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To rotate FFmpeg logs without stopping a 24/7 YouTube stream, first identify where FFmpeg’s stderr goes. If systemd captures it in the journal, control journal retention rather than rotating journal files with logrotate. If FFmpeg appends to a regular file and cannot reliably reopen it, use logrotate’s copytruncate option, which keeps the same pathname active but carries a small risk of losing log data during rotation.
First find where FFmpeg’s logs go
FFmpeg writes logs to stderr by default. What happens next depends on how the process starts: a systemd unit may send stderr to the journal, while a shell, supervisor, or container setup may redirect it to a file or somewhere else. Identify the actual destination before changing retention.
- Identify the launch method. Check whether FFmpeg runs as a systemd service, under a supervisor or container, or from an interactive shell.
- Inspect the service or launch command. Look for stdout and stderr settings, shell redirection such as
2>>/var/log/ffmpeg/stream.log, or FFmpeg’s-reportoption andFFREPORTenvironment variable. - Confirm the destination. For a systemd service, inspect its records with
journalctl. For file logging, check the configured path and the files FFmpeg is writing to.
FFmpeg’s -report option creates a timestamped report containing the command line and log output, and implies debug log level. FFREPORT can set a report filename and numerical log level. These are diagnostic features, not a retention policy; avoid leaving verbose debug reporting on indefinitely unless you need it.
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Choose the rotation method that matches the destination
| Logging path | Retention method | Main caveat |
|---|---|---|
| Systemd-captured stderr | Configure journald storage and retention; inspect or vacuum archived records with journalctl. |
Persistence and limits depend on host configuration. Volatile journal data can disappear at reboot. |
| Regular file; FFmpeg cannot reliably reopen it | Use logrotate with copytruncate, plus a suitable schedule or size trigger, rotation count, and compression policy. |
The copy-then-truncate interval can lose a small amount of log data. |
| Regular file; a verified reopen mechanism exists | Use logrotate’s rename/create and postrotate pattern to create a new file and trigger the verified reopen action. |
The correct reopen mechanism depends on the actual FFmpeg build and launch method. A running script is not proof that FFmpeg reopened the log. |
If systemd sends stderr to journald
When a systemd service’s standard output or error is collected by the journal, use journald’s storage and retention controls. Do not apply a file-oriented logrotate rule to journal files. Journal data may be persistent under /var/log/journal or volatile under /run/log/journal; inspect the VPS rather than assuming logs will survive a reboot.
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- Inspect this service’s logs: run
journalctl -u your-service-name, replacing the example with the actual unit name. - Check journal persistence and limits: review the host’s journald configuration and current storage locations. Settings and defaults vary by distribution and systemd version.
- Manage archived journal data when needed:
journalctl --vacuum-size=,--vacuum-time=, and--vacuum-files=can remove archived journal files according to the selected limit. They do not necessarily remove active files.
Use the installed system’s journalctl documentation and configuration when choosing limits. Journal rotation and log retention are separate from keeping FFmpeg’s live process running.
If FFmpeg appends stderr to a regular file
If FFmpeg keeps the file descriptor open, renaming its log file may leave it writing to the renamed file rather than the new path. When you cannot reliably tell the process to reopen the file, copytruncate is the logrotate option designed for this situation: logrotate copies the log and truncates the original in place, allowing the process to continue appending to the same pathname.
The trade-off is a small data-loss window. The logrotate manual warns that some logging data might be lost between copying and truncating the file. If that is unacceptable, establish and verify a working reopen mechanism before using a rename/create design.
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Example: a basic live-file rule
/var/log/ffmpeg/stream.log {
daily
rotate 7
compress
missingok
notifempty
copytruncate
}This is an illustrative starting point, not a universal prescription. Adapt the path and settings to the installed logrotate version and the service’s user and group. daily sets a rotation opportunity; logrotate also supports size-based rotation, and maxsize can add a size limit alongside a time interval. Choose the trigger after observing log growth and available disk space.
rotate 7keeps seven rotated generations before older versions are removed; it does not necessarily mean seven days if rotations occur at a different rate.compresscompresses old rotated files.missingoklets logrotate continue if the log path is absent.notifemptyavoids rotating an empty log.copytruncateretains the pathname used by a process that cannot reopen its log, with the documented loss window.
When FFmpeg can reopen a renamed log
A rename/create rule with a postrotate action may avoid the copytruncate window, but only if the action reliably makes this specific FFmpeg process reopen its output. The exact method depends on the FFmpeg build and how the process is launched; a portable FFmpeg-specific reopen signal is not established for every setup. Verify the mechanism and confirm that new messages reach the newly created path before relying on it.
Set retention from disk use, not guesswork
There is no universal log size or retention period for a 24/7 stream. Observe actual log growth, consider free disk space and how long records need to remain useful, then choose the trigger, number of generations, and compression policy accordingly. A time-only schedule may not protect a small disk from a burst of verbose output; consider a size trigger or maxsize if that risk matters.
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- Measure how quickly the current log grows during normal streaming and any periods of elevated verbosity.
- Decide how much disk space can be allocated to current and rotated logs without crowding out the video files or other services.
- Set the schedule or size threshold, rotation count, and compression to fit both the measured growth and the period for which you need logs.
- Validate the configuration using the installed host’s logrotate documentation and a controlled test or maintenance window.
- After rotation, verify that FFmpeg’s new messages reach the intended current log and that older files are compressed or removed as expected.
For journald, make the equivalent decision through journal storage and retention settings rather than adding a logrotate rule for journal files. The referenced journald manual gives a default maximum journal-file count of 100, but installed versions and host configuration can differ; check the actual VPS rather than treating that number as a promise.
Troubleshoot common rotation problems
The rotated file grows while the new log stays empty
Likely cause: logrotate renamed the file, but FFmpeg kept its existing file descriptor open. Fix: use copytruncate if FFmpeg cannot reliably reopen the output, or configure and verify a working reopen action before using rename/create.
Some messages are missing around a rotation
Likely cause: the copytruncate interval. The logrotate manual documents a small window between copying and truncation in which data may be lost. Fix: if that loss is unacceptable, use a verified reopen design or send service output to journald and manage its retention there.
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The VPS disk still fills up
Likely causes: the rule is not running, the trigger does not match actual growth, retained generations use too much space, or debug report output is accumulating separately. Fix: check the scheduled logrotate job and current files, compare real growth with free disk space, adjust the threshold and retention, and inspect whether -report or FFREPORT is creating additional files.
Logs vanish after a reboot
Likely cause: the journal is stored in volatile storage under /run/log/journal. Fix: inspect the VPS’s journald persistence configuration and choose persistent storage if logs need to survive restarts.
Old logs are not being removed as expected
Likely cause: logrotate’s generation count is being mistaken for a fixed number of days, or journal vacuum controls are being expected to remove active files. Fix: check how often rotations occur and distinguish archived journal files from active ones when setting retention.
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