How do I... Customize Apache Server log files to track my Web site

For a Web site owner or administrator trying to gauge the popularity and usability of his/her Web site, log file analysis is possibly the most powerful tool available. Server log files, which record details of incoming client requests, are rich sources of information on popular URLs, important referrers, concentrations of user activity, geographic usage patterns, and click-through paths. With this in mind, it's no surprise that Apache offers administrators tremendous flexibility in customizing its log files. This How do I... tutorial discusses the various configuration directives relevant to this logging mechanism, and offers some ideas for customizing the log output for greater utility.

This download is also available as a TechRepublic blog entry.