Virtualization platforms present new sources of logs to manage. In addition to having new log information to collect and analyze, the new challenges to logging and log analysis arise, such as the potential need to review access logs collected while virtual machine images were inactive. In addition, new opportunities for log management are also present, such as ensuring new virtual images which are pre-configured with central logging capabilities. There may be ways to use logs to solve new problems, such as monitoring health and uptime status of virtual platforms and application stacks. The ubiquitous nature of log management allows the development of new operational, security and compliance solutions for virtual infrastructures using the tools we already have.

This paper describes log management in virtualized environments-its challenges and opportunities. It also discusses the similarities and differences in logging for virtualized environments versus physical environments.