Log Transactions

Use the transaction logs to determine which users are using your NNTP virtual server and how they are using it. After extracting the information you need from the logs, it is a good idea to archive or delete the logs before they consume too much disk space.

Note   NNTP Service writes a log record every time a user connects, retrieves an article, posts an article, or disconnects from the NNTP virtual server. Although you can read a log file written as text, log files are usually analyzed using software that summarizes the data. If you don't choose an alternative format, log entries are written as a comma-separated value (CSV) text file in IIS log format. For more information on logging in IIS, see Logging Web Site Activity in the IIS documentation.

To enable and configure logging:

1. Start System Manager
   On the Start menu, point to Programs, point to Microsoft Exchange, and then click System Manager.
2. Navigate to NNTP.

   Servers

   1. Server
   2. Protocols
   3. NNTP
3. In the console tree, right-click a virtual server, and then click Properties.
4. Click the General tab, and then select Enable logging.
5. In Active log format, select a format for writing the transaction log records.
6. To specify the frequency with which new log files are created, click Properties. In New Log Time Period, select how often a new log file with a new name is created. To set a new directory to which log files are saved, click Browse, and then select a new location. Click OK.
7. To log transactions for newsgroups in a virtual directory hierarchy, in the console pane, expand the virtual server. To populate a list of virtual directories in the details pane, click Virtual Directory. Right-click a virtual directory, and then click Properties. Select Log access. Repeat this step for any virtual directory you want to log.