Managing log files
Overview
When Cloud 66 provisions servers, we automatically configure logging for various services. There are several logs available for different server components. Depending on the specifics of your application, log names and directories may vary. The information below is for a typical case.
Rails applications
Default Rails deployments
Default Rails deployments on Cloud 66 use Passenger (via Nginx) and the logs are stored in $STACK_PATH/log:
- Application (Rails) log:
$STACK_PATH/log/<environment>.log - Nginx error (server) log:
$STACK_PATH/log/nginx_error.log - Background processes:
$STACK_PATH/log/<PROCESS_NAME>_<NUMBER_OF_PROCESS>.log
Custom Rails deployments
If you are using a custom web server, such as Puma, Thin or Unicorn then your log file paths will depend on whether your servers use systemd or Bluepill to manage processes. To check this:
- Open your Cloud 66 Dashboard, and click the application in question
- Click ⚙Settings & Information in the right-hand panel
- Find the Process Manager line - it will show you which one your application is using
Servers using systemd
- Application (Rails) log:
$STACK_PATH/log/<environment>.log - Application logs (STDOUT + STDERR):
◦ Web:$STACK_PATH/log/custom_web.log
◦ Background processes:$STACK_PATH/log/<PROCESS_NAME>_<NUMBER_OF_PROCESS>.log - System logs
◦ Web server:sudo journalctl -u cloud66_web_server
◦ Background processes:sudo journalctl -u cloud66_process_<PROCESS_NAME>@* -f
Servers using Bluepill (legacy)
- Application (Rails) log:
$STACK_PATH/log/<environment>.log - Application logs (STDOUT + STDERR):
◦ Web:$STACK_PATH/log/unicorn_bluepill.log
◦ Background processes:$STACK_PATH/log/user_<PROCESS_NAME>_<NUMBER_OF_PROCESS>.log - System logs:
◦ Web server:/tmp/web_server_bluepill.log
◦ Background processes:$STACK_PATH/log/user_<PROCESS_NAME>_pill.log
Other log directories
- Auth requests, Fail2Ban:
/var/log - Nginx access and errors:
/opt/nginx/logs
Log rotation
Your logs in $STACK_PATH/log and /var/log are automatically rotated on a daily basis and by default kept for 14 days into a sub-directory called archive in each respective directory. These logs are compressed, and can be uncompressed with the following command:
gzip -d <log_file>.log.gz.
Note
You can set the frequency and the number of rotations to be kept using the Cloud 66 Toolbelt.
