Limit-EventLog
Sets the event log properties that limit the size of the event log and the age of its entries.
Syntax
Limit-EventLog
[-LogName] <String[]>
[-ComputerName <String[]>]
[-RetentionDays <Int32>]
[-OverflowAction <OverflowAction>]
[-MaximumSize <Int64>]
[-WhatIf]
[-Confirm]
[<CommonParameters>]
Description
The Limit-EventLog
cmdlet sets the maximum size of a classic event log, how long each event must
be retained, and what happens when the log reaches its maximum size. You can use it to limit the
event logs on local or remote computers.
The cmdlets that contain the EventLog noun (the EventLog cmdlets) work only on classic event logs.
To get events from logs that use the Windows Event Log technology in Windows Vista and later
versions of Windows, use Get-WinEvent
.
Examples
Example 1: Increase the size of an event log
Limit-EventLog -LogName "Windows PowerShell" -MaximumSize 20KB
This command increases the maximum size of the Windows PowerShell event log on the local computer to 20480 bytes (20 KB).
Example 2: Retain an event log for a specified duration
Limit-EventLog -LogName Security -ComputerName "Server01", "Server02" -RetentionDays 7
This command ensures that events in the Security log on the Server01 and Server02 computers are retained for at least 7 days.
Example 3: Change the overflow action of all event logs
$Logs = Get-EventLog -List | ForEach {$_.log}
Limit-EventLog -OverflowAction OverwriteOlder -LogName $Logs
Get-EventLog -List
Max(K) Retain OverflowAction Entries Log
------ ------ -------------- ------- ---
15,168 0 OverwriteOlder 3,412 Application
512 0 OverwriteOlder 0 DFS Replication
512 0 OverwriteOlder 17 DxStudio
10,240 7 OverwriteOlder 0 HardwareEvents
512 0 OverwriteOlder 0 Internet Explorer
512 0 OverwriteOlder 0 Key Management Service
16,384 0 OverwriteOlder 4 ODiag
16,384 0 OverwriteOlder 389 OSession Security
15,168 0 OverwriteOlder 19,360 System
15,360 0 OverwriteOlder 15,828 Windows PowerShell
This example changes the overflow action of all event logs on the local computer to OverwriteOlder.
The first command gets the log names of all of the logs on the local computer. The second command sets the overflow action. The third command displays the results.
Parameters
-ComputerName
Specifies remote computers. The default is the local computer.
Type the NetBIOS name, an Internet Protocol (IP) address, or a fully qualified domain name (FQDN) of
a remote computer. To specify the local computer, type the computer name, a dot (.
), or localhost.
This parameter does not rely on Windows PowerShell remoting. You can use the ComputerName
parameter of Limit-EventLog
even if your computer is not configured to run remote commands.
Type: | String[] |
Aliases: | CN |
Position: | Named |
Default value: | None |
Required: | False |
Accept pipeline input: | False |
Accept wildcard characters: | False |
-Confirm
Prompts you for confirmation before running the cmdlet.
Type: | SwitchParameter |
Aliases: | cf |
Position: | Named |
Default value: | False |
Required: | False |
Accept pipeline input: | False |
Accept wildcard characters: | False |
-LogName
Specifies the event logs. Enter the log name (the value of the Log property; not the LogDisplayName) of one or more event logs, separated by commas. Wildcard characters are not permitted. This parameter is required.
Type: | String[] |
Aliases: | LN |
Position: | 0 |
Default value: | None |
Required: | True |
Accept pipeline input: | False |
Accept wildcard characters: | False |
-MaximumSize
Specifies the maximum size of the event logs in bytes. Enter a value between 64 kilobytes (KB) and 4 gigabytes (GB). The value must be divisible by 64 KB (65536).
This parameter specifies the value of the MaximumKilobytes property of the System.Diagnostics.EventLog object that represents a classic event log.
Type: | Int64 |
Position: | Named |
Default value: | None |
Required: | False |
Accept pipeline input: | False |
Accept wildcard characters: | False |
-OverflowAction
Specifies what happens when the event log reaches its maximum size.
The acceptable values for this parameter are:
DoNotOverwrite
: Existing entries are retained and new entries are discarded.OverwriteAsNeeded
: Each new entry overwrites the oldest entry.OverwriteOlder
: New events overwrite events older than the value specified by the MinimumRetentionDays property. If there are no events older than specified by the MinimumRetentionDays property value, new events are discarded.
This parameter specifies the value of the OverflowAction property of the System.Diagnostics.EventLog object that represents a classic event log.
Type: | OverflowAction |
Aliases: | OFA |
Accepted values: | OverwriteOlder, OverwriteAsNeeded, DoNotOverwrite |
Position: | Named |
Default value: | None |
Required: | False |
Accept pipeline input: | False |
Accept wildcard characters: | False |
-RetentionDays
Specifies the minimum number of days that an event must remain in the event log.
This parameter specifies the value of the MinimumRetentionDays property of the System.Diagnostics.EventLog object that represents a classic event log.
Type: | Int32 |
Aliases: | MRD |
Position: | Named |
Default value: | None |
Required: | False |
Accept pipeline input: | False |
Accept wildcard characters: | False |
-WhatIf
Shows what would happen if the cmdlet runs. The cmdlet is not run.
Type: | SwitchParameter |
Aliases: | wi |
Position: | Named |
Default value: | False |
Required: | False |
Accept pipeline input: | False |
Accept wildcard characters: | False |
Inputs
None
You cannot pipe input to this cmdlet.
Outputs
None
This cmdlet does not generate any output.
Notes
To use this cmdlet on Windows Vista and later versions of Windows, open Windows PowerShell with the Run as administrator option.
This cmdlet changes the properties of the System.Diagnostics.EventLog object that represents a classic event log. To see the current settings of the event log properties, type
Get-EventLog -List
.
Related Links
PowerShell