Top 10 Server Log Files You Must Monitor for Websites Using WordPress

Managing a WordPress website involves more than just installing themes and plugins. Behind the scenes, server log files keep track of everything happening on your site. These logs are essential for monitoring traffic, spotting errors, preventing attacks, and improving performance.

In this guide, we’ll break down the top 10 server log files you should monitor, step by step Websites Using WordPress , to keep your WordPress website safe, fast, and reliable.

1. Access Logs – Step Into Your Visitors’ Shoes

What it does:
Access logs record every request to your Websites Using WordPress—each time a visitor or bot accesses a page, clicks a link, or views content.

Why it’s important:

• Tracks real-time traffic
• Detects bots, spam, or DDOS attacks
• Helps understand visitor behavior

Step-by-step to check:

1. Log in to your hosting account via SSH or File Manager.
2. Navigate to:
   • Apache: /var/log/apache2/access.log
   • Nginx: /var/log/nginx/access.log
3. Open the file using a text editor or the command: pgsqlCopyEdittail -f access.log

2. Error Logs – Catch Hidden Problems Early

What it does:
Error logs show problems happening on the server, such as broken plugins, theme errors, or failed requests.

Why it’s important:

• Helps fix white screen errors
• Reveals PHP or server misconfigurations
• Tracks failed page requests

Step-by-step to check:

1. Go to:
   • Apache: /var/log/apache2/error.log
   • Nginx: /var/log/nginx/error.log
2. Use the command: luaCopyEdittail -n 100 error.log
3. Look for repeated errors or timestamps that match when problems occurred.

3. PHP Error Logs – Debug WordPress Errors

What it does:
PHP error logs show issues related to the Websites Using WordPress core, plugins, and themes written in PHP.

Why it’s important:

• Helps diagnose plugin conflicts
• Reveals deprecated code
• Supports developers during testing

Step-by-step to enable and check:

1. Open wp-config.php in your WordPress root folder.
2. Add these lines: phpCopyEditdefine( 'WP_DEBUG', true ); define( 'WP_DEBUG_LOG', true );
3. The log file will appear at: luaCopyEdit/wp-content/debug.log

4. Slow Query Logs – Identify Slow SQL Queries

What it does:
These logs help find SQL queries that take too long, usually caused by bloated plugins or database issues.

Why it’s important:

• Boosts site speed
• Helps optimize large databases
• Detects inefficient queries

Step-by-step to check:

1. Enable slow query logging in MySQL with this line in my.cnf: iniCopyEditslow_query_log = 1 slow_query_log_file = /var/log/mysql/slow-queries.log long_query_time = 1
2. Restart MySQL server.
3. Review log at /var/log/mysql/slow-queries.log

5. Security Plugin Logs – Track Login and Malware Events

What it does:
Websites Using WordPress security plugins like Wordfence and iThemes create logs for failed logins, file changes, malware scans, and more.

Why it’s important:

• Detects brute-force login attacks
• Tracks file modifications
• Monitors login history by IP

Step-by-step to view:

1. Install a security plugin (e.g., Wordfence).
2. Go to the plugin dashboard in WordPress Admin.
3. View logs under “Live Traffic,” “Scans,” or “Audit Logs.”

6. Firewall Logs – Protect Your Server Entry Point

What it does:
Firewall logs record blocked access attempts, suspicious URLs, and IP filtering.

Why it’s important:

• Detects attempted hacks and injections
• Confirms if firewall is working
• Helps manage IP blocklists

Step-by-step to access:

1. On servers with ModSecurity, check: luaCopyEdit/var/log/modsec_audit.log
2. Use a log viewer or run: matlabCopyEditcat modsec_audit.log | grep denied

7. Authentication Logs – Review Login and SSH Attempts

What it does:
These logs show server login attempts, including FTP, SSH, or cPanel logins.

Why it’s important:

• Detects brute-force attacks
• Monitors admin access
• Flags suspicious login patterns

Step-by-step to check:

1. Open terminal or File Manager.
2. Go to: luaCopyEdit/var/log/auth.log
3. Run: bashCopyEdittail -f auth.log

8. Mail Logs – Check WordPress Email Delivery

What it does:
Mail logs show when WordPress tries to send notifications, contact forms, or order emails.

Why it’s important:

• Tracks email success and failures
• Helps fix contact form issues
• Prevents user emails from going to spam

Step-by-step to check:

1. Go to: luaCopyEdit/var/log/mail.log
2. Use: luaCopyEditgrep wordpress mail.log

9. Cron Logs – Ensure Scheduled Tasks Work Properly

What it does:
WordPress and many plugins use cron jobs to perform automatic tasks like backups, updates, or publishing posts.

Why it’s important:

• Makes sure backups run as planned
• Avoids missed posts or plugin updates
• Detects failed scheduled tasks

Step-by-step to view:

1. Check: bashCopyEdit/var/log/cron
2. Look for entries related to wp-cron.php or your scheduled task plugin.

10. Resource Usage Logs – Monitor CPU and RAM Spikes

What it does:
These logs track how much memory, CPU, and disk space your Websites Using WordPress site is using.

Why it’s important:

• Prevents server overloads
• Helps you know when to upgrade hosting
• Detects resource-hungry plugins

Step-by-step to access:

1. If using cPanel:
   • Go to “Resource Usage” under “Metrics.”
2. On VPS/Dedicated servers:
   • Use commands like top, htop, or monitor logs at: bashCopyEdit/var/log/syslog

Conclusion

Monitoring your server logs is like having a full-time watchdog for your Websites Using WordPress site. It helps you catch issues early, secure your site, and maintain high performance. Whether you’re running a blog or a business site, these 10 logs are vital tools for healthy site management.

Even if you’re not a tech expert, many hosting providers and plugins simplify log access. Don’t ignore your logs—they hold the keys to solving problems before your visitors ever notice them.