Monitoring Microsoft Dynamics NAV Server Events

You can monitor events on Microsoft Dynamics NAV Server to diagnose conditions and troubleshoot problems that affect operation and performance.

Event Logging Overview

Dynamics NAV uses Event Tracing for Windows (ETW), which is a subsystem of Windows operating systems. ETW provides a tracing mechanism for events that are raised by an application or service. ETW enables you to use industry standard tools such as Windows Performance Monitor, PerfView, Event Viewer, and Windows PowerShell to dynamically collect data on trace events that occur on the Microsoft Dynamics NAV Server.

Events that occur on Microsoft Dynamics NAV Server instances are recorded in Windows Event logs on the Microsoft Dynamics NAV Server computer. Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2018 uses channels on all events. Event channels provide a way to collect and view events from a specific provider, which in this case is Microsoft Dynamics NAV Server, and group the events according to predefined types, such as admin, operational, and debug. For example, in Event Viewer, Microsoft Dynamics NAV Server instance events are collected in the Admin, Operational, and Debug channel logs for Dynamics NAV in the Applications and Services Logs.

For more general information about ETW and event channels, see Event Tracing for Windows and Event Logs and Channels in Windows Event Log.

Monitoring Microsoft Dynamics NAV Server Event Traces

Event tracing provides detailed information about what is occurring on the Microsoft Dynamics NAV Server and application when users work with Dynamics NAV. This can help you identify and analyze problems or conditions that affect performance. Event tracing enables you to dynamically monitor Microsoft Dynamics NAV Server without having to restart the server or Dynamics NAV clients. By using industry-standard tools for event tracing, you can start and stop event tracing sessions, and then view the trace event data from a stored log file.

You can use event tracing to track the following operations on Microsoft Dynamics NAV Server instances:

  • Running Dynamics NAV reports, queries, and XMLports.

  • Execution of SQL statements by Microsoft Dynamics NAV Server.

  • Execution of C/AL functions.

  • Telemetry.

  • Windows event log events.

Event Trace Monitoring Tools

There are various industry-standard tools that you can use to collect event trace data. The procedures in this section use Windows Performance Monitor, PerfView, Event Viewer, and Windows PowerShell to illustrate how you can collect and view event trace data. For details about how to use these tools and others, refer to the documentation available with the tool. For an overview of some of the tools, see Tools for Monitoring Performance Counters and Events.

Get Started

Task For more information, see
Review the list of trace events that are available for monitoring Microsoft Dynamics NAV Server instances. Microsoft Dynamics NAV Server Trace Events List
Collect event trace data in an event trace log (.etl) file. Use the event trace monitoring tool to start an event trace session. How to: Use Performance Monitor to Collect Event Trace Data

How to: Use PerfView to Collect Event Trace Data

How to: Use Logman to Collect Event Trace Data
View event trace data that is contained in an .etl file. How to: Use PerfView to View Event Trace Data
Use Event Viewer to collect and view events Monitoring Dynamics NAV Server Events by Using Event Viewer
Use Windows PowerShell to view event trace data Monitoring Dynamics NAV Server Events by Using Windows PowerShell
Turn off or limit the amount of telemetry trace events emitted based on the severity level. Turn Off or Limit Telemetry Trace Events

See Also

Dynamics NAV Server Trace Events
Dynamics NAV Server Admin and Operational Events