Windows PowerShell is a powerful scripting language used to automate tasks, and the New-EventLog command is one of its most useful commands. This command allows you to create a new event log on a local or remote computer. It can also be used to create a custom event log, which can be used to store application-specific events.
In this article, we will look at the syntax, parameters, inputs, outputs, examples, and tips for using the New-EventLog command. We will also discuss how to use this command to create a custom event log.
Syntax of the New-EventLog Command
The syntax of the New-EventLog command is as follows:
New-EventLog [-LogName]
Parameters of the New-EventLog Command
The parameters of the New-EventLog command are as follows:
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| LogName | Specifies the name of the event log to be created. |
| Source | Specifies the name of the event source. |
| ComputerName | Specifies the name of the computer on which the event log is to be created. |
| MessageResourceFile | Specifies the name of the message resource file. |
| CategoryResourceFile | Specifies the name of the category resource file. |
| CategoryCount | Specifies the number of categories in the category resource file. |
| Force | Forces the command to run without prompting for confirmation. |
| WhatIf | Shows what would happen if the command were to run. |
| Confirm | Prompts for confirmation before running the command. |
Inputs for the New-EventLog Command
The inputs for the New-EventLog command are as follows:
- LogName
- Source
- ComputerName
- MessageResourceFile
- CategoryResourceFile
- CategoryCount
Outputs of the New-EventLog Command
The outputs of the New-EventLog command are as follows:
- A new event log is created with the specified parameters.
- A new event source is created with the specified parameters.
Examples of the New-EventLog Command
Here are some examples of how to use the New-EventLog command:
- To create a new event log on the local computer, use the following command:
New-EventLog -LogName “MyEventLog” -Source “MyEventSource”
- To create a new event log on a remote computer, use the following command:
New-EventLog -LogName “MyEventLog” -Source “MyEventSource” -ComputerName “MyComputer”
- To create a new event log with a message resource file, use the following command:
New-EventLog -LogName “MyEventLog” -Source “MyEventSource” -MessageResourceFile “C:\MyResourceFile.dll”
- To create a new event log with a category resource file, use the following command:
New-EventLog -LogName “MyEventLog” -Source “MyEventSource” -CategoryResourceFile “C:\MyResourceFile.dll” -CategoryCount 10
Tips for Using the New-EventLog Command
Here are some tips for using the New-EventLog command:
- Make sure to specify a valid LogName and Source when creating a new event log.
- If you are creating a new event log on a remote computer, make sure to specify the ComputerName parameter.
- If you are creating a custom event log, make sure to specify the MessageResourceFile and CategoryResourceFile parameters.
- If you are creating a custom event log, make sure to specify the CategoryCount parameter.
- If you are creating a new event log on a remote computer, use the Force parameter to run the command without prompting for confirmation.
- Use the WhatIf parameter to see what would happen if the command were to run.
- Use the Confirm parameter to prompt for confirmation before running the command.
Creating a Custom Event Log with the New-EventLog Command
The New-EventLog command can be used to create a custom event log. To do this, you will need to specify the MessageResourceFile and CategoryResourceFile parameters. The MessageResourceFile parameter specifies the name of the message resource file, which contains the messages for the events. The CategoryResourceFile parameter specifies the name of the category resource file, which contains the categories for the events. You will also need to specify the CategoryCount parameter, which specifies the number of categories in the category resource file.
Once you have specified the parameters, you can use the New-EventLog command to create the custom event log. For example, the following command will create a custom event log on the local computer:
New-EventLog -LogName “MyEventLog” -Source “MyEventSource” -MessageResourceFile “C:\MyResourceFile.dll” -CategoryResourceFile “C:\MyResourceFile.dll” -CategoryCount 10
Once the custom event log has been created, you can use the Write-EventLog command to write events to the log.
Conclusion
In this article, we looked at the New-EventLog command in Windows PowerShell. We discussed the syntax, parameters, inputs, outputs, examples, and tips for using the command. We also discussed how to use the command to create a custom event log. With the New-EventLog command, you can easily create a new event log on a local or remote computer.