How long do logs stay on an Esxi host?

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

What determines how long logs for an ESXi host are retained

How long are host logs kept

How long do the hostd and vpxa logs stay on a host

Environment

ESXi 7.x

ESXi 8.x

Resolution

A log file is written to until it reaches a certain user set size limit.  Then a new log is begun.  The original log is kept.  But the original is eventually overwritten when the number of log files reaches a certain user set limit.  The time that an ESXi log file is kept depends on 3 things:

1.  The level of detail being placed in the log

2.  The size that the log is allowed to grow to before being rolled over

3.  The number of files for that log allowed before the oldest log is overwritten

For examples of setting the level of a log, the size limit and the number of files associated with the log please see:  https://knowledge.broadcom.com/external/article?articleNumber=316627