How can I get log messages from the LAMP server on Ubuntu 10.04?

Question

How can I get log messages from the LAMP server on Ubuntu 10.04? Should I install some good program on Ubuntu for that purpose?

score 6 · Accepted Answer · edited Sep 18 '10 at 17:58

Using cat is not a good idea, especially if logs grow large. Instead, try tailing.

sudo tail /var/log/apache2/error.log

tail will only show the last N lines of a file. If you want to keep monitoring the last lines, use the -F command-line option . Use Ctrl + C to close the monitoring.

sudo tail -F /var/log/apache2/error.log

To enable the logging, you must do that in the php.ini (look for error-logging). AFAIK that is no longer on by default in Ubuntu 10.04.

score 2 · Answer 2 · edited Oct 19 '11 at 04:22

2

If you have to watch multiple files I'd suggest multitail. It lets you divide the screen and watch multiple files:

multitail in GNOME terminal

edited Oct 19 '11 at 04:22

Gaff

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answered Jul 15 '10 at 23:47

qbi

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score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Jun 02 '10 at 10:14

1

By default, the display of error messages is disabled in Lamp with Ubuntu 10.04 (I think it was enabled before...). You can read it with the following command :

sudo cat /var/log/apache2/error_log

or

sudo cat /var/log/apache2/access_log

I don't know how to re-enable the display of error messages, but it was really useful.

answered Jun 02 '10 at 10:14

jguepin

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they are empty, what I should do to enable them? My main problem that I get 500 error on my server when I going to some page. – Ben Jun 02 '10 at 12:38
error.log and access.log – Ben Jun 02 '10 at 19:30

How can I get log messages from the LAMP server on Ubuntu 10.04?

3 Answers3