Re: Log analysis

From: Jen Visser <Jen.Visser_at_freedom.fiserv.com>
Date: Thu 27 Mar 2003 11:35:41 -0600

I've used WebTrends Enterprise Suite, while WebTrends seems to
have a good reputation I found the level of detail in the
reports lacking and the filters a pain to set up. The version
I was working on was older and a fairly less sophisticated
release, so I downloaded an eval copy of WebTrends Reporting
Center 5.0 which is run in a browser environment rather than
a stand-alone product. It took so long to configure it that
I couldn't get it set up to run before my evaluation period
ran out. I also thought the web interface was a pain. Worst
part was... the eval copy wrote over my existing installation
and I lost all my previously set filters and pathing. I also
had to pay for a full license for each server- I currently
have 9 sites on 5 servers.
http://www.netiq.com/webtrends/default.asp

That said, I've been evaluating NetTracker 6.0 Enterprise
by Sane Solutions http://www.sane.com/ - another browser
based software. The interface is much smoother with this
one, you define the level of detail, and it seemed to
process the log files quicker (I think that had I gotten
the newer version of WebTrends installed correctly it would
have moved just as quick though, the new version created a
dbase of the logs just like NetTracker does.) The web
interface with this product makes sense because each report
allows you to drill down to further detail from links
within the report. The reports may not be quite as
visually appealing as WebTrends, but to me they were easier
to read and had more relevant info, and I got it set up to
give me valid reports to share with my boss in less than
one afternoon. I also got to decide whether it would
include graphing on each report or not- a pie chart doesn't
mean a lot to me when I am looking at the numbers
associated with a specific ! url/document. With NetTracker
I could buy a license dependent on how many domains I was
going to use it with in increments of 5, 10, 25, 50, 100 ...
which appealed to me because I hope to consolidate the
sites to one server within a year, but need log file
analysis now. Only problem I found with Sane is that their
sales people are overly ... enthusiastic. That would be
the nice way to say it. They seemed to think talking to me
every other day would make the sale rather than the
functionality of the product.

I also looked at 123 LogAnalyzer just for kicks- it's much
less expensive, but didn't make much of an impression with
me but it made the list of trial downloads when I was first
researching. (It was a few weeks ago and I really can't
remember much about the product now.)
http://www.123loganalyzer.com



Jen Visser - Web Developer
Fiserv Administrative Solutions Division
jen.visser_at_freedom.fiserv.com
Phone: 319.398.0577
2110 Wiley Boulevard SW
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52404




Received on Thu Mar 27 2003 - 11:35:41 CST