Web Server: Logging

Logging is used to control the amount of information the web server records into the access and error log files.

The default is to record Standard information.

Logging Options

The following types of information can be recorded in log files (in order of increasing amounts):

• Standard (default) - minimal amount of information

The log file format is 'common log format' (CLF) of Apache web server. This includes IP address of visitor, time of access, username (if file is password-protected), name of file accessed, and results of file access.

• Referer - records referring site URL in addition to CLF
• All - issues Cookies in addition to 'Referer' option.

Choosing an Option

'Standard' is useful for determining when and how frequently the site is being accessed, who is accessing the site, and what problems exist in accessing the files on the site.

'Referer' is useful for additionally determining how visitors are getting to the server's site.

'All' is useful for tracking visitors who are located behind a router, firewall, or proxy server so long as they accept Cookies.

Less detail generally means lower overhead for the server, but less information available for the system administrator. More detail means somewhat higher overhead for the server, but provides more useful information to the administrator.

The 'Referer' setting is recommended since it provides more useful information with little additional overhead.

'Standard' is the default so as to maintain compatibility with the widely-used log format, CLF.

Setting an Option

Choose the desired option from the list and click Submit.