MONITORING

Activity logging records
The records in the log file keep track of all activity generated. IBM® Lotus® Domino™ creates different types of records for each type of activity. For some types of activity, Domino creates multiple records during a session; for other types of activity, Domino creates a single record.

Checkpoint records

For types of activity that could require long sessions to complete, Domino generates an Open or Authorization record when a session begins. This record indicates that a session is open and shows the time at which the session began. During the session, Domino generates Checkpoint records, which log all activity that has occurred so far during the session. Checkpoint records ensure that activity is logged even if a server stops functioning before a session ends. When a session ends, Domino generates a Close record, which consolidates all the activity for the entire session.

Domino creates Checkpoint records for the following types of activity: IMAP, IBM® Lotus® Notes® session, Notes database, Notes passthru, POP3, and SMTP. The Checkpoint records are cumulative; each one contains all of the activity that was logged to that point during the open session.

By default, Domino creates a Checkpoint record the first time there is activity after a 15 minute waiting period, and every 15 minutes when there is activity thereafter. This waiting period is called the checkpoint interval. Domino generates a Checkpoint record the first time activity occurs after the checkpoint interval has completed. For example, if several transactions occur during the first 10 minutes of the checkpoint interval but no more activity occurs until minute 21, Domino generates the Checkpoint record in minute 21. For each type of activity for which there is an open session, Domino creates only one Checkpoint record per period, no matter how much activity occurs. To change the duration of the checkpoint interval, you can change the "Checkpoint interval" setting on the Activity Logging tab of the Configuration Settings document.

To determine how long to make the checkpoint interval, consider three factors: the need to record information, the need to preserve storage space, and the need for quick performance. The longer you make the checkpoint interval, the more activity data that could be lost if the server crashes before Domino writes the Checkpoint records. The shorter you make the checkpoint interval, the more Checkpoint records that could be created, requiring more storage space. In addition, if you set a short checkpoint interval, system performance could be affected if there is a lot of activity.

Note For types of activity that generate multiple activity logging records, the record type is indicated in the EventType field in the record.

See also