HOW TO: View and Report from Log Files (324091)

SUMMARY

This article shows you how to translate log file preferences from Apache to Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS), how to view log files that are generated by IIS, and how to report on the information that is contained in those log files.

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Translate Log File Preferences

With Apache, you can control only two elements of the logging system, the location of the log files generated, and the log file format. With IIS, you have more control over the log file format, location, and rotation.

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Set the Log File Folder

As with Apache, with IIS you can use a separate folder and location for each Web site where you want to log activity.

To set the folder to use for logging Web site activity:

1. Log on to the Web server computer as Administrator.
2. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
3. Double-click Administrative Tools, and then double click Internet Services Manager.
4. In the left pane, click the Web site in the list of served sites.
5. Right-click the Web site, and then point to Properties.
6. Click the Website tab.
7. Click to select the Enable Logging check box.
8. Click Properties to open the extended properties dialog box.
9. Click the General Properties tab.
10. Change the Log file folder to the location that you want to use.

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Setting the Log File Format

To change the log file format, follow the steps in the following Knowledge Base article:

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Set the Log File Rotation

A benefit of IIS is that you can configure how regularly the log files are rotated, that is, how long it takes before a new log file is created. With Apache, you must perform this process manually or through an external script, and then you have to restart Apache. In IIS, you can configure a new log to be created during any time period (daily, weekly, monthly) or when a log file has reached a particular size.

1. Log on to the Web server computer as Administrator.
2. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
3. Double-click Administrative Tools, and then double click Internet Services Manager.
4. In the left pane, click the Web site in the list of served sites.
5. Right-click the Web site, and then point to Properties.
6. Click the Website tab.
7. Click to select the Enable Logging check box.
8. Click Properties to open the extended properties dialog box.
9. Click the General Properties tab.
10. Select the New Log Time Period setting for your Web log. The setting that you select defines how frequently new logs are created.

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Find or View Log Files

To find or view the log files that are generated by IIS, you must locate the folder that is used to store these files. To find the folder and location for a log file, follow these steps:

1. Log on to the Web server computer as Administrator.
2. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
3. Double-click Administrative Tools, and then double-click Internet Services Manager.
4. Select the Web site from the list of different served sites in the pane on the left.
5. Right-click the Web site, and then point to Properties.
6. Select the Website tab.
7. Click Properties to open the extended properties dialog box.
8. Click the General Properties tab. View the bottom of the window. IIS displays the format and location of the log files that are generated. You can open and view the file and viewed with WordPad, Microsoft Word, or another text file viewer.

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Log File Reporting

If you are using an existing program for reporting on your Web logs under Unix/Apache, and if you have not changed the generated log format from the default W3C Extended Log Format, you should be able to continue using the same tool for your reporting process.

If you are not currently using a tool, or you want to use a custom format for your reporting, you have to use a separate program. Some examples include:

• Analog
• Seagate Crystal Reports

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