77-3
Cisco ASA 5500 Series Configuration Guide using the CLI
Chapter77 Configuring Logging
Information About Logging
Syslog Message Format
Syslog messages begin with a percent sign (%) and are structured as follows:
%ASA Level Message_number: Message_text
Field descriptions are as follows:
Severity Levels
Table77-1 lists the syslog message severity levels. You can assign custom colors to each of the severity
levels to make it easier to distinguish them in the ASDM log viewers. To configure syslog message color
settings, either choose the Tools > Preferences > Syslog tab or, in the log viewer itself, click Color
Settings on the toolbar.
Note The ASA does not generate syslog messages with a severity level of zero (emergencies). This level is
provided in the logging command for compatibility with the UNIX syslog feature but is not used by the
ASA.
ASA The syslog message facility code for messages that are generated by the ASA. This
value is always ASA.
Level 1 through 7. The level reflects the severity of the condition described by the syslog
message—the lower the number, the more severe the condition. See Table 77-1 for
more information.
Message_number A unique six-digit number that identifies the syslog message.
Message_text A text string that describes the condition. This portion of the syslog message
sometimes includes IP addresses, port numbers, or usernames.
Table77-1 Syslog Message Severity Levels
Level Number Severity Level Description
0 emergencies System is unusable.
1alertImmediate action is needed.
2criticalCritical conditions.
3errorError conditions.
4 warning Warning conditions.
5 notification Normal but significant conditions.
6 informational Informational messages only.
7 debugging Debugging messages only.