How to Follow Log Files and Handle Log Rotation with tail
This article explains how to use the Linux tail command to monitor log files in real time, filter errors, and reliably continue following logs after rotation by using the -F option, providing practical guidance for system administrators and developers.
How to follow log files tail -f /path/to/log/file | grep -i error This command is commonly used to watch a log for suspicious entries such as error output.
What to do when log rotation occurs tail -F The manual page for tail explains that -F is equivalent to --follow=name --retry, which makes tail follow the file name even after rotation, useful for files like Tomcat's catalina.out.
Author: He Weiping, Qunar Travel Division, search technology and database researcher, translator of the first Chinese PostgreSQL manual and the third edition of Programming Perl, with nearly 18 years of IT experience.
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