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This introduction answers basic questions about log files, including how to retrieve them from your web site and how to configure FastStats Analyzer to analyze them.
Log files can provide marketing information. Each time a visitor "hits" or requests a file from your website, the web server records information about the hit to a log file. One log file generally records a day’s, week's, or month's of "hits". Your web server receives a "hit" for each file necessary to build the web page, not only for the .html file, but also for graphics within the HTML page. Similarly, your server log records hits on Java applets, ActiveX controls, and executable files.
Different web servers record different information, but your webserver likely logs at least the following information:
In addition, most web servers also log the following information:
Log files can easily grow to be very, very large. A relatively small web site that has several thousand visitors a month will have approximately 50 megabytes of log file data. Most other log file analysis tools are very, very slow, processing the log files at a speeds of only 2-3 megabytes per minute. FastStats Analyzer can analyze your log files at speeds between 80-100 megabytes per minute. While some stats packages may require 10 minutes or more to analyze 50 megabytes of log files, FastStats Analyzer would only take 20-30 seconds of your time.
FastStats Analyzer takes the enormous amount of data in the log files and generates easy-to-read reports that let you see how your web site is performing.
If you operate a web site, you probably either a) host the web site yourself, or b) pay a 3rd party web hosting service to host your web site.
I Host the Web Site Myself
If you host your web site yourself, you should consult your server documentation
for information on generating log files. FastStats Analyzer supports a variety
of log file formats, including IIS 3.0 and above, Apache, NCSA, Netscape, O'Reilly,
and any other web server that can be configured to produce log files in Common
or Combined standard format. We have special tutorials for users who run their
own IIS and Apache
servers, and information on log file formats
in general.
I Use a Web Hosting Provider
Your web hosting provider most likely provides you with log files. These log files are stored on the web hosting provider’s computer and are probably made available to you for download by FTP.
While you should contact your web hosting provider for details, your computer must log into your web hosting provider’s computer and download the log files to your computer. You can do this with Analyzer directly. It has the ability to go get the log files from your server. Or, if you want to manage your log files separately, you can use your own FTP or download and store them in a folder, and then tell Analyzer the logs are in this folder.
The name and format of the log files will vary by web hosting provider, but they most likely will look like one of the following filename wildcards: httpd_access.* or www_logs.DATETIMEPERIOD. Your log files may also be stored in a subdirectory (most likely called /logs/). You should download these log files to a directory on your computer. We recommend creating a new directory on your hard drive and storing all of the log files there. You may wish to create different directories for each month’s data.
Note: web server logs are not the WS_FTP.LOG files generated by the WS_FTP software; the WS_FTP.LOG file only records your uploads and downloads to FTP sites.
Don't worry. This is the easy part. On the web we have provided step by step instructions for setting up a report with Analyzer 4.
The best way to familiarize yourself with Analyzer's other capabilites is to browse through the help topics to look at what Analyzer has to offer. You'll find information on how to set up analysis of specific step-by-step scenarios, how to make use of error codes, how to find which sites link to nonexistent pages on your own site. With a Gold license you can also customize your HTML reports and upload them automatically to your webserver.
If you have any more questions about the log file analysis process, or don’t understand something in the above help topic,contact us through our support website. Both unregistered and registered users of FastStats Analyzer may obtain free technical support.