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Follow Docker container logs live

harmless rootDockerdebian, ubuntu
Adjust the values, the command updates live
root@server
docker logs -f --tail 100 app

Prints the last lines of the container’s standard output and error output and then stays open until you cancel with Strg+C (Ctrl+C). Without --tail, the complete log since container start would be printed, which can be a lot for long-running containers.

Note: Applications that only log to files inside the container do not show up here. Docker commands require root or the docker group.

Also searched as

  • docker logs follow tail
  • watch docker container logs live
  • docker logs -f

Related one-liners

All in Docker

Follow the logs of all services in a Compose stack

#docker compose -f /opt/app/compose.yaml logs -f --tail 100
harmlessDocker

Open a shell in a running Docker container

#docker exec -it app sh
harmlessDocker

Show Docker container logs for a time range

#docker logs -t --since 2h --until 1h app
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Show the processes running in a Docker container

#docker top app
harmlessDocker

Back up a Docker volume to a tar archive

#docker run --rm -v app_data:/data:ro -v /root/docker-backup:/backup alpine tar czf /backup/app_data.tar.gz -C /data .
cautionDocker

Change the restart policy of a Docker container

#docker update --restart unless-stopped app
cautionDocker

Read first, then run.

The commands on myline.de act directly on servers, files and databases. A wrong path or placeholder can delete data irreversibly or make a server unreachable.

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  • Understand what a command does before running it, and check every placeholder.
  • Make a backup first and, if possible, try it on a test system.
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