# QlikView Distribution Service
## Overview
QlikView Distribution Service overview
| Executable | %ProgramFiles%\QlikView\Distribution Service\QVDistributionService.exe |
| --- | --- |
| Data | %ProgramData%\QlikTech\DistributionService |
| Listens to | HTTP: 4720; SNMP: 4721 |
| Uses/Controls | DSC, QVS, QVB |
| Used by | QMS |
Information noteAfter restarting the machine, the Windows event log may contain a message that the QlikView Distribution Service (QDS) failed to start in a timely manner, even though it started successfully. This is because the QDS initialization phase is longer than the Windows timeout period (30 seconds by default). To avoid the event log message, either change the Windows timeout period or configure QDS to depend on another late starting service to make QDS start up during a less busy period.
## Files
The QlikView Distribution Service (QDS) files can be divided into three groups based on main purpose. All files, with the exception of DistributionGroupDefinition.xml, are stored in the QDS “Data” folder.
[Overview](https://help.qlik.com/en-US/qlikview/September2026/Subsystems/Server/Content/QV_Server/QlikView-Server/QVSRM_ArchitectureQDS.htm#QDS_Overview)
In a clustered setup, all QDSs must share the same program folder. This is solved by the file config\_<server\_name>.xml, which contains the program data path to use.
Information noteYou might see other files in your QDS Data folder that are not listed below. Any file not listed below is required for system use only. They should not be altered or removed.
### Settings and Configuration
The files listed below are local copies of the information stored in QVPR.
Settings and configuration files
| File | Description |
| --- | --- |
| service\_key.txt | The service key that is used to make calls to the QMS API. |
| Config\_servername.xml | This file lists all changes made to the default configuration of the QVDistributionService.exe.config file.
In a QDS clustered environment, this file exists on each node. |
| Configuration.xml | Configuration file for the service. |
| Tasks\Task\_<GUID>.xml | The actual tasks.
Note that deleted tasks are not automatically removed (due to support issue analysis). |
| Triggers\Triggers\_<GUID>.xml | The actual triggers.
Note that deleted triggers are not automatically removed (due to support issue analysis). |
| MasterConfigurationNotification.xml | A list of configuration notification files.
Used to keep QDS in sync and to notify QDS nodes of configuration changes. |
| MasterTaskNotification.xml | A list of task notification files.
Used to keep QDS in sync and to notify QDS nodes of task changes. |
| MasterTaskExecutionNotification.xml | A list of task execution notification files.
Used to keep QDS in sync and to notify QDS nodes of task execution changes. |
| MasterTriggerNotification.xml | A list of trigger notification files.
Used to keep QDS in sync and to notify QDS nodes of changes to triggering events. |
| TaskDetails.xml | A list of the available tasks in the Tasks folder.
Used to synchronize the files in that folder with QVPR. |
| TriggerDetails.xml | A list of the available triggers in the Triggers folder.
Used to synchronize the files in that folder with QVPR. |
| DistributionGroupDefinition.xml | Configuration file for Distribution Groups
Location: %ProgramData%\QlikTech\ManagementService\DistributionGroups |
### Cluster
Cluster files
| File | Description |
| --- | --- |
| LoadBalancer.xml | Used by QDS to decide which node (in a cluster) should run a task. |
| NodeInformation.xml | Contains all other QDS node data that is not used by the load balancer. |
### Logs
Log files
| File | Description |
| --- | --- |
| TaskResults\TaskResult\_<GUID>.xml | Latest result of the task identified by the GUID. |
| TaskLogIndex\TaskLogIndex\_<GUID>.xml | This is just for lookup (one file per task), pointing to the actual log. |
| EdxResults\EdxResult\_<GUID>.xml | Until the task is completed, this file contains the current status of the EDX task. When the execution is finished, it contains the result (success/fail) and the task started as a result (if any). |
| <node-nr>\Log\<Date>.txt | General QDS event and error log. |
| <node-nr>\Log\Cluster\_<Date>.txt | Synchronization log. |
| <node-nr>\Log\LoadBalancer\_<Date>.txt | Load balancing log. |
| <node-nr>\Log\Root\_<Date>.txt | QDS event log. |
| <node-nr>\Log\WebService\_<Date>.txt | QDS event log. |
| <node-nr>\Log\Workorder\_<Date>.txt | QDS event log. |
| <node-nr>\Log\<date>\<time> - <task name>\Tasklog.txt | QDS task event log. |
| <node-nr>\Log\<date>\<time> - <task name>\DistributionReport.xml | The distribution related to the task (only exists for distribution tasks). |
#### Changing the storage time of log files
By default, log files are stored for 30 days and then are deleted from the Application Data Folder, by default C:\ProgramData\QlikTech\DistributionService.
You can change the storage time of log files within the QVDistributionService.exe.config file.
Information note
It is recommended that you make a copy of QVDistributionService.exe.config as a backup before you edit QVDistributionService.exe.config.
Do the following:
1. Open Windows Services.
2. Stop the QlikView Distribution Service by right-clicking the service and clicking Stop.
3. Close Windows Services.
4. Browse to C:\Program Files\QlikView\DistributionService and open QVDistributionService.exe.config with a text editing program.
5. Locate `` and add the number of days reports are to be stored as the value.
6. Save and close the file.
7. Open Windows Services.
8. Restart the QlikView Distribution Service by right-clicking the service and clicking Start.
9. Close Windows Services.