Where to Find Slow Query Logs in Managed Database (Already Enabled)?

On DigitalOcean Managed Databases, you cannot directly access or download the slow query logs as a file. You must use a log forwarding integration, such as Datadog, to view and manage your database logs. DigitalOcean made this update in June 2024 to centralize log management for its managed databases.

Where to view your logs DigitalOcean’s Managed Databases now support log forwarding to third-party providers like Datadog.

1. Enable log forwarding: In the DigitalOcean console, navigate to your database cluster. Go to the Settings or Log Forwarding section and configure a third-party log provider, such as Datadog, as the destination for your database logs.
2. Use the third-party dashboard: Once configured, your slow query logs will be sent to the log provider. You can then view, analyze, and search your logs directly within that provider’s dashboard.

Access via CLI or API DigitalOcean also provides API-driven log forwarding, which allows you to programmatically configure log destinations for your managed database logs. You can also use doctl, the official DigitalOcean CLI, to interact with the API, but this is used for setting up the log forwarding, not for retrieving the logs directly.

Why direct file access is not an option Managed services like DigitalOcean’s Databases abstract away the underlying infrastructure. This means you do not have direct access to the file system where the database logs are stored, unlike with a self-hosted Droplet. For security, simplicity, and performance, DigitalOcean manages this aspect and provides more robust and integrated logging solutions.