About log4j.properties files

This topic describes the different versions of the log4j.properties file.

The version of the log4j.properties file that is located in common/endorsed/log4j.properties.jar is used to configure logging for the Tomcat bundle. The file ensures that there is some preliminary log4j configuration, becauselog4j is initialized before the Discovery Framework in the Tomcat bundle. This log4j.properties file provides minimal configuration, which ensures that initial messages are logged to the console in the same format as the default configuration in portal-log4j-ext.xml. The settings in the log4j.properties file only affect a small number of messages printed as the server is starting. Once the Discovery Framework starts and loads its XML configuration file, it overrides the settings in the log4j.properties file. Therefore, it should not be necessary for administrators to modify this properties file.

In addition, all deployed portlets, as well as the Discovery Framework application itself, have their own log4j.properties files, located in WEB-INF/classes. Because the Discovery Framework uses XML configuration files, these properties files have no effect.