# When the log is in a non-default location

If you put the database log in a non-default location prior to backing up the database, be aware of the following requirements.

- If you are using an operating system command to back up the database, you must explicitly copy the log file as well, as shown in the following example:

      xcopy d:\mydatabases\sample c:\mybackups\2012-04-01\sample /s /i
      xcopy h:\janet\tourslog\log c:\mybackups\2012-04-01\sample\log /s /i

  If you are not using Windows, substitute the appropriate operating system command for copying a directory and all of its contents to a new location.

- Edit the `logDevice` entry in the `service.properties` file of the database backup so that it points to the correct location for the log. In the previous example, the log was moved to the default location for a log, so you can remove the `logDevice` entry entirely, or leave the `logDevice` entry as is and wait until the database is restored to edit the entry.

See Logging on a separate device for information about the default location of the database log and about putting the log in a non-default location.

Parent topic: Backing up a database
Related concepts
Offline backups
Online backups
Backing up encrypted databases