How to Check Event Log on Windows Server 2012 R2?

The Event Log is a powerful tool in Windows Server 2012 R2 that allows you to track and analyze system events and troubleshoot issues. It records information about various system events such as system startup/shutdown, hardware and software failures, security issues, and more. In this tutorial, we will guide you through the steps to check the Event Log on Windows Server 2012 R2.

Step 1: Open the Event Viewer
– Click on the Start button or press the Windows key.
– In the search bar, type "Event Viewer" and click on the "Event Viewer" app.

Step 2: Navigate to the Event Log
– In the Event Viewer window, you will see a tree-like structure on the left side.
– Expand the "Windows Logs" node to view the various event logs available.
– The commonly used event logs are:
– Application: Contains events logged by installed applications.
– Security: Records security-related events such as login attempts, user account changes, etc.
– System: Logs events related to system components, drivers, and services.
– Setup: Stores events related to Windows setup and installation.

Step 3: Check Event Log Details
– Click on the desired event log, for example, "Application."
– You will see a list of events in the middle pane, with detailed information such as the date, time, event ID, source, and description.
– You can double-click on an event to view its specific details and additional information.

Step 4: Filter Events (optional)
– If you want to narrow down the events based on specific criteria, you can use the filtering option.
– In the right pane, click on "Filter Current Log" under "Actions."
– Specify the desired filter criteria such as event sources, event IDs, keywords, etc.
– Click OK to apply the filter and view the filtered events.

Step 5: Clear Event Log (optional)
– If you want to clear the events from a specific event log, you can do so by right-clicking on the log and selecting "Clear Log."
– A confirmation dialog box will appear, asking if you want to save the log before clearing. Choose the desired option.

Step 6: Export Event Log (optional)
– If you need to save a copy of the event log or share it with others, you can export it to a file.
– Right-click on the desired event log and select "Save All Events As."
– Choose the file format (e.g., CSV, EVT, XML) and specify the location to save the file.

Pros Cons
1. Efficient troubleshooting tool 1. Overwhelming amount of data
2. Helps identify underlying issues 2. Requires understanding of event codes and descriptions
3. Provides detailed information 3. May not always provide clear solutions

By following these steps, you can easily check the Event Log on Windows Server 2012 R2 and leverage its valuable insights for system analysis and troubleshooting.

Video Tutorial: How do I find event logs in Windows Server?

Where are the event logs stored in Windows 2012?

In Windows 2012, event logs are stored in specific locations on the file system. Here are the default storage locations for event logs:

1. Application and Service Logs: The event logs for various applications and services are stored in the "C:\Windows\System32\winevt\Logs" directory. Each application or service has its folder within this directory, and the corresponding log files are stored there.

2. Windows Logs: The built-in Windows logs, such as Application, Security, System, Setup, and Forwarded Events, are located in the "C:\Windows\System32\winevt\Logs" directory as well. Each log file for these categories is stored in their respective folder within this directory.

To access the event logs in Windows 2012, you can follow these steps:

1. Open the Event Viewer: Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box, then type "eventvwr.msc" and hit Enter. Alternatively, you can search for "Event Viewer" in the Start menu and select the corresponding result.

2. Navigate to the desired log: In the Event Viewer window, you will find a list of event logs on the left-hand side. Expand the "Windows Logs" folder and click on the specific log you want to view, such as "Application" or "Security."

3. View log entries: Once you have selected a log, the central pane will display the log entries chronologically. You can scroll through the entries to examine the details, including event ID, source, date, and time.

Remember, the above instructions are specific to Windows 2012. Please note that the file paths or steps may vary slightly in different Windows versions, and depending on any system modifications or customizations made.

How do I view event logs?

To view event logs on various devices, you can follow these general steps:

1. Windows PC:
– Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
– Type "eventvwr.msc" and hit Enter.
– In the Event Viewer window, you can browse different logs like Application, Security, and System. Expand the desired log to view events.

2. macOS:
– Click on the Spotlight search icon (magnifying glass) in the menu bar.
– Type "Console" and press Enter.
– The Console app will open, displaying logs from different categories on the left. Click on the desired log type to view events.

3. Linux (Ubuntu/Debian-based):
– Open the Terminal by pressing Ctrl + Alt + T.
– Type "sudo less /var/log/syslog" and press Enter.
– You can replace "syslog" with other log filenames like "auth.log" or "kern.log" to view specific event logs.

4. Android:
– Open the Settings app on your Android device.
– Look for the "About phone" or "About device" option and tap on it.
– Find "Build number" and tap on it multiple times until it enables developer options.
– Go back to the main Settings screen and find "Developer options" or "Developer settings."
– Open "Developer options" and look for "Enable USB debugging" or a similar option.
– Connect your Android device to your computer via USB and use tools like Android Debug Bridge (ADB) to view logs.

5. iOS (iPhone/iPad):
– Connect your iPhone or iPad to a computer with iTunes or Finder installed.
– Open iTunes or Finder and select your device.
– Choose the "Summary" or "General" tab and look for the "View logs" or "Console" option.
– Click on it to view the event logs related to your iOS device.

Remember, the specific steps may vary depending on the operating system version and device, but these general guidelines should help you in viewing event logs across various platforms.

How do I export event logs from Windows Server 2012 r2?

To export event logs from Windows Server 2012 R2, follow these steps:

1. Launch the Event Viewer: Press the Windows key + X on your keyboard, then select "Event Viewer" from the menu that appears.

2. In the Event Viewer window, navigate to the specific event log you want to export. For example, if you want to export the System event log, expand the "Windows Logs" folder and select "System."

3. Right-click on the event log you’ve selected and choose "Save All Events As."

4. In the "Save As" dialog box, choose a destination folder where you want to save the exported event log. Provide a filename and select a file format, such as "CSV" (Comma Separated Value) or "EVTX" (Event Log Format). CSV is a widely used format that allows for easy analysis using spreadsheet programs like Microsoft Excel.

5. Click the "Save" button to begin the export process. A progress bar will indicate the status of the export.

6. Once the export is complete, you can find the exported event log file in the destination folder you selected earlier.

By following these steps, you will be able to export event logs from Windows Server 2012 R2. Remember to choose an appropriate file format that suits your needs for analysis or sharing purposes.

How to check user login history in Windows Server 2012 r2 Powershell?

In Windows Server 2012 R2, you can utilize PowerShell to check user login history by performing the following steps:

1. Open PowerShell: Click on the Start button, search for "PowerShell," and select the PowerShell application.

2. Run PowerShell as an Administrator: Right-click on the PowerShell icon and choose "Run as Administrator" to ensure you have the necessary privileges to access the required information.

3. Enter PowerShell command: Once the PowerShell window opens, enter the following command:

"`powershell
Get-WinEvent -FilterHashtable @{Logname=’Security’; ID=’4624′} | Select-Object -Property TimeCreated, Message | Format-List
"`