Server log
Encyclopedia
A server log is a log file (or several files) automatically created and maintained by a server
of activity performed by it.
A typical example is a web server
log which maintains a history of page requests. The W3C
maintains a standard format (the Common Log Format
) for web server log files, but other proprietary formats exist. More recent entries are typically appended to the end of the file. Information about the request, including client
IP address
, request date
/time
, page requested, HTTP
code, bytes served, user agent
, and referrer are typically added. These data can be combined into a single file, or separated into distinct logs, such as an access log, error
log, or referrer log. However, server logs typically do not collect user-specific information.
These files are usually not accessible to general Internet users, only to the webmaster
or other administrative person. A statistical analysis of the server log may be used to examine traffic patterns by time of day, day of week, referrer, or user agent. Efficient web site administration, adequate hosting resources and the fine tuning of sales efforts can be aided by analysis of the web server logs. Marketing departments of any organization that owns a website should be trained to understand these powerful tools.
Server (computing)
In the context of client-server architecture, a server is a computer program running to serve the requests of other programs, the "clients". Thus, the "server" performs some computational task on behalf of "clients"...
of activity performed by it.
A typical example is a web server
Web server
Web server can refer to either the hardware or the software that helps to deliver content that can be accessed through the Internet....
log which maintains a history of page requests. The W3C
World Wide Web Consortium
The World Wide Web Consortium is the main international standards organization for the World Wide Web .Founded and headed by Tim Berners-Lee, the consortium is made up of member organizations which maintain full-time staff for the purpose of working together in the development of standards for the...
maintains a standard format (the Common Log Format
Common Log Format
The Common Log Format is a standardised text file format used by web servers when generating log files. Because the format is standardised, the files may be analysed by a variety of analysis programs....
) for web server log files, but other proprietary formats exist. More recent entries are typically appended to the end of the file. Information about the request, including client
Client (computing)
A client is an application or system that accesses a service made available by a server. The server is often on another computer system, in which case the client accesses the service by way of a network....
IP address
IP address
An Internet Protocol address is a numerical label assigned to each device participating in a computer network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication. An IP address serves two principal functions: host or network interface identification and location addressing...
, request date
Calendar date
A date in a calendar is a reference to a particular day represented within a calendar system. The calendar date allows the specific day to be identified. The number of days between two dates may be calculated. For example, "24 " is ten days after "14 " in the Gregorian calendar. The date of a...
/time
Time
Time is a part of the measuring system used to sequence events, to compare the durations of events and the intervals between them, and to quantify rates of change such as the motions of objects....
, page requested, HTTP
Hypertext Transfer Protocol
The Hypertext Transfer Protocol is a networking protocol for distributed, collaborative, hypermedia information systems. HTTP is the foundation of data communication for the World Wide Web....
code, bytes served, user agent
User agent
In computing, a user agent is a client application implementing a network protocol used in communications within a client–server distributed computing system...
, and referrer are typically added. These data can be combined into a single file, or separated into distinct logs, such as an access log, error
Error
The word error entails different meanings and usages relative to how it is conceptually applied. The concrete meaning of the Latin word "error" is "wandering" or "straying". Unlike an illusion, an error or a mistake can sometimes be dispelled through knowledge...
log, or referrer log. However, server logs typically do not collect user-specific information.
These files are usually not accessible to general Internet users, only to the webmaster
Webmaster
A webmaster , also called a web architect, web developer, site author, or website administrator is a person responsible for maintaining one or many websites...
or other administrative person. A statistical analysis of the server log may be used to examine traffic patterns by time of day, day of week, referrer, or user agent. Efficient web site administration, adequate hosting resources and the fine tuning of sales efforts can be aided by analysis of the web server logs. Marketing departments of any organization that owns a website should be trained to understand these powerful tools.
See also
- Log management and intelligenceLog management and intelligenceLog management comprises an approach to dealing with large volumes of computer-generated log messages...
- Web log analysis softwareWeb log analysis softwareWeb log analysis software is a simple kind of Web analytics software that parses a log file from a web server, and based on the values contained in the log file, derives indicators about who, when, and how a web server is visited...
- Web counterWeb counterA web counter or hit counter is a computer software program that indicates the number of visitors, or hits, a particular webpage has received...
- Data logging
- Common Log FormatCommon Log FormatThe Common Log Format is a standardised text file format used by web servers when generating log files. Because the format is standardised, the files may be analysed by a variety of analysis programs....
- SyslogSyslogSyslog is a standard for computer data logging. It allows separation of the software that generates messages from the system that stores them and the software that reports and analyzes them...
- Log4JLog4jApache log4j is a Java-based logging utility. It was originally written by Ceki Gülcü and is now a project of the Apache Software Foundation. log4j is one of several Java Logging Frameworks....
- PantheiosPantheiosPantheios is an open source C/C++ logging API library, whose design focus is performance, robustness and transparency. It claims 100% type-safety, and high efficiency....
- Runtime IntelligenceRuntime intelligence-Introduction:The term runtime intelligence refers to technologies, managed services and practices for the collection, integration, analysis, and presentation of application usage levels, patterns and practices...