This document is here to answer many of the questions we have received regarding AccessProbe.

1) Q. What is a log file?

A. A log file is a file located on most servers that tracks requests for each account on the server. Log files consist of some very useful information but unfortunately that information is very hard to make any sense of in its raw format. Here is a how a single hit to a page is recorded in a log file.

cache-ri01.proxy.aol.com - - [06/Jul/1999:10:34:54 -0600] "GET / HTTP/1.0" 200 11515 "http://netfind.aol.com/search.gw?search=honda+accord&lk=excite_netfind2_us&nrm =aol&pri=on&xls=b&xll=65&test=Search%21" "Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 5.0; AOL 4.0; Windows 98; DigExt)"

2) Q. How does AccessProbe work?

A. AccessProbe parses your entire log file (thousands of complex lines) and returns the data in a format that is easy to understand.

3) Q. Why is AccessProbe better then other log readers?

A.

1. AccessProbe's intuitive interface allows the user to find the data they're looking for faster than other log readers. For Example, most log readers allow you to view the hits for unique machines, but AccessProbe allows you to see a complete breakdown for each machine. You can easily see where each user came from, the path they took through your site, and how long they stayed. In fact, every report AccessProbe provides can be broken down simply by clicking the item you wish to view.
2. AccessProbe supports both relative dates and date ranges.
3. AccessProbe includes "view only" and "remove" filters.
4. AccessProbe does not truncate URL's
5. AccessProbe can read through your log files either forward or backwards, allowing the fastest reports possible. AccessProbe also boasts an auto read function that will determine the fastest way to read your log file based on your current date selection.
6. AccessProbe keeps track of authenticated users to your site.
7. AccessProbe is the first log analyzer that can actually clean your log files of unwanted entries, reducing your log files up to 99% and therefore can actually save you money$$$$.
8. AccessProbe can read multiple log file formats.
9. AccessProbe runs on both UNIX and WIN32.

4) Q. How will cleaning my log files save me $money?

A. Cleaning your log files will substantially reduce their size, which means less server space required to host your account. This can mean big savings.

Log files include any request made to your server. If someone hits your home page, then the server records the request for the html document, any images included on that page, any cgi request on that page, etc. This means that one hit to a single page can be recorded in your log files 10, 20, 30 or even more times.

For Example: Let's say your site averages 9 images a page including the background and any navigation buttons. If you were to remove all the lines that include requests for these images from your log files, then you log files would be reduced by 90%. For some of the sites we work with, this can mean 40 to 50 megs smaller. That's means less server space needed to host your site, and therefore, big savings.