# Using the logDevice attribute

To specify a non-default location for the log directory, set the logDevice attribute on the database connection URL when you create the database.

This attribute is meaningful only when you are creating a database. You can specify `logDevice` as either an absolute path or as a path that is relative to the directory where the JVM is executed.

Setting logDevice on the database connection URL 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` attribute as a database property by using the following statement:

    VALUES SYSCS_UTIL.SYSCS_GET_DATABASE_PROPERTY('logDevice')

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