Configure Log4Net in ASP.NET 2.0

Introduction

Download Sample web.Config - 1.2 Kb

Log4net is an open source utility used for log/report statements to various kinds of output targets (Text file, Email, Database, Event Viewer etc.)

http://logging.apache.org/

It can be a very handy utility for application instrumentation purpose.

Configuring Log4net:

Step 1: Add a reference of Log4net.dll to the project.

Step 2: Add Global.asax to the project, if not already added. In the “Application_Start” event of global.asax add following code:

log4net.Config.XmlConfigurator.Configure();

Step 3: In web.config file, under Configuration->Configsections add following section:

          <section  name="log4net" type="log4net.Config.Log4NetConfigurationSectionHandler, log4net"/>

Step 4: In web.config, add new section “<log4net>”. This section will contain all the settings related to log4net configuration.

Step 5: In web.config, under “log4net” section, add required appenders (output target) configuration sections in the following way:

File Appender configuration, used for log statements in a text file.       

<appender name="LogFileAppender" type="log4net.Appender.FileAppender">

<param name="File" value="Logs\\Log4Net.log"/>

<layout type="log4net.Layout.PatternLayout">

<param name="ConversionPattern" value="%d [%t] %-5p %c %m%n"/>

</layout>

</appender>

          Smtp Appender configuration, used for log statements by sending email.

<appender name="SmtpAppender" type="log4net.Appender.SmtpAppender">

<to value="" />

<from value="" />

<subject value="" />

<smtpHost value="" />

<bufferSize value="512" />

<lossy value="true" />

<evaluator type="log4net.Core.LevelEvaluator">

<threshold value="WARN"/>

</evaluator>

<layout type="log4net.Layout.PatternLayout">

<conversionPattern value="%newline%date [%thread] %-5level %logger [%property] - %message%newline%newline%newline" />

</layout>

</appender>

Step 6: In web.config file, under “log4net” section, for each appender, add loggers in the following way:

<logger name="File">

<level value="All" />

<appender-ref ref="LogFileAppender" />

</logger>

<logger name="EmailLog">

<level value="All" />

<appender-ref ref="SmtpAppender" />

</logger>

          ………

          ………

Step 7: Now whenever we want to log any information/error/warning, call appropriate method in the following manner:

          //for logging to file

          log4net.ILog logger = log4net.LogManager.GetLogger("File");

          //for emailing

          log4net.ILog logger = log4net.LogManager.GetLogger("EmailLog");

          logger.Info(“Starting page load”);