Plesk Server Log Access
Step-by-step guide to download server access logs from Plesk hosting environments.
About Plesk
Plesk is a cross-platform web hosting control panel that runs on both Windows and Linux servers. It provides comprehensive log management features, including a built-in Log Browser for easy access to server logs and analytics data.
Overview
Plesk offers multiple methods to access server logs, with the Log Browser being the most user-friendly option. Unlike cPanel, Plesk provides more granular control over log management and retention settings, making it excellent for detailed bot analytics.
Plesk's Log Browser allows you to view, filter, and download logs directly from the web interface, with advanced filtering options that can help isolate bot traffic before download.
Log Browser Method (Recommended)
The most straightforward method using Plesk's built-in Log Browser:
Log into Plesk Panel
Access your Plesk control panel using the URL provided by your hosting provider (typically yourdomain.com:8443 or a custom URL).
Navigate to Your Domain
From the main dashboard, click on the domain you want to analyze. This will take you to the domain's management panel.
Access Log Browser
Look for "Log Browser" in the Statistics section or sidebar. The exact location may vary based on your Plesk version and theme:
- • Statistics → "Log Browser"
- • Logs → "Web Server Logs"
- • Websites & Domains → "Log Browser"
Select Access Logs
In the Log Browser, you'll see different types of logs. Select "Access Log" for web server traffic:
- • Access Log: All HTTP/HTTPS requests (what you need)
- • Error Log: Server errors only
- • Bandwidth Log: Traffic usage statistics
Choose "Access Log" for comprehensive bot analytics data
Configure Date Range
Set the date range for the logs you want to download. You can select:
- • Today's logs for recent activity
- • Last 7 days for weekly analysis
- • Custom date range for specific periods
- • All available logs for comprehensive analysis
Download the Log File
Click "Download" or "Export" to save the log file to your computer. Plesk typically provides the file in standard Apache log format.
Alternative Methods
If Log Browser isn't available or you prefer other methods:
Method 1: Log Rotation Settings
Access logs through Plesk's log rotation system:
- Go to "Websites & Domains" → "Log Rotation"
- Configure log retention settings
- Enable "Compress rotated logs" for storage efficiency
- Access archived logs from the file system
Method 2: File Manager
Navigate to logs using Plesk's File Manager:
- Go to "Files" → "File Manager"
- Navigate to log directories:
- Linux: /var/www/vhosts/domain.com/logs/
- Windows: C:\inetpub\vhosts\domain.com\logs\
3. Download access_log or access.log files
Method 3: FTP/SFTP Access
Use FTP credentials to access logs directly:
- Create FTP account in "Websites & Domains" → "FTP Access"
- Connect via FileZilla or similar FTP client
- Navigate to /logs/ directory
- Download access log files
Method 4: SSH Access (Linux)
For Linux-based Plesk servers with SSH access:
# Connect via SSH
ssh username@your-server.com
# Navigate to logs
cd /var/www/vhosts/yourdomain.com/logs/
# View recent entries
tail -n 1000 access_log > recent.log
# Download via SCP
scp access_log local-destination/Plesk Log Management Features
Plesk offers advanced log management capabilities:
Real-time Log Viewer
View live log entries as they happen, useful for monitoring bot activity in real-time
Advanced Filtering
Filter logs by IP, user agent, status code, or time range before downloading
Custom Log Formats
Configure custom log formats to include specific data fields for analysis
Automatic Archiving
Set up automatic log rotation and compression to manage storage efficiently
Important Notes
Windows vs Linux: Log file locations and formats differ between Windows and Linux Plesk installations. Check your server type.
Log Formats: Plesk supports both Apache Common Log Format and Combined Log Format, both work well with Bot Analytics.
Retention Settings: Configure log retention in "Log Rotation" settings to keep logs longer for historical analysis.
Multiple Domains: Each domain has separate log files. Repeat the process for each domain you want to analyze.
Common Plesk Hosting Providers
Popular hosting providers that use Plesk:
1&1 IONOS
Comprehensive Plesk hosting with full log access
OVHcloud
European hosting with Plesk panel
Media Temple
Premium hosting with Plesk management
Liquid Web
Managed hosting with Plesk options
InterServer
Affordable VPS with Plesk panel
WebHostingPad
Shared and VPS hosting with Plesk
Troubleshooting
Can't find Log Browser?
Log Browser location varies by Plesk version. Try "Statistics", "Logs", or "Websites & Domains". Some hosting providers may disable this feature.
Permission denied accessing logs?
Your Plesk user role may not have log access permissions. Contact your hosting provider to enable log access or upgrade your plan.
Log files are missing or empty?
Check if logging is enabled for your domain. Go to "Websites & Domains" → "Apache & nginx Settings" and ensure "Access log" is enabled.
Different log formats on Windows vs Linux?
Windows Plesk uses IIS logs by default, while Linux uses Apache/nginx. Both formats work with Bot Analytics, but file locations and names differ.
Large files causing download timeouts?
Use the date range filter to download smaller chunks, or enable email delivery for large log files in the Log Browser settings.
Next Steps
After uploading your Plesk logs to Finseo Bot Analytics:
- Analyze AI bot traffic across all your Plesk-managed domains
- Leverage Plesk's detailed logging for comprehensive bot insights
- Track bot behavior patterns across different server configurations
- Optimize your content strategy based on detailed access patterns