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Limit-EventLog - How to get DoNotOverwrite with Archive

TreyS 166 Reputation points
2020-11-20T20:56:54.81+00:00

My goal is to enable the EventLog (Security) to "DoNotOverwrite" and use the built in archiving capability.

In the GUI, the three radio buttons are:
41512-image.png

For the first option, "Overwrite as needed, Get-Eventlog returns:
Log : Security
EnableRaisingEvents : False
MaximumKilobytes : 131072
MinimumRetentionDays : 0
OverflowAction : OverwriteAsNeeded

The second and third options both return:
Log : Security
EnableRaisingEvents : False
MaximumKilobytes : 131072
MinimumRetentionDays : -1
OverflowAction : DoNotOverwrite

If I use Limit-EventLog with OverflowAction DoNotOverwrite, the GUI then shows the third option, (Clear logs manually) selected and Get-EventLog returns as shown above for options two and three.

What am I missing here. It looks like Limit-EventLog can/does not set the archiving option.

Would that option be available using WMI?

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  1. Rich Matheisen 45,906 Reputation points
    2020-11-20T22:31:35.177+00:00

    Instead of using the Limit-EventLog try setting the registry directly.
    set_log_to_archive_when_full

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  1. TreyS 166 Reputation points
    2020-11-21T17:43:21.913+00:00

    Again, thanks to Rich for guidance...

    I didn't find the registry value, set_log_to_archive_when_full

    But I did find this good reference article:
    https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/eventlog/eventlog-key

    Formatting on that page is a little weird, but there is a link to download as PDF.

    In the EventLog key is a key for each EventLog and each has a value, AutoBackupLogFiles. Zero is off. One is on. Setting it to one is reflected in the GUI with the second radio button, mentioned above, selected.

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