System Logs

Logs are an integral part of SOTI MobiControl. They help identify bugs or unexpected behavior and audit security events. Review available system log messages to keep track of events in each of the five SOTI MobiControl components:
  • Deployment Server.
  • Management Service.
  • Deployment Server Extensions.
  • SOTI MobiControl Search.
  • Database.

Deployment Server

These logs save to: C:\ProgramData\SOTI\DeploymentServer.log

The Deployment Server (DS) plays a major role in device enrollment, device connectivity, deploying configurations to devices, alerts feature, generating reports, and sending scripts/ messages to devices. It installs as a Windows service and listens on port 5494.

Management Service

These logs save to: C:\ProgramData\SOTI\Managementservice.log

The Management Service is responsible for presenting the web interface of SOTI MobiControl (also known as the web console). Other tasks it handles include creating various packages and profile configurations, application management, and enterprise integrations (CA, LDAP/SSO, ERG). It logs all login events on the web console, which is useful for auditing access control in SOTI MobiControl.

Deployment Server Extension

These logs save to: C:\ProgramData\SOTI\DeploymentServer.log

The Deployment Serve Extension (DSE) is a component within the DS written in a different language. It handles the integration with Apple's Volume Purchase Program (VPP) and Apple Business Manager (ABM) and enrollment of Apple Devices. It also handles integration with Google Services including the Managed Play Store, communication with Windows Notification Services (WNS), Windows Modern devices, and Windows Modern app management.
Note: Deployment Server and Deployment Server Extension logs are now combined in the DeploymentServer.log

SOTI MobiControl Search

These logs save to: C:\ProgramData\SOTI\MobiControlSearch\MobiControlSearch.log

SOTI's implementation of search within the SOTI MobiControl is mainly used to display the main device view page and run advanced queries for custom views and charts.

DBInstall Log

These logs save to: C:\DBInstall.log

It includes information related to installation, database creation, and post-installation tasks. This log is useful for troubleshooting issues that occur during installation.

Tip: You can view and download the Deployment Server, Management Service, and Deployment Server Extension logs using the SOTI MobiControl web console. See Viewing System Logs.

SOTI MobiControl stores log messages in the database. Excessive log data can overwhelm your system's database, especially when using more detailed logging levels. The recommended logging level for each SOTI MobiControl component is Error. Setting the logging levels to verbose is useful for troubleshooting issues. For more information on log settings, see Setting Log Levels.

Data truncation reduces the space occupied by system log messages. You can archive the truncated data and save it for reference. SOTI MobiControl performs data truncation during the nightly maintenance, which occurs at midnight local time of the Management Service. The Management Service determines which log records to truncate based on their UTC time stamp. For more information on log maintenance, see Truncating and Archiving System Logs.

Android Agent Side Logs

Apart from the five system log types, Android agent device stores logs within the agent's SQL lite database. You can retrieve these logs by sending the sendreport script to the device. For more information on sending scripts, see Sending Scripts to Devices. This script zips logs and other files before sending them to SOTI's server that SOTI technical support engineers can access.

The zip file has the following structure:

System logs Android zip

The following is an example of the files contained in the logs folder within the zip file:

System logs Android Logs folder

The database folder has a file called settings. You can view its contents using the SQL Lite DB browser application.
Note: The logs are partial Android Debug Logs (ADB). Get full ADB logs to troubleshoot agent issues.

System logs Android database settings