Getting Spring's FINE logging

[Joseph Sweet]

On Tomcat, I am trying to get the logging output from the Spring libraries that I am using on my project.

My problem is that I am not getting the FINE logging from Spring. However, for other libraries such as JSF, I do get the FINE logging. What am I doing wrong?

I have noticed that when I remove log4j.jar from the classpath, I do get logging from Spring. But when I add log4j.jar to the classpath, the logging from Spring is gone. Can you explain why?

BTW I do need log4j and commons-logging(JCL) in my classpath, since some of the other jars I am using, refer to log4j and JCL explicitly in their code.

Here are the settings I am using, in Tomcat's conf/logging.properties:

.handlers = 1catalina.org.apache.juli.FileHandler, java.util.logging.ConsoleHandler

java.util.logging.ConsoleHandler.level = ALL
1catalina.org.apache.juli.FileHandler.level = ALL

#this does not change the logging level...
org.springframework.level = ALL

# this does change the logging level...
javax.faces.level = ALL
com.sun.faces.level = ALL

[Bear Bibeault]

Yes, log4J needs to be in the classpath (usually WEN-INF/lib).

Do any changes in the properties file take effect?

[Joseph Sweet]

@Bear Bibeault: Why does log4j need to be in the classpath? AS far as I know, Spring uses Commons logging (JCL), so if there's no log4j on the classpath, it will use the JDK logging API (java.util.logging).

As I said, when I remove log4j from the classpath, the logging for some of the jars works (e.g. JSF jars), for others it doesn't (e.g. Spring jars). I wonder why. Any ideas?

Also, I am using log4j.xml to config log4j.

Changes to the conf/logging.properties do take effect. I am expecting to get the logging at the file ${catalina.home}/logs/catalina.log

Here is my conf/logging.properties:

handlers = 1catalina.org.apache.juli.FileHandler, 2localhost.org.apache.juli.FileHandler, 3manager.org.apache.juli.FileHandler, 4host-manager.org.apache.juli.FileHandler, java.util.logging.ConsoleHandler

.handlers = 1catalina.org.apache.juli.FileHandler, java.util.logging.ConsoleHandler

1catalina.org.apache.juli.FileHandler.level = ALL
1catalina.org.apache.juli.FileHandler.directory = ${catalina.base}/logs
1catalina.org.apache.juli.FileHandler.prefix = catalina

java.util.logging.ConsoleHandler.level = ALL
java.util.logging.ConsoleHandler.formatter = java.util.logging.SimpleFormatter

############################################################

org.springframework.level = ALL
javax.faces.level = ALL
com.sun.faces.level = ALL
org.hibernate.level = ALL

1catalina.org.apache.juli.FileHandler.rotatable = false

org.apache.catalina.core.ContainerBase.[Catalina].[localhost].[/my-webapp].level = ALL
org.apache.catalina.core.ContainerBase.[Catalina].[localhost].[/my-webapp].handlers = 1catalina.org.apache.juli.FileHandler

My log4j.xml:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?>
<!DOCTYPE log4j:configuration SYSTEM "log4j.dtd">
<log4j:configuration xmlns:log4j="http://jakarta.apache.org/log4j/">

<!-- MDM_LOGS Appender -->
<appender name="APP_LOGS" class="org.apache.log4j.DailyRollingFileAppender">
    <param name="Append" value="true" />
    <param name="File" value="C:/storage/logs/my-webapp.log" />
    <layout class="org.apache.log4j.PatternLayout">
        <param name="ConversionPattern" value="%d{ABSOLUTE} %-5p [%c{1}] %m%n" />
    </layout>
</appender>

<appender name="CONSOLE" class="org.apache.log4j.ConsoleAppender">
    <layout class="org.apache.log4j.PatternLayout">
        <param name="ConversionPattern" value="%d{ABSOLUTE} %-5p [%c{1}] %m%n" />
    </layout>
</appender>

<category name="com.my.app" additivity="false">
    <priority value="ALL" />
    <appender-ref ref="APP_LOGS" />
</category>

<!-- Category Section End -->
    <!-- ======================= -->
    <!-- Setup the Root category -->
    <!-- ======================= -->
    <root>
        <priority value="INFO"/>
        <appender-ref ref="CONSOLE"/>
    </root>
</log4j:configuration>

[Bear Bibeault]

Because you said that one of your jars references log4j. If it's not on the classpath, you'll likely end up with a ClassNotFound exception.

BTW I do need log4j in my classpath, since one of the other jars I am using, refers to log4j explicitly in its code.

As to why Spring logging ceases to work with Log4J present, I can only assume that Spring uses Log4J if it is present, and reverts to Java logging otherwise (lots of stuff does this). And you likely have no Log4J config for Spring, so no logging.

But that's just a guess. Maybe you'd prefer this be moved to the Spring forum where the Spring-savvy hang out?

[Joseph Sweet]

@Bear Bibeault: I see, I thought you were trying to say that each time I need some jar to output its logging through Tomcat, I need log4j to be on the classpath.

I was actually wondering too which forum should be the best for posting this. So yes, if you think it has more to do with Spring, please move this thread to there. Thank you for this and for your answers!

[Piyush Mangal]

This might help http://blog.springsource.org/2009/12/04/logging-dependencies-in-spring/

[Manish Sridharan]

I too faced similar logging issues but able to resolve it by setting system parameter as -Dlog4j.configuration=log4j.properties and adding log4j.properties in the classpath.
Here is my log4j property file for reference.

log4j.rootCategory=TRACE, stdout, R log4j.appender.stdout=org.apache.log4j.ConsoleAppender log4j.appender.stdout.layout=org.apache.log4j.PatternLayout log4j.appender.stdout.layout.ConversionPattern=%d{ABSOLUTE} %5p %t %c{10}:%L - %m%n # ***** R is set to be a RollingFileAppender. log4j.appender.R=org.apache.log4j.RollingFileAppender log4j.appender.R.File=D:\\log\\example.log # ***** Max file size is set to 100KB log4j.appender.R.MaxFileSize=100KB # ***** Keep one backup file log4j.appender.R.MaxBackupIndex=1 # ***** R uses PatternLayout. log4j.appender.R.layout=org.apache.log4j.PatternLayout log4j.appender.R.layout.ConversionPattern=%d{ABSOLUTE} %5p %t %c{2}:%L - %m%n log4j.category.org=TRACE log4j.category.com=TRACE