Find out the Location of SQL Server Log File

The blog covers about SQL Server error log files where they reside on the system. It will help those users who are not aware of the error log file.

SQL Server maintains its error events and information about error logs in the error log file. The description related to errors in the Server is saved into this file. Messages related to error events are also saved in this file.You can find the location of SQL Log file by performing following steps in SQL Server Management Studio:

• In your SSMS query window run the command sp_readerrorlog
• Red marked rectangle area is the current ERRORLOG file

You will get output like as below:

If you go to the folder where your SQL Server Instance is installed then you will discover multiple SQL Server log files. You can find out error logs according to SQL Server instance name. The default File path is C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL11.MSSQLSERVER\MSSQL\Log

In the above image, you will find other logs for SQL Server like: full-text, default traces, and SQL agent logs, etc. All are saved at the same path.

Method-2:“Sometimes due to internal server errors or improper synchronization of the database, you won’t be able to connect your SQL Server Services. However, you don’t need to worry; here is another option with which you can see your log files".

Open SQL Server configuration manager from the start menu. Go to the configuration tools in configuration manager.

Once you have clicked on this option, a new window will open, Go to SQL Server Services then right click on the instance followed by Properties.

In Properties window, click Advanced tab, see the “Startup Parameters” values. You will have three parameters starting with the –d, -e and –l. The value after –e is the SQL Server error log file location.

Hence, you will find the location of the SQL Server Error Log File.

Conclusion

The blog discusses different methods through which SQL Server user can easily find out the location of the error log files in local system.You can find out with SSMS and with Configuration tool which I have explained in pictorial representation.