Introduction to AWStats

AWStats is short for Advanced Web Statistics. AWStats is a powerful log analyzer which creates advanced Web, ftp, mail and streaming server statistics reports based on the rich data contained in server logs. Data is graphically presented in easy to read web pages. AWStats is a free software distributed under the GNU General Public License.

Designed with flexibility in mind, AWStats can be run through a Web browser CGI (common gateway interface) or directly from the operating system command line. Through the use of intermediary data base files, AWStats is able to quickly process large log files, as often desired. With support for both standard and custom log format definitions, AWStats can analyze log files from Apache (NCSA combined/XLF/ELF or common/CLF log format), Microsoft's IIS (W3C log format), WebStar and most web, proxy, wap and streaming media servers as well as ftp and mail server logs. As AWStats works from the command line as well as a CGI, it is compatible with web hosting providers which allow CGI and log access.

Features

• Wide range of log formats. AWStats can analyze: Apache NCSA combined (XLF/ELF) or common (CLF) log files, Microsoft IIS log files (W3C), WebStar native log files and other web, proxy, wap, streaming media, ftp and mail server log files. See AWStats F.A.Q. for examples.
• Reports can be run from the operating system command line and from a web browser as a CGI (common gateway interface). In CGI mode, dynamic filter capabilities are available for many charts.
• Statistics update can be run from a web browser as well as scheduled for automatic processing.
• Unlimited log file size.
• Load balancing system split log files.
• Support 'nearly sorted' log files, even for entry and exit pages.
• Reverse DNS lookup before or during analysis; supports DNS cache files.
• Country detection from IP location (geoip) or domain name.
• Plugins for US/Canadian Regions, Cities and major countries regions, ISP and/or Organizations reports (require non free third product geoipregion, geoipcity, geoipisp and/or geoiporg database).
• WhoIS lookup links.
• Vast array of configurable options/filters and plugins supported.
• Modular design supports inclusion of addition features via plugins.
• Multi-named web sites supported (virtual servers, great for web-hosting providers).
• Cross Site Scripting Attacks protection.
• Reports available in many international languages. See AWStats F.A.Q. for full list. Users can provide files for additional languages not yet available.
• No need for esoteric perl libraries. AWStats works with all basic perl interpreters.
• Dynamic reports through a CGI interface.
• Static reports in one or framed HTML or XHTML pages; experimental PDF export through 3rd party "htmldoc" software.
• Customize look and color scheme to match your site design; with or without CSS (cascading style sheets).
• Help and HTML tooltips available in reports.
• Easy to use - all configuration directives are confined to one file for each site.
• Analysis database can be stored in XML format for easier use by external applications, like XSLT processing (one xslt transform example provided).
• A Webmin module is supplied.
• Absolutely free (even for web hosting providers); source code is included (GNU General Public License).
• Works on all platforms with Perl support.
• AWStats has an XML Portable Application Description.