Question
How do I persist Docker container logs on my Droplet?
- Posted on March 24, 2025
- Docker
Asked by 3b87e9ed1f474cae929cc12aa6c1a6
I’m running a few containers on a DigitalOcean Droplet and using docker logs to check output.
The issue is that logs disappear when containers are restarted. What’s the best way to persist logs or send them somewhere reliable so I don’t lose them after restarts or reboots?
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Hey there 👋
By default, Docker uses the
json-filelogging driver, which stores logs locally, but they can get wiped on container restart depending on your settings.To persist logs, you can:
Mount a volume to
/var/lib/docker/containers(not ideal)Use a logging driver like
syslog,journald, or a remote option likefluentdorPapertrailOr redirect logs inside your app to a mounted volume or external service
If you’re using App Platform, you can also forward logs to Papertrail directly from the dashboard:
- Bobby