5
Configuring and Using Server Logs

This chapter discusses the log formats and describes various log files and their locations. Topics include:

• Specifying the Log Formats

• Specifying Log Files and Locations

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Specifying the Log Formats

LogFormat specifies the information included in the log file, and the manner in which it is written. The default format is the Common Log Format. The CLF format is: host ident authuser date request status bytes

host: This is the client domain name or its IP number.

ident: If IdentityCheck is enabled and the client machine runs identd, then this is the client identity information.

authuser: This is the user ID for a password-protected site.

date: This is the date and time of the request in the <day/month/year:hour:minute:second> format.

request: This is the request line, in double quotes, from the client.

status: This is the three-digit status code returned to the client.

bytes: This is the number of bytes, excluding headers, returned to the client.

Specifying Log Files and Locations

The following section describes the function and location of log files.

Access Log

The server access log records all requests processed by the server. The location and content of the access log is controlled by the CustomLog directive. The LogFormat directive can be used to simplify the selection of the contents of the logs.

Note: You can integrate Oracle9iAS Web Cache access logs into Oracle9iAS Clickstream Intelligence with the Collector Agent. See the Oracle9iAS Clickstream Intelligence Administrator's Guide for details.

See Also: "AccessLog directive" in the Apache Server documentation

Error Log

The server records error messages to a log file located, by default, in ORACLE_HOME/Apache/Apache/logs/error_log in UNIX, and ORACLE_HOME\Apache\Apache\logs\error_log in Windows. The filename can be set using the ErrorLog directive.

See Also: "ErrorLog directive" in the Apache Server documentation

JServ Log

JServ log tracks actions performed, and exceptions generated from JServ applications, such as servlets and JSPs. It is located in ORACLE_HOME/Apache/Jserv/logs/jserv.log in UNIX, and ORACLE_HOME\Apache\Jserv\logs\jserv.log in Windows.

PID File

When the server is started, it notes the process id of the parent httpd process to the PID file located by, default, in ORACLE_HOME/Apache/Apache/logs/httpd.pid. This filename can be changed with the PidFile directive. The process id is for use by the administrator in restarting and terminating the daemon. If the process dies (or is killed) abnormally, then it will be necessary to kill the children httpd processes.

See Also: "PidFile directive" in the Apache Server documentation

Rewrite Log

Rewrite Log is necessary for debugging when mod_rewrite is used. This log file produces a detailed analysis of how the rewriting engine transforms requests. The level of detail is controlled by the RewriteLogLevel directive.

See Also: "RewriteLog directive" in the Apache Server documentation

Script Log

Script Log allows you to record the input to and output from the CGI scripts. This should only be used in testing, and not for live servers.

See Also: "ScriptLog directive" in the Apache Server documentation

SSL Log

When Oracle HTTP Server starts in SSL mode, it creates ssl_engine_log and ssl_requrest_log in ORACLE_HOME/Apache/Apache/logs in UNIX, and ORACLE_HOME\Apache\Apache\logs in Windows. ssl_engine_log tracks ssl and protocol issues, where as ssl_request_log records user activity. Use the SSLLogFile directive to control output.

Note: On Windows, Oracle HTTP Server is starts in SSL mode by default.

Transfer Log

Transfer Log specifies the file in which to store the log of accesses to the site. If it is not explicitly included in the conf file, then no log is generated. The server will typically log each request to a transfer file located, by default, in ORACLE_HOME/Apache/Apache/logs/access_log in UNIX, and ORACLE_HOME\Apache\Apache\logs\access_log in Windows. The filename can be set using a CustomLog directive.