# Using the logDevice=logDirectoryPath attribute

To specify a non-default location for the log directory, set the `logDevice=logDirectoryPath` attribute on the database connection URL.

This attribute is meaningful when you are creating a database or when you are restoring a database using roll-forward recovery. You can specify `logDevice=logDirectoryPath` as either an absolute path or as a path that is relative to the directory where the JVM is executed.

Setting `logDevice=logDirectoryPath` on the database connection URL when you create the database adds an entry to the `service.properties` file. If you ever move the log manually, you will need to alter the entry in `service.properties`. If you move the log back to the default location, remove the `logDevice` entry from the `service.properties` file.

To check the log location for an existing database, you can retrieve the `logDevice=logDirectoryPath` attribute as a database property by using the following statement:

    VALUES SYSCS_UTIL.SYSCS_GET_DATABASE_PROPERTY('logDevice')

For more information, see Roll-forward recovery in this manual and "logDevice=logDirectoryPath attribute" in the Derby Reference Manual.

Parent topic: Logging on a separate device
Related concepts
Issues for logging in a non-default location
Related reference
Example of creating a log in a non-default location
Example of moving a log manually