How to add a serilog logger to a GenericHost Project in C#

Question

I am using generic host pattern in my project. I need a logger to file specially a rolling file like Serilog. How can I add it to certain logger configuration to the host builder.

In generic host we can add log configuration such as debugger and console. But I want to use a logger to file with specific options. I don't know how to do so.

Which way is the best practice for?

Answer 1

Thanks to both answers, I need to use both Serilog.Extensions.Hosting and Serilog.Sinks.RollingFile. Then it needs to create a logger object so it can be added to host builder, As shown below :

var logger = new LoggerConfiguration().WriteTo.RollingFile(
                outputTemplate: outputTemplate,
                restrictedToMinimumLevel: LogEventLevel.Information,
                pathFormat: Path.Combine(loggingDirectory, "systemlog-{Date}.text")
            .CreateLogger();

Note that pathFormat argument are useful and important.It consists of path and format which is described adequately in Serilog.Sinks.RollingFile( Filename format specifiers). Here i use {Date} format after path which means : It creates a file per day. Filenames use the yyyyMMdd format.

After creating logger with such a config it needs to be added into HostBuilder like this:

var host = new HostBuilder()
            .ConfigureLogging((context, builder) =>
            {
                builder.AddConsole();
                builder.AddSerilog(logger);
                //....<- some other option here
            })
            .Build();

Answer 2

You'll need Serilog.Extensions.Hosting.

public static IHost BuildHost(string[] args) =>
    new HostBuilder()
        .UseSerilog() // <- Add this line
        .Build();