# When the log is in a non-default location

Note: Read Logging on a separate device to find out about the default location of the database log.

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\2005-06-01\sample /s /i
      xcopy h:\janet\tourslog\log c:\mybackups\2005-06-01\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 service.properties 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 putting the log in a non-default location.

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