# Can logstash-file-plugin listen to "symlink"?

**URL:** <https://discuss.elastic.co/t/can-logstash-file-plugin-listen-to-symlink/2771>\
**Category:** Logstash\
**Created:** [June 16, 2015, 8:50am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/can-logstash-file-plugin-listen-to-symlink/2771 "2015-06-16T08:50:22Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ohadR](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/ohadr/32/130085_2.png) [@ohadR](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/ohadR)\
**Post date:** [June 16, 2015, 8:50am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/can-logstash-file-plugin-listen-to-symlink/2771/1 "2015-06-16T08:50:22Z")

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hi

I'm using the "file" as imput plugin, and I direct it to a path in unix machine.  
This path consists of links to log files that reside in other directories.  
Can it listen to "symlink"?

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**Author:** ![warkolm](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/warkolm/32/39224_2.png) [@warkolm](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/warkolm)\
**Post date:** [June 16, 2015, 10:18am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/can-logstash-file-plugin-listen-to-symlink/2771/2 "2015-06-16T10:18:47Z")

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Have you tried?  
I don't think it will have a problem as long as it have permissions.

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**Author:** ![ohadR](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/ohadr/32/130085_2.png) [@ohadR](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/ohadR)\
**Post date:** [June 16, 2015, 10:57am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/can-logstash-file-plugin-listen-to-symlink/2771/3 "2015-06-16T10:57:50Z")

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Sure, i tried and it didn't work. Meaning, nothing happened in logstash. Didn't get any "event". But if I've added a "real" file to the dir, it works fine.

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**Author:** ![vaijab](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/vaijab/32/10932_2.png) [@vaijab](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/vaijab)\
**Post date:** [January 13, 2017, 4:34pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/can-logstash-file-plugin-listen-to-symlink/2771/4 "2017-01-13T16:34:02Z")

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Hey,

I am seeing a very similar issue now. I have a directory with symlinks to log files. When logstash starts, it is able to read and follow existing symlinks in the directory that its watching, but logstash fails to pick up/notice new symlinks.

Can someone confirm whether this is a bug or desired behaviour?

Thanks,  
Vaidas

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**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/original/3X/1/a/1ac57faf039f6b580b3f104ef42a2a89e41014de.png) [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)\
**Post date:** [July 6, 2017, 4:29am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/can-logstash-file-plugin-listen-to-symlink/2771/5 "2017-07-06T04:29:23Z")

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