One Approach to Logging in PowerShell

I was writing a script recently, and I realized that I was missing the ability to use the standard logging module from Python.  I decided to make a stripped-down logging function that would make logging easy, and that could be re-used.  I'd be interested to hear what approaches others have taken to solving this problem.  Here's what I came up with:



# Set severity constants
$MSG_INFORMATION = 0
$MSG_WARNING = 1
$MSG_ERROR = 2
$MSG_SEVERITY = @('Information', 'Warning', 'Error')


# Set configurable settings for logging
$LOG_LEVEL = $MSG_INFORMATION
$LOG_FILE = 'my_logfile.log'
$SMTP_TO = 'devnull@tojo2000.com'
$SMTP_SERVER = 'smtp.tojo2000.com'
$SMTP_SUBJECT = 'Script error!'


function Write-Log {
  <#
  .SYNOPSIS
     Writes a message to the Log.
  .DESCRIPTION
    Logs a message to the logfile if the severity is higher than $LOG_LEVEL.
  .PARAMETER severity
     The severity of the message.  Can be Information, Warning, or Error.
     Use the $MSG_XXXX constants.
     Note that Error will halt the script and send an email.
  .PARAMETER message
     A string to be printed to the log.
  .EXAMPLE
     Log $MSG_ERROR "Something has gone terribly wrong!"
  #>
  param([Parameter(Mandatory=$true)][int]$severity,
        [Parameter(Mandatory=$true)][string]$message)


  if ($severity -ge $LOG_LEVEL) {
    $timestamp = Get-Date -Format 'yyyy-MM-dd hh:mm:ss'
    $output = "$timestamp`t$($MSG_SEVERITY[$severity])`t$message"
    Write-Output $output >> $LOG_FILE


    if ($severity -ge $MSG_ERROR) {
      Send-MailMessage -To $SMTP_TO `
                       -SmtpServer $SMTP_SERVER `
                       -Subject $SMTP_SUBJECT`
                       -Body $output `
                       -From $SMTP_FROM
      exit 1
    }
  }
}