Phuket Thailand

magnusvv · #1 26-07-2005, 04:34

I am running an Apache HTTP server here and for a while i was using a script called awstats to analyze the traffic data stored in the log file. All of a sudden it stopped working, although nothing on the server changed. Including the configuration files for awstats and the log file output for apache.

Awstats is not the most userfriendly but the output data is pretty darn good. Can anyone recommend something better (easier to configure/reconfigure)...that is still freeware?

Burg · #2 26-07-2005, 04:46

which OS do you use?

magnusvv · #3 26-07-2005, 05:01

Its a Windows XP host.

Burg · #4 26-07-2005, 05:08

> All of a sudden it stopped working

Surprise. Anyway, depends on what kind of summaries you want and which data you want to log. You can try http://www.xav.com/scripts/axs/
It works fine for years here already, but no experience on a windows host.

magnusvv · #5 26-07-2005, 18:26

Most likely it stopped when I installed some new windows security updates. Not sure, but thats about all I can come up with. Unless it has some file size limitations.

I'll try out your recommendation. Thanks

Burg · #6 26-07-2005, 22:13

Remember though that the script I recommended you is not a log analyzer. It creates it's own logs (perl). It doesn't use your Apache logs. If you want to analyze your Apache logs you will need another app. The axs script I told you about provides with almost all the info I want. See for yourself.
Needless to say that you have to switch to a real OS if you want trustable, reliable information and you want your site up and running most of the time.
If the last is not necessary and it's only for fun and playing, then you already have the right OS.

stevem · #7 26-07-2005, 22:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by magnusvv

I am running an Apache HTTP server here and for a while i was using a script called awstats to analyze the traffic data stored in the log file. All of a sudden it stopped working, although nothing on the server changed. Including the configuration files for awstats and the log file output for apache.

Awstats is not the most userfriendly but the output data is pretty darn good. Can anyone recommend something better (easier to configure/reconfigure)...that is still freeware?

I have never bothered to look at the logs, but go to apache.org and have abit of scrounge around. Also a google of "analyze apache log" turned up heaps to sort through.

magnusvv · #8 26-07-2005, 22:53

Its a spare PC on a dynamic ip setup for a personal photo gallery. Its all "fun and playing".

I had just assumed that what you recommended was a log file analyzer.....glad you pointed that out.

Thanks

magnusvv · #9 26-07-2005, 22:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevem

I have never bothered to look at the logs, but go to apache.org and have abit of scrounge around. Also a google of "analyze apache log" turned up heaps to sort through.

Exactly...and when I chose this one thats how I found it. I was looking for a recommendation based on someone else's experience using the same stuff.

Burg · #10 26-07-2005, 23:07

The question is again: WHAT do you want to know?
The problem is not awstats, awstats is perfectly fine and will keep on running as long as you want. You can make the switch to another app but that will probably stop working after some time also. Maybe it's better to change the part of your machine which is causing all these failures.

magnusvv · #11 26-07-2005, 23:19

Somewhat of what I wanted to know is how reliable awstats really is. Its a freeware script for analyzing a 3rd parties log file. I was doubting its reliability and ease of use...so I wanted some alternative suggestions.

This is all in good fun....which is the purpose of the post. Yes I could surely do all of this on my own.

stevem · #12 26-07-2005, 23:22

Its not because your logfiles have gotten so large they cant be handled properly by this app??? Just a thought.

magnusvv · #13 26-07-2005, 23:34

Actually Steve thats exactly what I was thinking originally, but its only 28 MB, and I found on their websites that awstats supports "unlimited log file size".

My assumption was that this is a commonly used script by webmasters though...so I'd assume it can handle some pretty big log files.

Posting about it on here has increased my interest level so maybe tonight I will look at it a little deeper. Its just a perl script.....

Izzy · #14 26-07-2005, 23:40

I use AwStats too, find it great...I used to use Webalizer on my FreeBSD box but it didnt seem to handy on a Windows server. I havent tried it yet on a big log file yet tho. While 28meg isnt that big, its still a lot of lines to parse, and check if DNS lookups etc are enabled, this can slow things down a lot (checking out the AwStats config file has nice rundown on %speed decreases each option will inflict)

Burg · #15 27-07-2005, 02:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by magnusvv

Somewhat of what I wanted to know is how reliable awstats really is.

It's more reliable then the underlying engine you are using. Ever tried to do a "grep" (unix binaries for win32) in a dos box on a file over x MB? Try it, and you will know the answer.

If you want to do some problemsolving, the problem is not in awstats.

magnusvv · #16 27-07-2005, 08:00

The problem was with the file size.

Thanks guys.

~~~~~~~~~~
Actually....the problem was resolved by removing the old log file and parsing through a newly created one. However...I am unable to parse through parts of the old file...even as small as 3MB.

Seems like its just a good way to kill time at this point.