Bind offers a wide variety of logging options, including multiple log channels.

Log Channel

Currently, QuickDNS supports two channels, QuickDNS Log and System Log. You may select between the two of log channels from the drop down menu in the top center of the window. BIND supports additional user configurable log channels, and that capability will be implemented in later updates.

When set to QuickDNS Log, the QuickDNS Log options will appear in the lower right hand corner of the screen, Max Log Size and Log Versions. Max Log size determines how big each Log file will be, log versions the number of logs that will be kept. QuickDNS will then record to a log until it reaches the selected size then create a new log up to a number of logs equal to the Log Versions value. When all Log versions are filled the oldest log will be written over.

When set to System Log, log entries are directed to the Linux System Log.

What Gets Recorded

There are three factors that determine what is recorded in a BIND log: Log Level, Category selection, and Print

Settings

An event will be recorded in the log if A: It is as serious or more serious an event as the log level value (This is also known as its severity), and B: It falls into a selected category.

Regular log levels range from Critical (very serious events) to Info (Ho Hummmm…) These are as normally used in the syslog.

Two unusual log levels are:

Debug: this setting is used for debugging. The system will log messages of the debug level only. If no debug level is listed the default value is 1.

Dynamic: When set to dynamic the server will log messages that match its debug level.

Categories

Categories represent the general types of things that might generate a log message. The various caregories are listed with checkboxes on the far right area of the Server Options window. If an event happens of a type not selected then it will not be recorded. It should be noted that the "Default" category encompasses all other categories, as well as some possible messages unique to default. Unless you have particular reason to set the categories a specific way it is recommended that you stay with the default setting.

What Appears in a Log Message

Once you have selected what kind of messages will be recorded to the log, how those messages are recorded is determined by the three check boxes in the bottom center. These check boxes determine whether the log records the category, severity, and time that a log entry is made. If a box is de-selected it will not record that type of information to the log.