Configuring Backburner Log Files
 
 
 

Both Backburner Manager and Backburner Server maintain log files. The information in these log files can be useful when you are troubleshooting problems with the Backburner network. For example, you can consult the files to determine when the Backburner Manager or Server was started, when Backburner Servers on a network were shut down, and whether any errors occurred that halted the rendering of a job.

The log files are stored in /usr/discreet/backburner/Network on Linux. On Windows, they are stored in a /backburner subdirectory of the per-user application data directory. For example, C:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Local SettingsApplication Data\backburner, in Windows XP.

NoteRunning the Backburner Manager or Backburner Server as a Windows service changes the location of the backburner.xml and and log files to /backburner subdirectories of the per-user application data directory subdirectories belonging to the Local Service user. These directories are hidden to non-administrative level users. For example, on Windows XP:

C:\Documents and Settings\Local Service\Local Settings\Application Data\backburner \backburner.xml

You can adjust system parameters and define the events and information that Backburner Manager or Backburner Server records in its log file by editing the backburner.xml file. Additionally, on Windows systems you can adjust the log file settings through an application dialog.

To configure Backburner log file settings on Windows systems:

  1. Start the Backburner Manager or Server. Refer to the Autodesk Backburner Installation Guide for help starting these applications.
    NoteYou cannot configure log file settings for Backburner Manager or Backburner Server while these applications are running as Windows services.
  2. From the Edit menu, choose Log Settings.

    The Logging Properties dialog appears.

    Use this dialog to set the events shown in the application's window or logged to its log file.

    • The Log To Screen options set events that are displayed in the Backburner Manager or Server application window.
    • The Log To File options set events that are saved to the Backburner Manager or Server log files. These are usually the same messages that appear on the screen.
  3. Enable options in the dialog to determine the messages that are saved to log files. See Specifying Backburner Log File Contents.

    By default, the following events are always logged to the screen and to the log files:

    • Error
    • Warning
    • Info

    Enabled events are saved to the backburner.log file for Backburner Manager and to the backburnerServer.log file for Backburner Server.

  4. In the Buffer Limit field, specify the maximum size of the buffer holding the messages.
  5. Click Clear Log to clear the buffer holding messages in the application window.
  6. Click Clear Log File to clear the contents of the backburner.log or backburnerServer.log file.
    NoteLog files are cleared only when you click the Clear Log File button. Otherwise, the size of these files continues to grow with each job rendered.

To configure Backburner log file settings by editing the backburner.xml file:

  1. Stop Backburner Manager and/or Backburner Server.
  2. Locate the backburner.xml file:
    • Linux: /usr/discreet/backburner/Network
    • Windows: In the \backburner subdirectory of the per-user application data directory. For example, C:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Local SettingsApplication Data\backburner, in Windows XP.
  3. Edit the backburner.xml file using an XML or text editing application.
  4. Under the <LogCfg> heading, enable or disable the options to determine the messages that are saved to log files. See Specifying Backburner Log File Contents. The settings are enabled with a “1” and disabled with a “0”.
  5. Save and exit the backburner.xml file.
  6. Restart Backburner Manager or Backburner Server. Refer to the Autodesk Backburner Installation Guide for help starting these applications.
    NoteAny changes made to the backburner.xml file take effect only when the Backburner Manager or Backburner Server is restarted.

    The new log file settings take effect.