How to Process and View Trace Log Files

Applies To: Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1

Trace data is written in binary format to a trace log (filename.etl). To view the trace data, the log file must be processed by a tool like LogParser. LogParser version 2.2 or later includes a sample script called DumpTraceReqs.js. DumpTraceReqs.js was specifically designed to format trace log files for easy viewing. You do not need to be familiar with LogParser to process trace logs.

Note

The following procedure does not apply to IIS Admin trace logs. To process and view IIS Admin trace logs, see How to Process IIS Admin Trace Log Files Using Trace Report.

To process and view trace log files

  1. Download Logparser, version 2.2 or later from the Microsoft Download Center.

  2. Register Logparser.dll on your copy of Windows Server 2003 (version SP1 or later).

  3. From a command prompt, navigate to the directory where you installed LogParser.

  4. Type regsvr32 logparser.dll and press ENTER.

  5. Open a command prompt and navigate to the directory where DumpTraceReqs.js is stored (%systemroom%\LogParser\Samples\Scripts, by default).

  6. Type dumptracereqs tracelogname **>**newfilename.txt and press ENTER.

  7. Tracelogname is the name of the trace log .etl file and newfilename.txt is the name of a new file where the post-processed data will be saved. LogParser and DumpTraceReqs.js process the trace log file and store the post-processed data in the newfilename.txt file display the results to the screen.

  8. To view the data, type notepad newfilename.txt and press ENTER.

See Also

Concepts

Tracing Events Reference