Start/notes.ini Parameters/debug_outfile

debug_outfile

Parameter: debug_outfile
Short description: General Domino debug parameter that defines the path and filename to which various debug tasks (e.g. SMTPDebug, SMTPDebugIO, replication debug) write their output. Prerequisite for many other notes.ini debug flags.

Profile

Parameter
debug_outfile
Component
Server (general)
Category
Logging / Debug
Available since
9.0.x (per KB0032184)
Default
not set
Values
Full path to a file (.txt, .log, etc.)
Prerequisite for
SMTPDebug, SMTPDebugIO (KB0032184) and numerous other debug flags

Description

Many Domino debug parameters output their diagnostic data not to log.nsf, but to a central text file — the one whose path is in debug_outfile. Without debug_outfile:
  • SMTPDebug/SMTPDebugIO traces are discarded or only partially captured by other logs,
  • many other debug tasks (replication, routing, indexing) produce no visible output.
For SMTPDebug and SMTPDebugIO, debug_outfile is a mandatory prerequisite per KB0032184. For SMTPClientDebug, debug_outfile is not required, because its output goes directly to log.nsf (Miscellaneous section).

Examples

Windows:
debug_outfile=C:\\Domino\\Logs\\smtp_debug.txt
SMTPDebug=2
SMTPDebugIO=4
Linux/AIX:
debug_outfile=/local/notesdata/IBM_TECHNICAL_SUPPORT/smtp_debug.txt
SMTPDebug=2
SMTPDebugIO=4
Set dynamically at runtime:
set config debug_outfile=C:\\Domino\\Logs\\smtp_debug.txt
set config SMTPDebug=2
tell smtp quit
load smtp

Notes

  • Directory must exist and be writable by the Domino server process, otherwise the file remains empty or the debug output is lost.
  • File is appended — Domino typically writes in append mode. During longer diagnostic sessions the file can reach several hundred MB; delete or rotate it before each reproduction run if needed.
  • Shared file — If multiple debug tasks write to the same debug_outfile simultaneously, the entries are interleaved in time, but typically prefixed so that the source can be identified.
  • HCL Support — Often recommends the path <notesdata>/IBM_TECHNICAL_SUPPORT/<component>_debug.txt, because this directory is automatically collected by nsd into diagnostic packages.
  • Privacy — Contents may include personal data (mail addresses, possibly mail bodies from SMTPDebugIO=4); securely delete the file after diagnostics are complete.
  • Not to be confused with Console_Log_File (controls the console log file) or LOGFILE_DIR (HTTP/server logging directory).

Sources (HCL Product Documentation)