SMSPXE.log file absent
I'm wondering if anyone can explain why I have no SMSPXE.log file in my environment. Currently, the PXE Service Point and WDS are installed on a site system server (not the primary site server) and are functioning. In troubleshooting a separate client, I'm seeing many forums reference the SMSPXE.log file, but that is no where to be found in my environment, either on the site server hosting the PXE Service Point or the Primary Site Server. The server roles for the PXE Service Point server include component server, disstribution point and site system in addition to PXE Service Point and WDS.
July 13th, 2009 11:44pm

have you double checked the log file location ? Log file location: <ConfigMgrInstallationPath>\sms_ccm\logs eg: on my test lab server where SCCM is installed on D: it's located at D:\Program Files (X86)\SMS_CCM\Logs my SCCM step by step Guides > http://www.myitforum.com/forums/fb.asp?m=188578
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July 14th, 2009 12:00am

Just open ConfigMgr Service Manager (Site Database -> Tools) and make sure that logging is enabled (which is by default) and check the name and location of the logfile.
July 14th, 2009 9:29am

Torsten,Thanks for the reply. Evidently, this log file was named pxecontrol.log rather than SMSPXE.log. Wonder if this is because we initially had this site system configured as a BDP wiht PXE Service. Nonetheless, that's what I needed.
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July 14th, 2009 4:07pm

pxecontrol.log and smspxe.log are different logfiles. See http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb932135.aspx
July 14th, 2009 4:27pm

Which component uses SMSPXE.log then? The only one that I see related to PXE is the SMS_PXE_SERVICE_POINT and that's what's defined as pxecontrol.log.
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July 14th, 2009 4:35pm

I added the PXE Service Point role to a different site server to check and see if a fresh installation would yield the log file to no avail. Do I need to add that role to the primary site server?
July 15th, 2009 3:55am

The PXE service point does not have to be on the primary site itself. Have you checked the SMS_CCM folder on the site server?
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July 15th, 2009 9:39am

I have the same scenario. My environment is configured as SCCM Central Site Server with serveral Secondary Sites - one of which has the PXE Service Point. All servers are runnig on Server 2008 SP1 and SCCM 2007 R2.The Secondary/PXE server does not even have an SMS_CCM folder (searched the entire server). The Central Site server does of course but there is not an SMSPXE.log but PXECONTROL.log is there.When I check Service Manager I don't find anything related to PXE. Should that be enabled by when adding the role? How would I add it after the fact? (I've also tried removing the role, remove WDS from Server 2008, reboot, add WDS, reboot, add role, copy boot images - but the log still does not exist anywhere.)
July 22nd, 2009 11:03pm

is the smspxe.log file present on the secondary server with the PSP role ?my SCCM step by step Guides > http://www.windows-noob.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=1064
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July 22nd, 2009 11:21pm

I'm able to duplicate this issue for each PXE Service point I install (I have two that I'm testing with). The log file doesn't exist on any SCCM Server in my hierarchy. It is like I'm missing a component.
July 22nd, 2009 11:31pm

i'm curios if the configmgr client is installed on any of the site servers ?my SCCM step by step Guides > http://www.windows-noob.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=1064
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July 22nd, 2009 11:39pm

In my case, yes. v4.0.6221.1000
July 22nd, 2009 11:42pm

and is MDT installed on any site server ?my SCCM step by step Guides > http://www.windows-noob.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=1064
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July 22nd, 2009 11:46pm

Yes, WDS is installed on the PXE Service Point. The PXE Service Point is functioning as expected which is strange to me, I just have no means to troubleshoot.
July 22nd, 2009 11:49pm

i said MDT not WDS, is MDT installed ?my SCCM step by step Guides > http://www.windows-noob.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=1064
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July 22nd, 2009 11:52pm

Oops...sorry. Yes, it's there, though I'm not using it for anything on there...I installed to try and configure the WDS PXE Filter, which incidentally I can't get working either and have no log to refer to. I did not run or install any other components of MDT.
July 22nd, 2009 11:56pm

ok then, so you havn't added the MDT pxefilter as described here I wonder is that why you are not seeing the smspxe.log file can you re-attempt to add MDT integration and see how it goes ?my SCCM step by step Guides > http://www.windows-noob.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=1064
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July 23rd, 2009 12:00am

Thanks...I'll follow your instructions and post how it goes. Do I needto completely remove any current PXE Service Points and start from scratch?
July 23rd, 2009 12:03am

no you shouldn't have to, just do the MDT bits please and nothing moremy SCCM step by step Guides > http://www.windows-noob.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=1064
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July 23rd, 2009 12:06am

Does MDT need to be on the Central Site Server or on the PSP?
July 23rd, 2009 1:36am

it doesn't need to be on either, we are just trying to verify why he doesn't have an smspxe.log file, I do have it but then again I have integrated MDT into SCCM, I use MDT's integration to supply additional roles and features options within task sequences for deploying server 2008, MDT is optionalmy SCCM step by step Guides > http://www.windows-noob.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=1064
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July 23rd, 2009 7:59am

The Secondary/PXE server does not even have an SMS_CCM folder (searched the entire server). That folder is only present if a (proxy) MP (or the ConfigMgr client) is installed.
July 23rd, 2009 9:55am

I have noticed, that sometimes SMSPXE.log is locatedwhere the ConfigMgr Client is installed (C:\Windows\System32\CCM\Logs) andother times is located under SMS_CCM\Logs.I think it is depending on, inwhich order the ConfigMgr Client and PSPare installed.
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July 23rd, 2009 11:52am

I have noticed, that sometimes SMSPXE.log is locatedwhere the ConfigMgr Client is installed (C:\Windows\System32\CCM\Logs) andother times is located under SMS_CCM\Logs.I think it is depending on, inwhich order the ConfigMgr Client and PSPare installed. More precisely, the SMSPXE.log folder is where the log folder of the CCMExec service is. The MP, SCCM client and SMSPXE all run on the CCMExec service. There is always only one instance of the CCMExec service on a machine. So, for example, when CCMExec service is already installed, say, by the MP, then when the SCCM client and SMSPXE is installed, they will both put their logs in the same folder where the MP logs are.
July 23rd, 2009 11:58pm

I've got this problem now. I don't know if I've ever had an smspxe.log file, but I have PXE boot problems - and now that I'm trying to diagnose the issue - I can't find the smspxe.log file - anywhere on the server.I've followed Torsten's instructions to the word, and it hasn't resolved anything. I've also uninstalled WDS, the PSP, MDT, blew away all my boot images, flushed the TEMP folders and started again. Still no good. My MDT PXE Filter is correct, WDS is running but not configured. I can get the machine to hit start the PXE process, but then it just sits there saying "Contacting server [insert IP address here]. . . . . . . . . . . . "If I had the smspxe.log file, I could see what's going on. My PXE_SERVICE_POINT component in SCCM is a nice green colour and isn't reporting any errors at all - but I know something isn't right.
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August 7th, 2009 9:51am

The name and location of the logfile are stored here (at least on the server in my testlab hosting all site system roles on one box): HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\CCM\Logging\SmsPXEHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\SMS\PXE\Logging\smspxe
August 7th, 2009 10:32am

Thanks Torsten! I found my smspxe.log file. It was inanother folder,on another drive of the server - and not under Program Files (x86)\Configuration Manager\Logs (like I had expected).For anybody else that finds this useful - if you're using Win2008 x64, those registry keys are under HKLM\Software\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\....
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August 10th, 2009 5:16am

Found it as well. From what I can tell, it was there the entire time.DreamensioN, thanks for mentioning x64, I forgot that was the OS I was running as well. My SCCM logs are in the C:\Windows\SysWOW64\CCM\Logs folder, including SMSPXE.log. not sure why this location didn't pop up when entering a search for *.log? Oh well!
August 10th, 2009 4:13pm

I followed up on the sysWOW64 approach, and what I found for a path was simply smspxe.log...which was not being created (scanned the drive looking). I changed the reg path to c:\logs\smspxe.log and magic! Now I have a log. Thanks to all!
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February 18th, 2010 10:37pm

I know this is answered but to add another you check from registry (SCCM 2007) HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\SMS\PXE\Logging\@GLOBAL - LogDirectory
June 9th, 2011 3:32am

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