How to Read IIS Server Logs
IIS stands for Internet Information Services and it is a type of software that runs on servers using Microsoft Windows. IIS is the second most popular server software right behind Apache servers, which are open source and usually less expensive to run. Servers that run IIS include FTP, HTTP, HTTPS, SMTP and NNTP.
One of the benefits of running IIS software for web based servers is the amount of information you can collect about your visitors, usually in the form of logs. Logs are a great way to collect, organize and analyze information that you receive from visitors on the internet. These visitors can be in the form of actual people using computers to access your web server or robots which are small computer programs linked back to other large servers that visit your site for many reasons, one of them being search engines being sent to your web site to index it.
Tools to Read IIS Server Logs
Usually the best way to read IIS Server Logs is with a log reader, many popular and effective IIS server log readers are free and easy to use and are part of open source projects. Two of the most popular free log readers are AWStats and Webalizer.
AWStats
Awstats is a free log analyzer and report tool that can be used on IIS Server logs. You can easily analyze many different types of data from the Internet including the web, mail, FTP servers and even streaming media. Awstats is a great tool that automatically parses and then provides an analysis for your IIS server log files. AWStats produces an easy to read HTML report and includes graphics such as easy to analyze bar graphs and tables. You can even create a static report. AWStats was created through Sourceforge.net and is written in Perl.
Webalizer
Webalizer is similar to AWStats; it is a small basic log reader and analysis program. It has many log and analysis functions that are similar to AWStats, but lacks others. It should be noted that development on this program has stopped in the middle of 2002; however it still offers a web server administrator great analysis and major features. Because its development stopped in 2002, it should be noted that it logs visitors using Firefox as Netscape.
Types of Analysis and Information Collected with Log Readers
It should be noted that many IIS server administrators use the above log readers to read and analyze the following information:
- Report number of visitors
- Report unique “human” visitors
- Daily statistics
- Monthly statistics
- Yearly statistics
- Report session duration
- Report country of visitors
- Report ISP
- Report entry/exit pages
- Report browser used
- Report HTTP and 404 Errors
|
|
- How to Monitor Windows Server 2003
People monitor system resources in order to evaluate their computer workload, observe changes and trends in resource usage, test configuration changes, and diagnose problems. Task manager presents a snapshot of programs and processes that are running on the computer and provides a summary of the computers processor and memory usage. System monitor logs performance and [...]...
- How to Read Windows Log Files
Reading Windows log files is an important part of maintaining proper operation and ensuring system security. In addition, log files can be extremely useful in troubleshooting Windows errors. Only a Windows Administrator can read some Windows log files, such as the Security Event Log. Any system user can view other log files, such as logs [...]...
- Referrer Spam
When a user follows a link from WebSite A to WebSite B, it generates a logfile entry in the web server logs of WebSite B. Most webmasters use a web site statistics reporting tool such as AWStats or Webalizer. Some webmasters (either purposefully or unintentionally) make the reports generated by these tools publicly available. One [...]...
- How to Track Website Visitors
If you have a website or blog, collecting data on visitors to your site is extremely important. Whether you have a business or just develop websites or blogs as a hobby, data from your visitors can be extremely helpful in tweaking and fine-tuning your site. The more data you can collect from visitors, the more [...]...
- How to Read MySpace Inbox Messages
Even if you’ve only recently opened up a MySpace, there is a good chance that you are receiving emails and profile comments from your friends and others who you do not know. In order to access your MySpace inbox messages, follow these simple steps below. First, log into your MySpace account with your email address [...]...