AWStats
Encyclopedia
AWStats is an open source
Web analytics
reporting tool, suitable for analyzing data
from Internet
services such as web
, streaming media
, mail and FTP
servers. AWStats parses and analyzes server log
files, producing HTML
reports. Data is visually presented within reports by tables and bar graphs. Static reports can be created through a command line interface, and on-demand reporting is supported through a web browser CGI
program.
AWStats supports most major web server log file formats including Apache
(NCSA combined/XLF/ELF log format or common/CLF log format), WebStar, IIS
(W3C
log format) and many other common web server log formats. Developers can contribute to the AWStats project through SourceForge.net
.
, AWStats can be deployed on almost any operating system
. It is a very popular server administration tool, with packages available for most Linux distribution
s. AWStats can be installed on a workstation
, such as MS Windows
, for local use in situations where log files can be downloaded from a remote server.
program has been the object of security exploits, as is the case of many CGI
programs. Organizations wishing to provide public access to their Web analytics reports should consider generating static HTML
reports. The on-demand facility can still be used by restricting its use to internal users. Precautions should be taken against referrer spam (Referrer spam filtering functionality was added in version 6.5).
alternatives to AWStats.
There are also a number of other open source
alternatives to AWStats, not always with same functionality.
The AWStats project provides a detailed comparison chart.
Open source
The term open source describes practices in production and development that promote access to the end product's source materials. Some consider open source a philosophy, others consider it a pragmatic methodology...
Web analytics
Web analytics
Web analytics is the measurement, collection, analysis and reporting of internet data for purposes of understanding and optimizing web usage....
reporting tool, suitable for analyzing data
Server log
A server log is a log file 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 for web server log files, but other proprietary formats exist...
from Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
services such as web
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....
, streaming media
Streaming media
Streaming media is multimedia that is constantly received by and presented to an end-user while being delivered by a streaming provider.The term "presented" is used in this article in a general sense that includes audio or video playback. The name refers to the delivery method of the medium rather...
, mail and FTP
File Transfer Protocol
File Transfer Protocol is a standard network protocol used to transfer files from one host to another host over a TCP-based network, such as the Internet. FTP is built on a client-server architecture and utilizes separate control and data connections between the client and server...
servers. AWStats parses and analyzes server log
Server log
A server log is a log file 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 for web server log files, but other proprietary formats exist...
files, producing HTML
HTML
HyperText Markup Language is the predominant markup language for web pages. HTML elements are the basic building-blocks of webpages....
reports. Data is visually presented within reports by tables and bar graphs. Static reports can be created through a command line interface, and on-demand reporting is supported through a web browser CGI
Common Gateway Interface
The Common Gateway Interface is a standard method for web servers software to delegate the generation of web pages to executable files...
program.
AWStats supports most major web server log file formats including Apache
Apache Software Foundation
The Apache Software Foundation is a non-profit corporation to support Apache software projects, including the Apache HTTP Server. The ASF was formed from the Apache Group and incorporated in Delaware, U.S., in June 1999.The Apache Software Foundation is a decentralized community of developers...
(NCSA combined/XLF/ELF log format or common/CLF log format), WebStar, IIS
Internet Information Services
Internet Information Services – formerly called Internet Information Server – is a web server application and set of feature extension modules created by Microsoft for use with Microsoft Windows. It is the most used web server after Apache HTTP Server. IIS 7.5 supports HTTP, HTTPS,...
(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...
log format) and many other common web server log formats. Developers can contribute to the AWStats project through SourceForge.net
SourceForge.net
SourceForge is a web-based source code repository. It acts as a centralized location for software developers to control and manage open source software development. The website runs a version of SourceForge Enterprise Edition, forked from the last open-source version available...
.
Cross-platform availability
Written in PerlPerl
Perl is a high-level, general-purpose, interpreted, dynamic programming language. Perl was originally developed by Larry Wall in 1987 as a general-purpose Unix scripting language to make report processing easier. Since then, it has undergone many changes and revisions and become widely popular...
, AWStats can be deployed on almost any operating system
Operating system
An operating system is a set of programs that manage computer hardware resources and provide common services for application software. The operating system is the most important type of system software in a computer system...
. It is a very popular server administration tool, with packages available for most Linux distribution
Linux distribution
A Linux distribution is a member of the family of Unix-like operating systems built on top of the Linux kernel. Such distributions are operating systems including a large collection of software applications such as word processors, spreadsheets, media players, and database applications...
s. AWStats can be installed on a workstation
Workstation
A workstation is a high-end microcomputer designed for technical or scientific applications. Intended primarily to be used by one person at a time, they are commonly connected to a local area network and run multi-user operating systems...
, such as MS Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
, for local use in situations where log files can be downloaded from a remote server.
Support
Proper web log analysis tool configuration and report interpretation requires a bit of technical and business knowledge. AWStats support resources include documentation, and user community forumsSecurity considerations
The on-demand CGICommon Gateway Interface
The Common Gateway Interface is a standard method for web servers software to delegate the generation of web pages to executable files...
program has been the object of security exploits, as is the case of many CGI
Common Gateway Interface
The Common Gateway Interface is a standard method for web servers software to delegate the generation of web pages to executable files...
programs. Organizations wishing to provide public access to their Web analytics reports should consider generating static HTML
HTML
HyperText Markup Language is the predominant markup language for web pages. HTML elements are the basic building-blocks of webpages....
reports. The on-demand facility can still be used by restricting its use to internal users. Precautions should be taken against referrer spam (Referrer spam filtering functionality was added in version 6.5).
Alternatives
There are three primary open sourceOpen source
The term open source describes practices in production and development that promote access to the end product's source materials. Some consider open source a philosophy, others consider it a pragmatic methodology...
alternatives to AWStats.
- AnalogAnalog (program)Analog is a free web log analysis software program that runs under Windows, Mac OS, Linux, and most Unix-like operating systems. It was first released on June 21, 1995, by Stephen Turner as generic freeware; the license was changed to the GNU General Public License in November 2004...
offers a wealth of reporting options for a technical audience. It does not support the concept of a visitor, usually desired for business analysis. Development and support appears to have stopped in 2004 (with last version 6.0). - WebalizerWebalizerThe Webalizer is a GPL application that generates web pages of analysis, from access and usage logs, i.e. it is web log analysis software. It is one of the most commonly used web server administration tools. It was initiated by Bradford L. Barrett in 1997. Statistics commonly reported by Webalizer...
is offered by many ISPInternet service providerAn Internet service provider is a company that provides access to the Internet. Access ISPs directly connect customers to the Internet using copper wires, wireless or fiber-optic connections. Hosting ISPs lease server space for smaller businesses and host other people servers...
s as it is fast and simple. It has a smaller functionality set compared to AWStats. Development and support appeared to have stopped in 2002, but on July 12, 2008 a new version was released. - W3PerlW3PerlW3Perl is a free logfile analyser, which can parse Web/FTP/Mail/CUPS or Squid files. Most major web logfile formats are supported , as well as split/compressed files. "Page tagging" and counter are also supported if you do not have logfiles access...
, a powerful alternative which has features similar to AWStats.
There are also a number of other open source
Open source
The term open source describes practices in production and development that promote access to the end product's source materials. Some consider open source a philosophy, others consider it a pragmatic methodology...
alternatives to AWStats, not always with same functionality.
- Visitors (program)
- PiwikPiwikPiwik is an open source web analytics system written by a team of international developers, and runs on a PHP/MySQL webserver. Piwik is used by over 250,000 websites and is translated in more than 45 languages....
- Obsessive Website Statistics
The AWStats project provides a detailed comparison chart.
External links
- AWStats official web site includes documentation, news, software download and community support forums.