Picking out a log file analyzer package is a bit like stocking up for a
party. If you're only inviting a few close friends, maybe you can get away
with a case of soda and a few bags of chips. But what happens if everyone
you know unexpectedly invites seven people? All of a sudden, that case of
soda isn't good enough anymore. There's a lesson here — be a good scout and
Be Prepared!
For solid, intelligent reporting, it's crucial to pick out a software
application that covers everything under the sun — even for a small site
with moderate traffic. Sooner or later, you'll want to generate a
strange or unique report, and having the tools at hand to do so is
essential. The extra functionality that comes with the larger, robust
applications allows you to generate just about any kind of log file
report possible.
If your server produces any of the usual file types (again, CLF, DLF, ELF), you're in the green.
However, there are a great deal of proprietary file formats out there,
in which case you will need to check and see if your desired software
package can understand the flavor of log file you'll be analyzing.
Almost every log file analyzer runs locally on your
computer. Some of the more forward-thinking software companies, however, now
offer hosted log file report generators. These options are lightweight
yet powerful and they can be accessed from any computer with Web access,
whether or not it's directly connected to your server. Though
their functionality is limited and security issues are always a concern, a
hosted solution is often less costly than a large software application.
All About the Washingtons
Speaking of price, there are a plethora of log file analyzer applications
available on the Web as freeware or shareware. The open source software
movement has made many of these indispensable backend utilities available
for free, though finding technical support for some of them can be challenging. Most have excellent online documentation, but lack a telephone- or
email-based support structure. If you don't feel comfortable walking the
tightrope without a safety net but you're on a budget, there are several
software companies that provide tiered pricing on their products — you only
buy the level of functionality that you require.
Back to our party analogy: If you're planning a
really small get together, say three or four people, you may not even
need to buy anything extra. You can get by on what you've got in the fridge.
The same thing goes for log files.
If all you're interested in is hits, you
can grab a handy free counter like Site Meter. If
you're running a Microsoft Internet Information Server (IIS), Microsoft's Site Server application has extensive logging and
analyzing capabilities. Also, if your site is hosted, the good Web
hosting providers will offer browser-based log file reports as part of (or
as an add-on to) their basic service. Graphs, charts, numbers in a row —
all a few clicks away.
Once you've managed to clearly define your needs and limitations, you're ready to go to market. There are many log file analyzers to choose from, and you may have to do some research on your own to select the one that's Cinderella-slipper-perfect for your needs. But to get the ball rolling, let's take a closer look at the most popular solutions: WebTrends and Sawmill (for pay) and Analog, Webalizer, and http-analyze (for free).
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