Usage Statistics - Win2K Support

: Usage Statistics

Why should I use a statistics program?
What type of data can I capture by using a statistical report program?
How do I select one of the built-in statistics programs for my account?
How frequently are my statistics updated?
How do I view my statistics on my account?
How does Analog v.2.11 compile statistics?
Where can I find help on how to use Urchin?
How do I view my current disk space, data transfer usage or log files?
Do my web site's statistics log files count toward my disk quota?
How do I configure my account to notify me when I reach the maximum data transfer?
Can I use a third party statistics program?
How long will my log files be kept on the server?

Why should I use a statistics program?

Statistic programs can provide you with valuable information about your web site. They can also help you determine what type of traffic your site is receiving and they can show where you can make improvements to the overall design of your site.

What type of data can I capture by using a statistical report program?

Statistic programs can produce detailed reports containing extensive analysis about your web site and about the visitors who access your site. Some of the main features include, but are not limited to, the following categories:

Visitor Information
Access Times and Dates
Individual Page Statistics
Referred Sites
Browsers Used
Errors

How do I select one of the built-in statistics programs for my account?

1. Open your web site’s Control Panel. Your Control Panel is located at www.yourdomain.com/stats/ .

In the above-mentioned Internet address, be sure to replace “yourdomain.com” with your actual domain.

2. Go to the Manage My Web Site Stats section of your Control Panel and click Select a Stats Package.

3. Select Urchin for your Preferred Stats Program.

Urchin v.3.x - As it provides you with the most detailed statistical summaries and because it is the most adept at handling large amounts of data, we recommend that you use Urchin as your statistics package.

Note: Urchin is a system-wide program and cannot be custom configured for one customer.

How frequently are my statistics updated?

Statistics are updated approximately every 24 hours. For example, if your statistics were last updated at 3:00 a. m. Eastern Standard Time (EST), the next update would take place at 3:00 a. m. on the following day.

If you are running statistics for the first time or if you are switching from one statistics package to another, you will need to wait about 24 hours to see the results of your first statistics run.

How do I view my statistics on my account?

1. Open your web site Control Panel. Your Control Panel is located at www.yourdomain.com/stats/ .

2. Click View Stats. A new window opens containing information about your statistics.

Note: If you have not selected a statistics package and you click View Statistics from within your Control Panel, statistics totals will not display. Instead, you will see only a blank web page.

Where can I find help on how to use Urchin?

For comprehensive help on how to use Urchin, you can visit our main Urchin support page. You can also find helpful information on our Urchin Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page.

How do I view my current disk space, data transfer usage or log files?

1. Open your web site’s Control Panel. Your Control Panel is located at www.yourdomain.com/stats/ .

2. Click on Usage Statistics and then go to the Urchin stats display.

3. Click on the "Summary" link under the "Traffic" heading. You can specify which month you want to view information for under the "Date Range" heading.

Do my web site's statistics log files count toward my disk quota?

No. Statistics log files do not count against your site's disk quota. There is no need to delete these files in order to attempt to gain disk space.

Can I use a third party statistics program?

You have access to the log files. Therefore, you can use a third party program to run an in-depth analysis of your site usage. You can choose to run the built-in statistics program in addition to a third party program. You have access to the log files whether or not you selected one of our built-in statistical analysis programs.

You can also download the log files to your local computer for analysis. Then, you can use gzip to decompress them if you need to run custom queries against the data. We use the standard GNU "gzip" format without any special options.

Note: Macintosh users who experience difficulty unzipping the logs with Stuffit Expander should try using MacGzip.

How long will my log files be kept on the server?

We keep the gzipped access logs on our servers for three months. However, there are some exceptions that are specific to each Preferred Stats Program. Those exceptions are as follows:

URCHIN v.3.x - There are four gzipped log files. One file contains statistical data for the current month and the other three files contain statistical data for the three prior months. Additionally, in its UDB files, Urchin contains up to twelve months of processed log files.

Note: On Windows systems, Urchin's log file data is located in the directory called /stats/urchin_data. Do not delete any files or subdirectories located within those directories. Doing so may cause Urchin either to function incorrectly or to cease functioning entirely.

Also, if an Urchin log file becomes corrupt, Urchin reports will not update. Upon fixing the corrupt file, the reports will be updated with the information from the current access log. Any data that is not in the access log would not be added to the Urchin reports.