How to change Apache log format for the domains hosted on Plesk?

Question

How to change Apache log format for the domains hosted on Plesk?

Answer

1. Log in to the server via SSH

2. Create /usr/local/psa/admin/conf/templates/custom/ custom template folder:

   # mkdir -p /usr/local/psa/admin/conf/templates/custom/

3. Copy /usr/local/psa/admin/conf/templates/default/server.php into custom template folder:

   # cp -a /usr/local/psa/admin/conf/templates/default/server.php /usr/local/psa/admin/conf/templates/custom/server.php

4. Open /usr/local/psa/admin/conf/templates/custom/server.php file using any text editor.

5. Change log format in custom template in the following section according to Apache documentation:

   <IfModule mod_logio.c>
   LogFormat "<?php echo $VAR->server->webserver->apache->pipelogEnabled ? '%v@@%p@@' : ''?>%a %l %u %t "%r" %>s %O "%{Referer}i" "%{User-Agent}i"" plesklog
   </IfModule>
   <IfModule !mod_logio.c>
   LogFormat "<?php echo $VAR->server->webserver->apache->pipelogEnabled ? '%v@@%p@@' : ''?>%a %l %u %t "%r" %>s %b "%{Referer}i" "%{User-Agent}i"" plesklog
   </IfModule>

6. Check that the modified template is a valid PHP file:

   # php -l /usr/local/psa/admin/conf/templates/custom/server.php
   No syntax errors detected in /usr/local/psa/admin/conf/templates/custom/server.php

7. Regenerate server configuration based on the new template:

   # plesk sbin httpdmng --reconfigure-server

Warning: Customizing Apache access log format may break webstatistics calculation as webstat tools (Webalizer and Awstats) use Common Log Format (CLF) where each line in a file stored in the Common Log Format has the strictly defined syntax.

Additional Information

Changing Virtual Hosts Settings Using Configuration Templates on Plesk
Apache Official Documentation: Log Files