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Log File Viewer

Log File Viewer in SQL Server Management Studio is used to access information about errors and events that are captured in log files.

Benefits of using Log File Viewer

You can view SQL Server log files from a local or remote instance of SQL Server when the target instance is offline or cannot start. You can access the offline log files from Registered Servers, or programmatically through WMI and WQL (WMI Query Language) queries. For more information, see View Offline Log Files. Following are the types of log files you can access using Log File Viewer:

  • Audit Collection

  • Data Collection

  • Database Mail

  • Job History

  • Maintenance Plans

  • Remote Maintenance Plans

  • SQL Server

  • SQL Server Agent

  • Windows NT (These are Windows events that can also be accessed from Event Viewer.)

Log File Viewer Tasks

Task Description Topic
Describes how to open Log File Viewer depending on the information that you want to view. Open Log File Viewer
Describes how to view offline log files through registered servers and how to verify WMI permissions. View Offline Log Files
Provides Log File Viewer F1 Help. Log File Viewer F1 Help

See Also

SQL Server Audit (Database Engine)
SQL Server Agent Error Log