Cindy,

If you are going to retain logs for this period of time (lucky you, we have
to retain them for 7 years!), then I would suggest upping your log size (in
EventVwr) to something more practical like 200mb. 2mb isn't going to keep
you going for 3 years (let alone a couple of weeks).

Since you are setting to not overwrite, look into ways to archive off event
logs when they reach their maximum size to ensure you don't lose event log
entries..

What we have done is set them to 200mb (we generate about 100mb of logs per
day per DC - 15 of them), and twice a day export a text readable version of
the log for analysis (using things like DumpEL).  We also have another
script that compares the current size of the event log to its maximum
setting size, and if it reaches > 85% of this limit, archive a binary format
of the log to local disk which we then archive off to SAN / DVD-R.  The
auditors won't accept a version of the logs that can be edited (i.e. the
text readable version), so we need to retain both the text and binary
versions of the logs.  We use the text readable versions for reporting, but
for the actual presenting of formal charges / disciplinary proceedings we
need the binary logs.

How much you need to do would be dependant on your local auditing / policy /
statutory requirements.  I suggest you look into it to make sure you don't
get caught out somewhere down the track. We routinely get asked to supply
activity information for users over long periods (like 12-18 months),
without event archiving like I described above, its almost impossible.

Don't underestimate how much disk space archived logs can consume as well.
We generate about 6-10gb of logs PER DAY (15 DC's, about 120 servers), and
if we are auditing user activity (file access etc) on our main data servers,
that can top 30gb PER DAY. You may need to look into long-term archiving
strategies (SAN, Tape, Disk, WORM, DVD-R, CD-R) to hang onto this much
information.

*rant off*

Glenn
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Rittenhouse, Cindy
Sent: Monday, August 04, 2003 1:35 PM
To: '[EMAIL PROTECTED]'
Subject: [ActiveDir] Anonymous Logon

I successfully upgraded my NT domain to AD yesterday. I now find my DC
security log on the PDC emulator filling  up twice a day. It is set to 2048
KB, do not overwrite (I have to save them for 3 years). The majority of
events are Anonymous logons. Is it normal to have this quantity of Anonymous
logons?

Cynthia Rittenhouse  MCSE,CCNA
LAN Administrator
County of Lancaster
Lancaster, PA 17602
Phone: (717)293-7274


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