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?

Answer 1

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.

Answer 2

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

Answer 3

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.