Better Stack Docker logging

Start logging in 2 minutes

Collect logs and metrics from your Docker containers using Vector.

Select your platform:

1. Setup

Install and configure Vector on Ubuntu or Debian:

Set up Vector

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curl -sSL https://telemetry.betterstack.com/setup-vector/docker/$SOURCE_TOKEN \
  -o /tmp/setup-vector.sh && \
  bash /tmp/setup-vector.sh

Curious about what the script does?

Installs Vector using official package.
Configures Vector for your Better Stack source.
Enables and restarts Vector.

The script will ask for confirmation before making any changes.

Install

Install Vector on Windows using official installer:

Install Vector

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powershell Invoke-WebRequest https://packages.timber.io/vector/latest/vector-x64.msi -OutFile vector-latest-x64.msi
msiexec /i vector-latest-x64.msi

Setup

Run in Powershell as administrator to download Vector config:

Download Vector config using Powershell

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$config_yaml_path = "C:\Program Files\Vector\config\vector.yaml"
$backup_path = "C:\Program Files\Vector\config\vector-backup.yaml"
Move-Item -Path "$config_yaml_path" -Destination "$backup_path"
Invoke-RestMethod -Uri https://telemetry.betterstack.com/vector-yaml/docker/$SOURCE_TOKEN |
  Add-Content $config_yaml_path

Run Vector

Run Vector with new configuration:

Start Vector

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& "C:\Program Files\Vector\bin\vector" --config "C:\Program Files\Vector\config\vector.yaml"

Install

Install Vector using official installer:

Install Vector

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curl --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 -sSf https://sh.vector.dev | sh -s -- -y

Create a Vector service:

Create a Vector service

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mkdir -p /etc/vector
mkdir -p /var/lib/vector/
cat <<-'SERVICE' >> /etc/systemd/system/vector.service
[Unit]
Description=Vector
Documentation=https://vector.dev
After=network-online.target
Requires=network-online.target

[Service]
User=vector
Group=vector
ExecStart=/root/.vector/bin/vector
ExecReload=/bin/kill -HUP $MAINPID
Restart=no
AmbientCapabilities=CAP_NET_BIND_SERVICE
EnvironmentFile=-/etc/default/vector

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target
SERVICE

Setup

Download Vector configuration for your source:

Download Vector config

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CONFIG_YAML_PATH="/etc/vector/vector.yaml"
BACKUP_SUFFIX=".bak-$(date +%Y%m%d%H%M%S)"
mv "${CONFIG_YAML_PATH}" "${CONFIG_YAML_PATH}${BACKUP_SUFFIX}"
curl -o "$CONFIG_YAML_PATH" \
  https://telemetry.betterstack.com/vector-yaml/docker/$SOURCE_TOKEN

Restart Vector

Restart Vector to reload the configuration:

Restart Vector

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systemctl restart vector

2. Grant permissions

Allow Vector to access Docker logs:

Grant Vector permissions

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usermod -a -G docker vector

You should see your logs in Better Stack → Live tail.

Check out your metrics in the Docker dashboard.

No logs coming in?

Make sure that Vector has all necessary permissions. Run usermod -aG docker vector && service vector restart to add Vector user to the docker group and restart Vector right away.

Need help?

Please let us know at hello@betterstack.com.
We're happy to help! 🙏

Additional information

Want to learn more about production log management for containers and daemon logs? Check out our comprehensive Docker logging tutorial.
Looking for manual instructions to set up Vector?
Find step-by-step instructions in our dedicated Vector guide.

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Better Stack Docker logging

Start logging in 2 minutes

1. Setup

Install

Setup

Run Vector

Install

Setup

Restart Vector

2. Grant permissions

No logs coming in?

Need help?

Additional information

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