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Monitoring Business Central Server events

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APPLIES TO: Business Central on-premises

You can monitor events on Business Central Server to diagnose conditions and troubleshoot problems that affect operation and performance.

Event logging overview

Business Central 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 Business Central Server.

Events that occur on Business Central Server instances are recorded in Windows Event logs on the Business Central Server computer. Dynamics 365 Business Central uses channels on all events. Event channels provide a way to collect and view events from a specific provider, which in this case is Business Central Server, and group the events according to predefined types, such as admin, operational, and debug. For example, in Event Viewer, Business Central Server instance events are collected in the Admin, Operational, and Debug channel logs for Business Central 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 Business Central Server event traces

Event tracing provides detailed information about what is occurring on the Business Central Server and application when users work with Business Central. This can help you identify and analyze problems or conditions that affect performance. Event tracing enables you to dynamically monitor Business Central Server without having to restart the server or Business Central 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 Business Central Server instances:

  • Running Business Central reports, queries, and XMLports.
  • Execution of SQL statements by Business Central Server.
  • Execution of 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 Learn more in
Review the list of trace events that are available for monitoring Business Central Server instances. Business Central 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. Use Performance Monitor to Collect Event Trace Data

Use PerfView to Collect Event Trace Data

Use Logman to Collect Event Trace Data
View event trace data that is contained in an .etl file. Use PerfView to View Event Trace Data
Use Event Viewer to collect and view events Monitoring Business Central Server Events by Using Event Viewer
Use Windows PowerShell to view event trace data Monitoring Business Central 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

Business Central Server Trace Events
Business Central Server Admin and Operational Events