# VirtualDocumentRoot with 1.4.2 **URL:** \ **Category:** NGINX\ **Created:** [August 27, 2013, 10:45am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/virtualdocumentroot-with-1-4-2/236330 "2013-08-27T10:45:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![alcina](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/a587f6/32.png) [@alcina](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/alcina)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2013, 10:45am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/virtualdocumentroot-with-1-4-2/236330/1 "2013-08-27T10:45:32Z")
Hi there, I’ve tried to replicate my Apache VirtualDocumentRoot /srv/www/%0 to nginx. I have [Nginx 1.4 Virtual hosting](http://dabase.com/e/04055/) with server\_name ~^(?.\*)$; root /srv/www/$vhost; access\_log /var/log/nginx/$vhost.access.log; However it’s still logging to /var/log/nginx/access.log instead of /var/log/nginx/$vhost.access.log. [root@sg ~]# cd /var/log/nginx/ [root@sg nginx]# inotifywait -r -m . Setting up watches. Beware: since -r was given, this may take a while! Watches established. ./ MODIFY access.log ./ MODIFY access.log `root /srv/www/$vhost;` works, but not `access_log /var/log/nginx/$vhost.access.log;`. What am I missing? Could my configuration upon [Nginx 1.4 Virtual hosting](http://dabase.com/e/04055/) be otherwise improved, without breaking it into individual server blocks? Many thanks, ---
**Author:** ![Kai\_H](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/k/e95f7d/32.png) [@Kai\_H](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Kai_H)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2013, 1:33pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/virtualdocumentroot-with-1-4-2/236330/2 "2013-08-27T13:33:11Z")
Hello! On Tue, Aug 27, 2013 at 04:43:12PM +0800, Kai H. wrote: > `root /srv/www/$vhost;` works, but not `access_log /var/log/nginx/$vhost.access.log;`. > > What am I missing? > **[Module ngx\_http\_log\_module](http://nginx.org/en/docs/http/ngx_http_log_module.html#access_log)** > > The ngx\_http\_log\_module module writes request logs in the specified format. : The file path can contain variables (0.7.6+), but such logs have some : constraints: : : - the user whose credentials are used by worker processes should have : permissions to create files in a directory with such logs; : : - buffered writes do not work; : : - the file is opened and closed for each log write. However, since the : descriptors of frequently used files can be stored in a cache, writing to the : old file can continue during the time specified by the open\_log\_file\_cache : directive’s valid parameter : : - during each log write the existence of the request’s root directory is : checked, and if it does not exist the log is not created. It is thus a good : idea to specify both root and access\_log on the same level: – Maxim D. > **[nginx: donation](http://nginx.org/en/donation.html)** ---
**Author:** ![Kai\_H](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/k/e95f7d/32.png) [@Kai\_H](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Kai_H)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2013, 2:29pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/virtualdocumentroot-with-1-4-2/236330/3 "2013-08-27T14:29:18Z")
On Tue, Aug 27, 2013 at 08:24:12PM +0800, Kai H. wrote: > On Tue, Aug 27, 2013 at 03:32:29PM +0400, Maxim D. wrote: Hi there, > > : - the user whose credentials are used by worker processes should have > > : permissions to create files in a directory with such logs; > > /var/log/nginx has +x on http user, so that’s fine. +x doesn’t allow you to create files in a directory. +w allows you to create files in a directory. > I don’t understand how I fix my problem. Does the error log give any indication of the problem? ## f Francis D. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) ---
**Author:** ![Kai\_H](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/k/e95f7d/32.png) [@Kai\_H](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Kai_H)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2013, 4:56pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/virtualdocumentroot-with-1-4-2/236330/4 "2013-08-27T16:56:03Z")
On Tue, Aug 27, 2013 at 01:28:42PM +0100, Francis D. wrote: > +w allows you to create files in a directory. Sorry I meant to say +w I think I must have got confused with one of my server blocks and not the wildcard. Sorry to trouble you. it seems to be to working. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Kai\_H](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/k/e95f7d/32.png) [@Kai\_H](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Kai_H)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2013, 2:26pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/virtualdocumentroot-with-1-4-2/236330/5 "2013-08-27T14:26:22Z")
On Tue, Aug 27, 2013 at 03:32:29PM +0400, Maxim D. wrote: > : - the user whose credentials are used by worker processes should have > : permissions to create files in a directory with such logs; /var/log/nginx has +x on http user, so that’s fine. > : - buffered writes do not work; Not sure what that means. > : - the file is opened and closed for each log write. However, since the > : descriptors of frequently used files can be stored in a cache, writing to the > : old file can continue during the time specified by the open\_log\_file\_cache > : directive’s valid parameter IIUC there can be delay. No problem. > : - during each log write the existence of the request’s root directory is > : checked, and if it does not exist the log is not created. It is thus a good > : idea to specify both root and access\_log on the same level: The root is served fine… I don’t understand how I fix my problem. Or are you saying there isn’t a way to fix it?