Setting up AWStats (updated)
Advanced Web Statistics for your web site.
[This page is an update of an earlier document. The earlier version gave instructions on installing AWStats V5.9 and V6.0. Recently they released V6.4 and all users are urged to upgrade to that version, as earlier versions do have known security weaknesses.]
In a previous article on installing AWStats I gave detailed instructions on unpacking, installing and configuring AWStats. But, all this is now a lot simpler as the latest AWStats (V6.4) now has an installation script that takes care of some of the work for us. There are still some tweaks that need doing, but the process is very straightforward and only needs basic shell skills.
The main difference with this installation and the earlier versions that I described is that the earlier versions were installed in the existing web site, and this version is installed outside of the website and included by modifying the httpd.conf file to include it via an alias. I’ve left the installation the way that the script installs it, but there is no reason why you can’t modify it to install where you want.
Upgrading from an old installation.
First, note down the name that you used for the previous config file, for example:
/etc/awstats.www.mydomain.com.conf
and make a backup of the file (if installing in the same place).
Next, make a backup of the old statistics files:
$ tar cvzf ~/awstats-logs-backup.tgz /var/www/cgi-bin/awstats/*
For installing on mydomain.com
Make a backup of the httpd.conf file
$ cp /etc/httpd/conf/httpd.conf /etc/httpd/conf/httpd.conf.awbak
as this will be modified by the installation routine.
Download the package
$ cd
$ lynx http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/awstats/awstats-6.4.tgz
and follow the instructions to download it.
Unpack the package
$ cd /usr/local/
$ tar xzf ~/awstats-6.4.tgz
Make a user friendly name for the directory and enter it
$ mv awstats-6.4 awstats
$ cd awstats
Make a directory to store the stats in
$ mkdir /var/lib/awstats
and run the configuration tool
$ tools/awstats_configure.pl
When asked to create a new config file, say yes. If upgrading, when asked for a name of the web site, use the name that was used before. Other questions, accept defaults.
Now make some final edit to the config file
$ vim /etc/awstats/awstats.www.domain.com.conf
# and change the following:
LogFile="/var/log/httpd/access_log"
HostAliases= if there are any aliases
Restart apache
$ restart
# or /etc/rc.d/init.d/httpd restart
# on older setups
If upgrading, copy over the old files
$ cp /var/www/cgi-bin/awstats/* /var/lib/awstats/
And, run an update…
$/usr/local/awstats/wwwroot/cgi-bin/awstats.pl -update -config=www.domain.com
Assuming there was no error you should now be able to see the stats by pointing your web browser at:
http://www.domain.com/awstats/awstats.pl?conf=www.domain.com
Finally, we need to secure the installation against prying eyes by adding an .htaccess file to the script directory. And changing the /etc/httpd/conf/httpd.conf file and changing AllowOverride None to AllowOverride All in the awstats section, then restart Apache.
# .htaccess:
$ cd /usr/local/awstats/wwwroot/cgi-bin/
$ htpasswd -c .htpasswd username
$ vim .htaccess
# -- .htaccess
AuthName "Stats Login"
AuthType Basic
AuthUserFile ./.htpasswd
require valid-user
# -- end .htaccess
Now remove all the old awstats files from:
/var/www/cgi-bin/awstats.pl
/var/www/cgi-bin/awredir.pl
/var/www/cgi-bin/awstats/*
/var/www/cgi-bin/awtools/*
And, finally, update the cron tab with the new path to the script.
And that is it!
Let me know if I’ve forgotten anything, and as I said before, I recommend everyone using an older version of AWStats to upgrade to the latest version, as it is more accurate, better looking and more secure.