what is the most reliable source to get good logs

The reliability of a source for obtaining good logs can depend on the specific type of logs you are looking for (e.g., web server logs, application logs, system logs, etc.). Here are some common reliable sources based on different contexts:

1. **Web Server Logs**:
   - **Apache**: The Apache HTTP Server generates access and error logs by default. You can rely on the configuration files (httpd.conf or .htaccess) for log settings.
   - **Nginx**: Like Apache, Nginx also provides access and error logs, and you can configure these in the `nginx.conf` file.

2. **Application Logs**:
   - **Frameworks**: Most web frameworks (like Django, Flask for Python, or Express for Node.js) have built-in logging capabilities. Use their logging modules or libraries (like Python’s `logging` module) for reliable application-specific logs.
   - **Logging Libraries**: Libraries such as Log4j for Java, Winston for Node.js, or Logback for more structured logging produce reliable logs.

3. **System Logs**:
   - **Linux**: The `/var/log` directory contains many critical system and application logs (e.g., syslog, auth.log).
   - **Windows**: The Event Viewer logs (Application, Security, System) can be accessed for detailed records.

4. **Cloud Services**:
   - **AWS CloudWatch**: Provides a way to monitor and log resource usage and application logs.
   - **Google Cloud Logging**: Collects logs from various Google Cloud Platform services.

5. **Centralized Logging Solutions**:
   - **ELK Stack (Elasticsearch, Logstash, Kibana)**: A powerful combination for storing, analyzing, and visualizing logs from various sources.
   - **Splunk**: A commercial tool that collects, analyzes, and visualizes machine-generated data.

6. **Network and Security Logs**:
   - **Firewalls and IDS/IPS**: Check your specific security tools for logs regarding network activity.
   - **SIEM Solutions**: Solutions like Sumo Logic, LogRhythm, and others aggregate logs from multiple sources for analysis.

When looking for reliable logs, it's essential to ensure that:
- Logging is correctly configured.
- Your logs are being rotated and archived appropriately to avoid data loss.
- You have the appropriate permission settings to access the logs.
- Logs are being monitored for anomalies or issues as part of your overall monitoring strategy. 

Choose the source based on your specific needs and infrastructure.