diff --git a/manifests/init.pp b/manifests/init.pp
index 465cea9d..2d191889 100644
--- a/manifests/init.pp
+++ b/manifests/init.pp
@@ -18,11 +18,28 @@
 #
 # [*debug*]
 #   (optional) should the daemons log debug messages.
-#   Defaults to 'false'
+#   Defaults to undef
 #
 # [*verbose*]
 #   (optional) should the daemons log verbose messages.
-#   Defaults to 'false'
+#   Defaults to undef
+#
+# [*use_syslog*]
+#   (Optional) Use syslog for logging.
+#   Defaults to undef
+#
+# [*use_stderr*]
+#   (optional) Use stderr for logging
+#   Defaults to undef
+#
+# [*log_facility*]
+#   (Optional) Syslog facility to receive log lines.
+#   Defaults to undef
+#
+# [*log_dir*]
+#   (optional) Directory where logs should be stored.
+#   If set to boolean false, it will not log to any directory.
+#   Defaults to undef
 #
 # [*root_helper*]
 #   (optional) Command for designate rootwrap helper.
@@ -65,8 +82,12 @@
 class designate(
   $package_ensure       = present,
   $common_package_name  = undef,
-  $verbose              = false,
-  $debug                = false,
+  $verbose              = undef,
+  $debug                = undef,
+  $log_dir              = undef,
+  $use_syslog           = undef,
+  $use_stderr           = undef,
+  $log_facility         = undef,
   $root_helper          = 'sudo designate-rootwrap /etc/designate/rootwrap.conf',
   $rabbit_host          = '127.0.0.1',
   $rabbit_port          = '5672',
@@ -78,6 +99,7 @@ class designate(
   $notification_topics  = 'notifications',
 ) {
 
+  include ::designate::logging
   include ::designate::params
 
   exec { 'post-designate_config':
@@ -139,10 +161,7 @@ class designate(
 
   # default setting
   designate_config {
-    'DEFAULT/debug'                  : value => $debug;
-    'DEFAULT/verbose'                : value => $verbose;
     'DEFAULT/root_helper'            : value => $root_helper;
-    'DEFAULT/logdir'                 : value => $::designate::params::log_dir;
     'DEFAULT/state_path'             : value => $::designate::params::state_path;
     'DEFAULT/notification_driver'    : value => $notification_driver;
     'DEFAULT/notification_topics'    : value => $notification_topics;
diff --git a/manifests/logging.pp b/manifests/logging.pp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..933ff0a0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/manifests/logging.pp
@@ -0,0 +1,257 @@
+# Class designate::logging
+#
+#  designate logging configuration
+#
+# == parameters
+#
+#  [*verbose*]
+#    (Optional) Should the daemons log verbose messages
+#    Defaults to 'false'
+#
+#  [*debug*]
+#    (Optional) Should the daemons log debug messages
+#    Defaults to 'false'
+#
+#  [*use_syslog*]
+#    (Optional) Use syslog for logging.
+#    Defaults to 'false'
+#
+#  [*use_stderr*]
+#    (optional) Use stderr for logging
+#    Defaults to 'true'
+#
+#  [*log_facility*]
+#    (Optional) Syslog facility to receive log lines.
+#    Defaults to 'LOG_USER'
+#
+#  [*log_dir*]
+#    (optional) Directory where logs should be stored.
+#    If set to boolean false, it will not log to any directory.
+#    Defaults to $::designate::params::log_dir
+#
+#  [*logging_context_format_string*]
+#    (optional) Format string to use for log messages with context.
+#    Defaults to undef.
+#    Example: '%(asctime)s.%(msecs)03d %(process)d %(levelname)s %(name)s\
+#              [%(request_id)s %(user_identity)s] %(instance)s%(message)s'
+#
+#  [*logging_default_format_string*]
+#    (optional) Format string to use for log messages without context.
+#    Defaults to undef.
+#    Example: '%(asctime)s.%(msecs)03d %(process)d %(levelname)s %(name)s\
+#              [-] %(instance)s%(message)s'
+#
+#  [*logging_debug_format_suffix*]
+#    (optional) Formatted data to append to log format when level is DEBUG.
+#    Defaults to undef.
+#    Example: '%(funcName)s %(pathname)s:%(lineno)d'
+#
+#  [*logging_exception_prefix*]
+#    (optional) Prefix each line of exception output with this format.
+#    Defaults to undef.
+#    Example: '%(asctime)s.%(msecs)03d %(process)d TRACE %(name)s %(instance)s'
+#
+#  [*log_config_append*]
+#    The name of an additional logging configuration file.
+#    Defaults to undef.
+#    See https://docs.python.org/2/howto/logging.html
+#
+#  [*default_log_levels*]
+#    (optional) Hash of logger (keys) and level (values) pairs.
+#    Defaults to undef.
+#    Example:
+#      { 'amqp' => 'WARN', 'amqplib' => 'WARN', 'boto' => 'WARN',
+#        'qpid' => 'WARN', 'sqlalchemy' => 'WARN', 'suds' => 'INFO',
+#        'iso8601' => 'WARN',
+#        'requests.packages.urllib3.connectionpool' => 'WARN' }
+#
+#  [*publish_errors*]
+#    (optional) Publish error events (boolean value).
+#    Defaults to undef (false if unconfigured).
+#
+#  [*fatal_deprecations*]
+#    (optional) Make deprecations fatal (boolean value)
+#    Defaults to undef (false if unconfigured).
+#
+#  [*instance_format*]
+#    (optional) If an instance is passed with the log message, format it
+#               like this (string value).
+#    Defaults to undef.
+#    Example: '[instance: %(uuid)s] '
+#
+#  [*instance_uuid_format*]
+#    (optional) If an instance UUID is passed with the log message, format
+#               it like this (string value).
+#    Defaults to undef.
+#    Example: instance_uuid_format='[instance: %(uuid)s] '
+
+#  [*log_date_format*]
+#    (optional) Format string for %%(asctime)s in log records.
+#    Defaults to undef.
+#    Example: 'Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S'
+
+class designate::logging(
+  $use_syslog                    = false,
+  $use_stderr                    = true,
+  $log_facility                  = 'LOG_USER',
+  $log_dir                       = $::designate::params::log_dir,
+  $verbose                       = false,
+  $debug                         = false,
+  $logging_context_format_string = undef,
+  $logging_default_format_string = undef,
+  $logging_debug_format_suffix   = undef,
+  $logging_exception_prefix      = undef,
+  $log_config_append             = undef,
+  $default_log_levels            = undef,
+  $publish_errors                = undef,
+  $fatal_deprecations            = undef,
+  $instance_format               = undef,
+  $instance_uuid_format          = undef,
+  $log_date_format               = undef,
+) inherits ::designate::params  {
+
+  # NOTE(spredzy): In order to keep backward compatibility we rely on the pick function
+  # to use designate::<myparam> first then designate::logging::<myparam>.
+  $use_syslog_real = pick($::designate::use_syslog,$use_syslog)
+  $use_stderr_real = pick($::designate::use_stderr,$use_stderr)
+  $log_facility_real = pick($::designate::log_facility,$log_facility)
+  $log_dir_real = pick($::designate::log_dir, $log_dir)
+  $verbose_real  = pick($::designate::verbose,$verbose)
+  $debug_real = pick($::designate::debug,$debug)
+
+  designate_config {
+    'DEFAULT/debug'              : value => $debug_real;
+    'DEFAULT/verbose'            : value => $verbose_real;
+    'DEFAULT/use_stderr'         : value => $use_stderr_real;
+    'DEFAULT/use_syslog'         : value => $use_syslog_real;
+    'DEFAULT/log_dir'            : value => $log_dir_real;
+    'DEFAULT/syslog_log_facility': value => $log_facility_real;
+  }
+
+  if $logging_context_format_string {
+    designate_config {
+      'DEFAULT/logging_context_format_string' :
+        value => $logging_context_format_string;
+      }
+    }
+  else {
+    designate_config {
+      'DEFAULT/logging_context_format_string' : ensure => absent;
+      }
+    }
+
+  if $logging_default_format_string {
+    designate_config {
+      'DEFAULT/logging_default_format_string' :
+        value => $logging_default_format_string;
+      }
+    }
+  else {
+    designate_config {
+      'DEFAULT/logging_default_format_string' : ensure => absent;
+      }
+    }
+
+  if $logging_debug_format_suffix {
+    designate_config {
+      'DEFAULT/logging_debug_format_suffix' :
+        value => $logging_debug_format_suffix;
+      }
+    }
+  else {
+    designate_config {
+      'DEFAULT/logging_debug_format_suffix' : ensure => absent;
+      }
+    }
+
+  if $logging_exception_prefix {
+    designate_config {
+      'DEFAULT/logging_exception_prefix' : value => $logging_exception_prefix;
+      }
+    }
+  else {
+    designate_config {
+      'DEFAULT/logging_exception_prefix' : ensure => absent;
+      }
+    }
+
+  if $log_config_append {
+    designate_config {
+      'DEFAULT/log_config_append' : value => $log_config_append;
+      }
+    }
+  else {
+    designate_config {
+      'DEFAULT/log_config_append' : ensure => absent;
+      }
+    }
+
+  if $default_log_levels {
+    designate_config {
+      'DEFAULT/default_log_levels' :
+        value => join(sort(join_keys_to_values($default_log_levels, '=')), ',');
+      }
+    }
+  else {
+    designate_config {
+      'DEFAULT/default_log_levels' : ensure => absent;
+      }
+    }
+
+  if $publish_errors {
+    designate_config {
+      'DEFAULT/publish_errors' : value => $publish_errors;
+      }
+    }
+  else {
+    designate_config {
+      'DEFAULT/publish_errors' : ensure => absent;
+      }
+    }
+
+  if $fatal_deprecations {
+    designate_config {
+      'DEFAULT/fatal_deprecations' : value => $fatal_deprecations;
+      }
+    }
+  else {
+    designate_config {
+      'DEFAULT/fatal_deprecations' : ensure => absent;
+      }
+    }
+
+  if $instance_format {
+    designate_config {
+      'DEFAULT/instance_format' : value => $instance_format;
+      }
+    }
+  else {
+    designate_config {
+      'DEFAULT/instance_format' : ensure => absent;
+      }
+    }
+
+  if $instance_uuid_format {
+    designate_config {
+      'DEFAULT/instance_uuid_format' : value => $instance_uuid_format;
+      }
+    }
+  else {
+    designate_config {
+      'DEFAULT/instance_uuid_format' : ensure => absent;
+      }
+    }
+
+  if $log_date_format {
+    designate_config {
+      'DEFAULT/log_date_format' : value => $log_date_format;
+      }
+    }
+  else {
+    designate_config {
+      'DEFAULT/log_date_format' : ensure => absent;
+      }
+    }
+
+
+}
diff --git a/spec/classes/designate_init_spec.rb b/spec/classes/designate_init_spec.rb
index adc19dce..8a577e88 100644
--- a/spec/classes/designate_init_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/classes/designate_init_spec.rb
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ describe 'designate' do
 
   shared_examples_for 'a designate base installation' do
 
+    it { is_expected.to contain_class('designate::logging') }
     it { is_expected.to contain_class('designate::params') }
 
     it 'configures designate group' do
@@ -84,8 +85,6 @@ describe 'designate' do
     end
 
     it 'configures debug and verbosity' do
-      is_expected.to contain_designate_config('DEFAULT/debug').with_value( params[:debug] )
-      is_expected.to contain_designate_config('DEFAULT/verbose').with_value( params[:verbose] )
       is_expected.to contain_designate_config('DEFAULT/root_helper').with_value( params[:root_helper] )
     end
 
diff --git a/spec/classes/designate_logging_spec.rb b/spec/classes/designate_logging_spec.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b918649b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/classes/designate_logging_spec.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,142 @@
+require 'spec_helper'
+
+describe 'designate::logging' do
+
+  let :params do
+    {
+    }
+  end
+
+  let :log_params do
+    {
+      :logging_context_format_string => '%(asctime)s.%(msecs)03d %(process)d %(levelname)s %(name)s [%(request_id)s %(user_identity)s] %(instance)s%(message)s',
+      :logging_default_format_string => '%(asctime)s.%(msecs)03d %(process)d %(levelname)s %(name)s [-] %(instance)s%(message)s',
+      :logging_debug_format_suffix => '%(funcName)s %(pathname)s:%(lineno)d',
+      :logging_exception_prefix => '%(asctime)s.%(msecs)03d %(process)d TRACE %(name)s %(instance)s',
+      :log_config_append => '/etc/designate/logging.conf',
+      :publish_errors => true,
+      :default_log_levels => { 
+        'amqp' => 'WARN', 'amqplib' => 'WARN', 'boto' => 'WARN',
+        'qpid' => 'WARN', 'sqlalchemy' => 'WARN', 'suds' => 'INFO',
+        'iso8601' => 'WARN',
+        'requests.packages.urllib3.connectionpool' => 'WARN' },
+     :fatal_deprecations => true,
+     :instance_format => '[instance: %(uuid)s] ',
+     :instance_uuid_format => '[instance: %(uuid)s] ',
+     :log_date_format => '%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S',
+     :use_syslog => true,
+     :use_stderr => false,
+     :log_facility => 'LOG_FOO',
+     :log_dir => '/var/log',
+     :verbose => true,
+     :debug => true,
+    }
+  end
+
+  shared_examples_for 'designate-logging' do
+
+    context 'with basic logging options and default settings' do
+      it_configures  'basic default logging settings'
+    end
+
+    context 'with basic logging options and non-default settings' do
+      before { params.merge!( log_params ) }
+      it_configures 'basic non-default logging settings'
+    end
+
+    context 'with extended logging options' do
+      before { params.merge!( log_params ) }
+      it_configures 'logging params set'
+    end
+
+    context 'without extended logging options' do
+      it_configures 'logging params unset'
+    end
+
+  end
+
+  shared_examples 'basic default logging settings' do
+    it 'configures designate logging settins with default values' do
+      is_expected.to contain_designate_config('DEFAULT/use_syslog').with(:value => 'false')
+      is_expected.to contain_designate_config('DEFAULT/use_stderr').with(:value => 'true')
+      is_expected.to contain_designate_config('DEFAULT/verbose').with(:value => 'false')
+      is_expected.to contain_designate_config('DEFAULT/debug').with(:value => 'false')
+    end
+  end
+
+  shared_examples 'basic non-default logging settings' do
+    it 'configures designate logging settins with non-default values' do
+      is_expected.to contain_designate_config('DEFAULT/use_syslog').with(:value => 'true')
+      is_expected.to contain_designate_config('DEFAULT/use_stderr').with(:value => 'false')
+      is_expected.to contain_designate_config('DEFAULT/syslog_log_facility').with(:value => 'LOG_FOO')
+      is_expected.to contain_designate_config('DEFAULT/log_dir').with(:value => '/var/log')
+      is_expected.to contain_designate_config('DEFAULT/verbose').with(:value => 'true')
+      is_expected.to contain_designate_config('DEFAULT/debug').with(:value => 'true')
+    end
+  end
+
+  shared_examples_for 'logging params set' do
+    it 'enables logging params' do
+      is_expected.to contain_designate_config('DEFAULT/logging_context_format_string').with_value(
+        '%(asctime)s.%(msecs)03d %(process)d %(levelname)s %(name)s [%(request_id)s %(user_identity)s] %(instance)s%(message)s')
+
+      is_expected.to contain_designate_config('DEFAULT/logging_default_format_string').with_value(
+        '%(asctime)s.%(msecs)03d %(process)d %(levelname)s %(name)s [-] %(instance)s%(message)s')
+
+      is_expected.to contain_designate_config('DEFAULT/logging_debug_format_suffix').with_value(
+        '%(funcName)s %(pathname)s:%(lineno)d')
+
+      is_expected.to contain_designate_config('DEFAULT/logging_exception_prefix').with_value(
+       '%(asctime)s.%(msecs)03d %(process)d TRACE %(name)s %(instance)s')
+
+      is_expected.to contain_designate_config('DEFAULT/log_config_append').with_value(
+        '/etc/designate/logging.conf')
+      is_expected.to contain_designate_config('DEFAULT/publish_errors').with_value(
+        true)
+
+      is_expected.to contain_designate_config('DEFAULT/default_log_levels').with_value(
+        'amqp=WARN,amqplib=WARN,boto=WARN,iso8601=WARN,qpid=WARN,requests.packages.urllib3.connectionpool=WARN,sqlalchemy=WARN,suds=INFO')
+
+      is_expected.to contain_designate_config('DEFAULT/fatal_deprecations').with_value(
+        true)
+
+      is_expected.to contain_designate_config('DEFAULT/instance_format').with_value(
+        '[instance: %(uuid)s] ')
+
+      is_expected.to contain_designate_config('DEFAULT/instance_uuid_format').with_value(
+        '[instance: %(uuid)s] ')
+
+      is_expected.to contain_designate_config('DEFAULT/log_date_format').with_value(
+        '%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S')
+    end
+  end
+
+
+  shared_examples_for 'logging params unset' do
+   [ :logging_context_format_string, :logging_default_format_string,
+     :logging_debug_format_suffix, :logging_exception_prefix,
+     :log_config_append, :publish_errors,
+     :default_log_levels, :fatal_deprecations,
+     :instance_format, :instance_uuid_format,
+     :log_date_format, ].each { |param|
+        it { is_expected.to contain_designate_config("DEFAULT/#{param}").with_ensure('absent') }
+      }
+  end
+
+  context 'on Debian platforms' do
+    let :facts do
+      { :osfamily => 'Debian' }
+    end
+
+    it_configures 'designate-logging'
+  end
+
+  context 'on RedHat platforms' do
+    let :facts do
+      { :osfamily => 'RedHat' }
+    end
+
+    it_configures 'designate-logging'
+  end
+
+end