Skip to main content

Description

The log_min_error_statement flag defines the minimum message severity level that are considered as an error statement. Messages for error statements are logged with the SQL statement. Valid values include (from lowest to highest severity) DEBUG5, DEBUG4, DEBUG3, DEBUG2, DEBUG1, INFO, NOTICE, WARNING, ERROR, LOG, FATAL, and PANIC. Each severity level includes the subsequent levels mentioned above. Ensure a value of ERROR or stricter is set.

Rationale​

Auditing helps in troubleshooting operational problems and also permits forensic analysis. If log_min_error_statement is not set to the correct value, messages may not be classified as error messages appropriately. Considering general log messages as error messages would make is difficult to find actual errors and considering only stricter severity levels as error messages may skip actual errors to log their SQL statements. The log_min_error_statement flag should be set to ERROR or stricter. This recommendation is applicable to PostgreSQL database instances.

Impact​

Turning on logging will increase the required storage over time. Mismanaged logs may cause your storage costs to increase. Setting custom flags via command line on certain instances will cause all omitted flags to be reset to defaults. This may cause you to lose custom flags and could result in unforeseen complications or instance restarts. Because of this, it is recommended you apply these flags changes during a period of low usage.

Audit​

From Google Cloud Console​

  1. Go to the Cloud SQL Instances page in the Google Cloud Console by visiting https://console.cloud.google.com/sql/instances.
  2. Select the instance to open its Instance Overview page
  3. Go to Configuration card
  4. Under Database flags, check the value of log_min_error_statement flag is configured as to ERROR or stricter.

From Google Cloud CLI​

  1. Use the below command for every Cloud SQL PostgreSQL database instance to verify the value of log_min_error_statement is set to ERROR or stricter.

         gcloud sql instances describe <INSTANCE_NAME> --format=json | jq '.[].settings.databaseFlags[] | select(.name=="log_min_error_statement")|.value'

In the output, database flags are listed under the settings as the collection databaseFlags.

Default Value​

By default log_min_error_statement is ERROR.

References​

  1. https://cloud.google.com/sql/docs/postgres/flags
  2. https://www.postgresql.org/docs/9.6/runtime-config-logging.html#RUNTIME-CONFIG-LOGGING-WHEN

Additional Information​

WARNING: This patch modifies database flag values, which may require your instance to be restarted. Check the list of supported flags - https://cloud.google.com/sql/docs/postgres/flags - to see if your instance will be restarted when this patch is submitted.

Note: some database flag settings can affect instance availability or stability and remove the instance from the Cloud SQL SLA. For information about these flags, see Operational Guidelines.

Note: Configuring the above flag does not require restarting the Cloud SQL instance.