Tools

Use case of the "Index" column in the Events tab in Kiwi NG

The Index column in the Kiwi Syslog NG (KSS NG) Events tab displays a dynamic row number for the current view. It is not a persistent message ID and is recalculated whenever the view is sorted or filtered.

First published date

5/1/2026 4:37 PM

Last published date

5/1/2026 4:37 PM

Overview

In Kiwi Syslog NG (KSS NG), the Events tab includes a column called Index. This column functions as a per-view row counter, starting at 0 for the top visible row and incrementing by 1 for each subsequent row. The Index value is dynamic: it is recalculated any time the view is sorted, filtered, or updated with new incoming events. It is not a persistent identifier stored in the message log, and it cannot be used as a reliable sequence number outside of the current list view. Its primary purpose is visual reference — for example, when tracking a specific event while reviewing the grid or discussing a row with another user.

Product section

Kiwi Syslog Server

Resolution

The Index column in the KSS NG Events tab is just a row number for the current view, not a message ID stored in the log.

1. Function of the Index

  • It shows the position of each event in the currently displayed list.
  • It helps you refer to a specific row when reviewing with someone else (e.g., “look at Index 5”) or when visually tracking messages as you sort/filter.

It is not:

  • A persistent ID in the message store
  • A sequence number you can rely on outside this specific list view

2. Rule used to assign the numbers

  • KSS NG numbers from 0 downward, top to bottom:
    • Top visible row = Index 0
    • Next row = Index 1
    • And so on…
  • Any time you sort or filter, the view is rebuilt and the Index values are recalculated based on the new row order.
  • When new events arrive and are added (for example, at the top when sorted by newest first), the new event becomes Index 0, the previous 0 becomes 1, etc.

3. Example of how it’s used

Imagine you have events sorted by Date/Time descending:

IndexDate / TimeHostMessage (short)
03/16/2026 4:25:10 PM192.168…“This is a test message…”
13/16/2026 4:24:20 PM192.168…“This is a test message…”
23/16/2026 11:17:15 AM192.168…“This is a test message…”

 

  • The newest event on screen is at Index 0.
  • If you then apply a filter (e.g., only one host), the remaining rows are renumbered starting again at 0.
  • If you change the sort to Host Name, the table is resorted and the Index column simply reflects the new visual order.

So, the Index is a dynamic, per-view row counter, mainly for convenience when looking at or discussing the Events grid.