Lnav internal port is the silent channel where log query power flows. Configure it right, and lnav becomes more than a viewer—it becomes an endpoint.
By default, lnav runs as a standalone process reading local files. Enable its internal port, and you open the door for remote commands, structured queries, and live inspection. This port allows other tools, scripts, or pipelines to communicate directly with lnav through a JSON API, bypassing manual interaction. It’s the core of automation with lnav.
The internal port is not exposed to the public internet unless you bind it. You choose the port number with the --internal-port=<port> flag when starting lnav. You can also set it via configuration files if you want it in every run. Most engineers bind to localhost to keep the interface secure, wrapping all traffic in SSH tunnels or local-only sockets.
Once active, the lnav internal port accepts requests such as loading new logs, executing SQL queries against parsed data, or streaming structured events in real time. Responses return in JSON, making them easy to consume in CI/CD systems, monitoring dashboards, or custom tooling.