Better Stack PostgreSQL logging

Start logging in 2 minutes

What you would like to collect from your PostgreSQL?

Collect both logs and metrics from your PostgreSQL database
Collect only logs from your PostgreSQL database

Collect logs & metrics

Collect logs and metrics from your PostgreSQL database using Vector and Prometheus postgres exporter .

1. Set up PostgreSQL exporter

Create a dedicated PostgreSQL user for Vector to securely scrape metrics:

Create a new user

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psql -h localhost -U postgres \
  -c "CREATE USER better_stack_metrics WITH PASSWORD 'your_password_here'; \
      GRANT SELECT ON pg_stat_database TO better_stack_metrics;"

Fill in your password

Replace your_password_here with password of your choice.

Create /etc/postgres_exporter.conf config file using PostgreSQL user password you've just set:

/etc/postgres_exporter.cnf

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export DATA_SOURCE_NAME="postgresql://better_stack_metrics:your_password_here@localhost:5432/postgres"

2. Install PostgreSQL exporter

Install latest postgres exporter:

Install postgres exporter

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curl -sSL https://logs.betterstack.com/install/postgres_exporter | sudo -E bash

3. Run exporter

Start the PostgreSQL exporter:

Linux macOS

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systemctl start postgres_exporter

launchctl start com.prometheus.postgres_exporter

4. Set up Vector

Select your platform:

Ubuntu • Debian

Install and configure Vector on Ubuntu or Debian:

Set up Vector

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curl -sSL https://logs.betterstack.com/setup-vector/postgresql_with_metrics/$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

Copied!

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 "$backup_path"
Invoke-RestMethod -Uri https://logs.betterstack.com/vector-yaml/postgresql_with_metrics/$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

Copied!

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}"
mv "${CONFIG_YAML_PATH%.yaml}.toml" "${CONFIG_YAML_PATH%.yaml}.toml${BACKUP_SUFFIX}"
curl -o "$CONFIG_YAML_PATH" \
  https://logs.betterstack.com/vector-yaml/postgresql_with_metrics/$SOURCE_TOKEN

Restart Vector

Restart Vector to reload the configuration:

Restart Vector

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systemctl restart vector

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

Colect only logs

Collect logs from your PostgreSQL database using Vector .

Select your platform:

Ubuntu • Debian

Install and configure Vector on Ubuntu or Debian:

Set up Vector

Copied!

curl -sSL https://logs.betterstack.com/setup-vector/postgresql/$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

Copied!

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

Copied!

$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 "$backup_path"
Invoke-RestMethod -Uri https://logs.betterstack.com/vector-yaml/postgresql/$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

Copied!

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

Create a Vector service :

Create a Vector service

Copied!

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

Copied!

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}"
mv "${CONFIG_YAML_PATH%.yaml}.toml" "${CONFIG_YAML_PATH%.yaml}.toml${BACKUP_SUFFIX}"
curl -o "$CONFIG_YAML_PATH" \
  https://logs.betterstack.com/vector-yaml/postgresql/$SOURCE_TOKEN

Restart Vector

Restart Vector to reload the configuration:

Restart Vector

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systemctl restart vector

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

Need help?

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

Additional information

Looking for manual instructions to set up Vector?

Find step-by-step instructions in our dedicated Vector guide.

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Better Stack PostgreSQL logging

Start logging in 2 minutes

Collect logs & metrics

1. Set up PostgreSQL exporter

Fill in your password

2. Install PostgreSQL exporter

3. Run exporter

4. Set up Vector

Install

Setup

Run Vector

Install

Setup

Restart Vector

Colect only logs

Install

Setup

Run Vector

Install

Setup

Restart Vector

Need help?

Additional information

Looking for manual instructions to set up Vector?

On this page