17.6. Logging Message Content

Overview

You can log the content of the messages that are sent between a service and a consumer. For example, you might want to log the contents of SOAP messages that are being sent between a service and a consumer.

Configuring message content logging

To log the messages that are sent between a service and a consumer, and vice versa, complete the following steps:
  1. Add the logging feature to your endpoint's configuration.
  2. Add the logging feature to your consumer's configuration.
  3. Configure the logging system log INFO level messages.

Adding the logging feature to an endpoint

Add the logging feature your endpoint's configuration as shown in Example 17.11, “Adding Logging to Endpoint Configuration”.

Example 17.11. Adding Logging to Endpoint Configuration

<jaxws:endpoint ...>
  <jaxws:features>
    <bean class="org.apache.cxf.feature.LoggingFeature"/>
  </jaxws:features>
</jaxws:endpoint>
The example XML shown in Example 17.11, “Adding Logging to Endpoint Configuration” enables the logging of SOAP messages.

Adding the logging feature to a consumer

Add the logging feature your client's configuration as shown in Example 17.12, “Adding Logging to Client Configuration”.

Example 17.12. Adding Logging to Client Configuration

<jaxws:client ...>
   <jaxws:features>
      <bean class="org.apache.cxf.feature.LoggingFeature"/>
    </jaxws:features>
</jaxws:client>
The example XML shown in Example 17.12, “Adding Logging to Client Configuration” enables the logging of SOAP messages.

Set logging to log INFO level messages

Ensure that the logging.properties file associated with your service is configured to log INFO level messages, as shown in Example 17.13, “Setting the Logging Level to INFO”.

Example 17.13. Setting the Logging Level to INFO

.level= INFO
java.util.logging.ConsoleHandler.level = INFO

Logging SOAP messages

To see the logging of SOAP messages modify the wsdl_first sample application located in the InstallDir/samples/wsdl_first directory, as follows:
  1. Add the jaxws:features element shown in Example 17.14, “Endpoint Configuration for Logging SOAP Messages” to the cxf.xml configuration file located in the wsdl_first sample's directory:

    Example 17.14. Endpoint Configuration for Logging SOAP Messages

    <jaxws:endpoint name="{http://apache.org/hello_world_soap_http}SoapPort"
                createdFromAPI="true">
  <jaxws:properties>
    <entry key="schema-validation-enabled" value="true" />
  </jaxws:properties>
  <jaxws:features>
    <bean class="org.apache.cxf.feature.LoggingFeature"/>
  </jaxws:features>
</jaxws:endpoint>
  2. The sample uses the default logging.properties file, which is located in the InstallDir/etc directory. Make a copy of this file and name it mylogging.properties.
  3. In the mylogging.properties file, change the logging levels to INFO by editing the .level and the java.util.logging.ConsoleHandler.level configuration properties as follows: 
    .level= INFO
java.util.logging.ConsoleHandler.level = INFO
  4. Start the server using the new configuration settings in both the cxf.xml file and the mylogging.properties file as follows:
    PlatformCommand
    Windows start java -Djava.util.logging.config.file=%CXF_HOME%\etc\mylogging.properties demo.hw.server.Server
    UNIX java -Djava.util.logging.config.file=$CXF_HOME/etc/mylogging.properties demo.hw.server.Server &
  5. Start the hello world client using the following command:
    PlatformCommand
    Windows java -Djava.util.logging.config.file=%CXF_HOME%\etc\mylogging.properties demo.hw.client.Client .\wsdl\hello_world.wsdl
    UNIX java -Djava.util.logging.config.file=$CXF_HOME/etc/mylogging.properties demo.hw.client.Client ./wsdl/hello_world.wsdl
The SOAP messages are logged to the console.