a problem.

Situation	Recommended level	Why	When to revert
Routine production operations	Information	Preserves normal operational context without the extra volume of diagnostic levels	Keep this level during normal operation
Failures must be confirmed with minimal log volume	Error	Captures failed conditions while excluding warnings and ordinary informational activity	Return to information when the reduced footprint is no longer required
Recurring nonfatal concerns need review	Warning	Captures both warnings and errors	Return to information after reviewing the condition
An intermittent problem is being investigated	Verbose or trivia for a limited collection window	Provides additional diagnostic detail for reproduction or analysis	Return to information as soon as evidence collection ends
Logging must be temporarily suppressed under an approved procedure	None	Disables the applicable logging setting	Re-enable an appropriate level immediately after the approved interval

Change the vCenter Server Log Level in the vSphere Web Client

The vSphere Web Client is the web-based administration interface used for this procedure. You need basic inventory navigation skills, the ability to identify the vCenter Server object, and appropriate permissions to edit vCenter Server settings.

Sign in to the vSphere Web Client.
In the inventory, select the vCenter Server object whose logging setting you want to change.
Open Manage.
Select Settings.
Open General.
Use the Edit control for the General settings.
In the edit dialog, choose Logging settings.
Select the required log level: none, error, warning, information, verbose, or trivia.
Save the change.
Reopen or review the vCenter Server settings and verify that the selected level is displayed.

Select vCenter Server in inventory > Manage > Settings > General > Edit > Logging settings > choose log level > save

The saved logging-level change is applied immediately. A vCenter Server restart is not required. The setting affects log entries generated after the change; it does not retroactively add detail to records that were already written.

Change Behavior and Operational Impact

Immediate effect: The new threshold applies as soon as the saved setting is accepted.
No restart: Do not restart vCenter Server solely to activate this logging-level change.
Future entries only: Existing log records retain the detail that was available when they were written.
Storage monitoring: Elevated levels can increase log volume. Check available storage and monitor log growth for the entire troubleshooting window.
Restore the baseline: Return the setting to information after troubleshooting or support data collection is complete.

Troubleshooting Examples

VMware Support requests more detailed diagnostics

Record the existing logging level.
Raise the level to verbose or trivia only as requested by VMware Support.
Reproduce or observe the problem during the requested interval.
Monitor log storage consumption while the elevated level is enabled.
Restore information after collection ends.

Expected troubleshooting details are missing

The configured threshold may be too low for the diagnostic messages needed. Temporarily increase the setting to information, verbose, or trivia as appropriate, reproduce the condition, and then return to information. A higher level should be selected deliberately rather than left enabled indefinitely.

Log volume grows rapidly after a settings change

Verbose or trivia logging is a likely cause. Confirm that the troubleshooting collection is complete, return the level to information, and assess available log storage. Preserve any required logs before retention or rotation removes them.

An administrator expects a restart before the change works

A restart is not required for this setting. Confirm that the new selection was saved and that the vCenter Server settings display the selected level. The change is active immediately.

Exam-Relevant Notes

Know the order from least to greatest detail: none, error, warning, information, verbose, trivia.
Information is the normal operational setting.
Each higher enabled level includes the lower-level message categories.
None disables logging for the applicable setting.
Changing the level takes effect immediately and does not require a vCenter Server restart.
Changing the level affects future log entries, not existing records.
Verbose and trivia should be time-limited, and the setting should be returned to information after troubleshooting.