Log locations

The software distributed with Puppet Enterprise (PE) generates log files you can use for troubleshooting.

Primary server logs

Code Manager access log
Location: /var/log/puppetlabs/puppetserver/code-manager-access.log
File sync access log
Location: /var/log/puppetlabs/puppetserver/file-sync-access.log
Puppet Communications Protocol (PCP) broker log
This is the log file for PCP brokers on compilers.
Location: /var/log/puppetlabs/puppetserver/pcp-broker.log
General Puppet Server log
This is where the primary server logs its activity, including compilation errors and deprecation warnings.
Location: /var/log/puppetlabs/puppetserver/puppetserver.log
Puppet Server access log
Location: /var/log/puppetlabs/puppetserver/puppetserver-access.log
Puppet Server daemon log
This is where you can find fatal errors and crash reports.
Location: /var/log/puppetlabs/puppetserver/puppetserver-daemon.log
Puppet Server status log
Location: /var/log/puppetlabs/puppetserver/puppetserver-status.log

Agent logs

The agent log locations depend on the agent node's operating system.

On *nix nodes, the agent service logs activity to the syslog service. The node's operating system and syslog configuration determines where these messages are saved. The default locations are as follows:
  • Linux: /var/log/messages
  • macOS: /var/log/system.log
  • Solaris: /var/adm/messages

On Windows nodes, the agent service logs its activity to the Event Log. Browse the Event Viewer to view those messages. You might need to enable Logging and debugging.

Console and console services logs

General console services log
Location: /var/log/puppetlabs/console-services/console-services.log
Console services API access log
Location: /var/log/puppetlabs/console-services/console-services-api-access.log
Console services access log
Location: /var/log/puppetlabs/console-services-access.log
Console services daemon log
This is where you can find fatal errors and crash reports.
Location: /var/log/puppetlabs/console-services-daemon.log
NGINX access log
Location: /var/log/puppetlabs/nginx/access.log
NGINX error log
Contains console errors that aren't logged elsewhere and errors related to NGINX.
Location: /var/log/puppetlabs/nginx/error.log

Installer logs

HTTP log
Contains web requests sent to the installer.
Only exists on machines from which a web-based installation was performed.
Location: /var/log/puppetlabs/installer/http.log
Orchestrator info log
Contains run details about puppet infrastructure commands that use the orchestrator. This includes commands to provision and upgrade compilers, convert legacy compilers, and regenerate agent and compiler certificates.
Location: /var/log/puppetlabs/installer/orchestrator_info.log
Last installer run logs, by hostname
Contains the contents of the last installer run.
There can be multiple log files, labeled by hostname.
Location: /var/log/puppetlabs/installer/install_log.lastrun.<HOSTNAME>.log
Installer operation logs, by timestamp
Captures operations performed during installation and any errors that occurred.
There can be multiple log files, labeled by timestamp.
/var/log/puppetlabs/installer/installer-<TIMESTAMP>.log
Disaster recovery command logs, by action, timestamp, and description
Contains details about disaster recovery command execution.
There can be multiple log files for each command because each action triggers multiple Puppet runs (Some on the primary server and some on the replica).
Location:/var/log/puppetlabs/installer/<ACTION-NAME>_<TIMESTAMP>_<RUN-DESCRIPTION>.log
Bolt info log
Can be valuable when Troubleshooting disaster recovery.
Location: /var/log/puppetlabs/installer/bolt_info.log

Database logs

Database logs include PostgreSQL and PuppetDB logs.
PostgreSQL startup log
Can be valuable when Troubleshooting the databases.
Location: /var/log/puppetlabs/postgresql/14/pgstartup.log
PostgreSQL daily logs, by weekday
There is one log file for each day of the week. Log file names use short names, such as Mon for Monday, Tue for Tuesday, and so on.
Location: /var/log/puppetlabs/postgresql/14/postgresql-<WEEKDAY>.log
General PuppetDB log
Location: /var/log/puppetlabs/puppetdb/puppetdb.log
PuppetDB access log
Location: /var/log/puppetlabs/puppetdb/puppetdb-access.log
PuppetDB status log
Location: /var/log/puppetlabs/puppetdb/puppetdb-status.log

Orchestration logs

Orchestration logs include orchestration services and related components, such as PXP agent and Bolt server.
Aggregate node count log
Location: /var/log/puppetlabs/orchestration-services/aggregate-node-count.log
Puppet Communications Protocol (PCP) broker log
This is the log file for PCP brokers on the primary server.
Location: /var/log/puppetlabs/orchestration-services/pcp-broker.log
Puppet Communications Protocol (PCP) broker access log
Location: /var/log/puppetlabs/orchestration-services/pcp-broker-access.log
Orchestration services access log
Location: /var/log/puppetlabs/orchestration-services/orchestration-services-access.log
Orchestration services daemon log
This is where you can find fatal errors and crash reports.
Location: /var/log/puppetlabs/orchestration-services/orchestration-services-daemon.log
Orchestration services status log
Location: /var/log/puppetlabs/orchestration-services/orchestration-services-status.log
Puppet Execution Protocol (PXP) agent log
*nix location: /var/log/puppetlabs/pxp-agent/pxp-agent.log
Windows location: C:/ProgramData/PuppetLabs/pxp-agent/var/log/pxp-agent.log
Bolt server log
Can be valuable when Troubleshooting connections between components.
Location: /var/log/puppetlabs/bolt-server/bolt-server.log
Node inventory service log
Location: /var/log/puppetlabs/orchestration-services/orchestration-services.log