Why Log4Net is not writing the error logs? - asp.net-mvc-3

Question

I have tried several way to tweak but Log4Net file logger is not logging anything in my MVC3 web app.
What I am missing? I am not getting any error either.
The log4net dll is added to the application and it points to a local copy.
1 main web.config:
<appSettings>
<add key="Log4NetConfigFilename" value="log4net.config" />
<add key="Log4NetConfigFilePath" value="C:\DEV\App\source\App.Web\log4net.config" />
</appSettings>
2 Global.asax.cs
protected void Application_Start()
{
log4net.Config.XmlConfigurator.Configure();
}
3 Log4net.config file:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<log4net>
<logger name="MyLogger">
<level value="ALL" />
<appender-ref ref="MyRollingLogFileAppender" />
</logger>
<appender name="MyRollingLogFileAppender" type="log4net.Appender.RollingFileAppender">
<param name="File" value="C:\\Support\Logs\\logs.log" />
<param name="AppendToFile" value="true" />
<param name="RollingStyle" value="Size" />
<param name="MaxSizeRollBackups" value="10" />
<param name="MaximumFileSize" value="1024KB" />
<param name="StaticLogFileName" value="true" />
<lockingModel type="log4net.Appender.FileAppender+MinimalLock" />
<layout type="log4net.Layout.PatternLayout, log4net, Version=1.2.10.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=1b44e1d426115821">
<param name="ConversionPattern" value="%date{MM-dd-yyyy HH:mm:ss} [%-5level] [%identity] - %message %newline" />
</layout>
</appender>
</log4net>
#4 I have a folder created C:\Support\Logs
#5 The log4net.config file is located in C:\DEV\App\source\App.Web\log4net.config
6) controller where I am trying to log a string
These 2 values getting in the controller correctly
using log4net;
using log4net.Config;
using System.Configuration;
namespace My.Controllers
{
public class TestController : MyBaseController
{
private static readonly ILog _log = LogManager.GetLogger("MyLogger");
private static readonly string _log4netConfigFilename = ConfigurationManager.AppSettings["Log4NetConfigFilename"];
private static readonly string _log4netConfigFilePath = ConfigurationManager.AppSettings["Log4NetConfigFilePath"];
[HttpGet]
public ActionResult Index()
{
if (_log.IsDebugEnabled) <-- ALWAYS FALSE
_log.DebugFormat("Processing Index() view"); <-- NEVER GETS WRITTEN
var model = new MyModel();
return View(model);
}
}
}

Answer 1

It's acting like it isn't seeing your configuration file. Try explicitly setting it to look at the configuration file by updating your App_Start code to the following:
log4net.Config.XmlConfigurator.Configure(ConfigurationManager.AppSettings["Log4NetConfigFilePath"]);
I'm not where I can test it at the moment but see if that gets it.

Answer 2

You need to make sure that you are using the custom log4net.config by specifying the path when calling Configure:
log4net.Config.XmlConfigurator.Configure(new FileInfo(ConfigurationManager.AppSettings["Log4NetConfigFilePath"]));
And as far as I know, you don't need the additional assembly info on the <layout> section of the config (was causing me errors):
<layout type="log4net.Layout.PatternLayout">
<param name="ConversionPattern" value="%date{MM-dd-yyyy HH:mm:ss} [%-5level] [%identity] - %message %newline" />
</layout>