# How to crawler static file by logstash 'file' input plugin without modifying at beginning

**URL:** <https://discuss.elastic.co/t/how-to-crawler-static-file-by-logstash-file-input-plugin-without-modifying-at-beginning/52713>\
**Category:** Logstash\
**Created:** [June 14, 2016, 9:52am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/how-to-crawler-static-file-by-logstash-file-input-plugin-without-modifying-at-beginning/52713 "2016-06-14T09:52:45Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Jason\_Zheng](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/jason_zheng/32/4041_2.png) [@Jason\_Zheng](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Jason_Zheng)\
**Post date:** [June 14, 2016, 9:52am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/how-to-crawler-static-file-by-logstash-file-input-plugin-without-modifying-at-beginning/52713/1 "2016-06-14T09:52:45Z")

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Hi all,

there are 3 log files has been archived, and named 'archived.2016.06.12.log', 'archived.2016.06.13.log' and 'archived.2016.06.14.log'.

my logstash conf content

> input {  
> file {  
> path =\> "/home/ubuntu/test\_log/a\*.log"  
> }  
> }

Logstash didn't do anything when I start logstash service, which start to crawler after I modify these files.

How to crawler these files after starting logstash service without modifying at beginning? (Archived files will be produced everyday)

Jason

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<div class="post-metadata">

**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 15, 2016, 4:54am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/how-to-crawler-static-file-by-logstash-file-input-plugin-without-modifying-at-beginning/52713/2 "2016-06-15T04:54:32Z")

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Have you pointed LS at these files before?  
Have a read of [https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/logstash/current/plugins-inputs-file.html#\_tracking\_of\_current\_position\_in\_watched\_files](https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/logstash/current/plugins-inputs-file.html#_tracking_of_current_position_in_watched_files)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**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, 4:52am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/how-to-crawler-static-file-by-logstash-file-input-plugin-without-modifying-at-beginning/52713/3 "2017-07-06T04:52:53Z")

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Closed on July 6, 2017, 4:52am UTC