Configuration of ApacheAccessLogTest

This test auto-discovers the web sites on the Apache web server, and reports the rate at which each web site is receiving requests, the total number of requests processed and the number of requests that are successfully processed by each web site. In the process, this test also captures the response codes returned by each web site in real-time. By analyzing these codes, administrators can identify the web site that is encountering more number of errors which in turn will slow down the transactions.

The default parameters associated with this test are as follows:

• The TEST PERIOD list box helps the user to decide how often this test needs to be executed.

• In the HOST text box, the host for which the test is to be configured has to be specified.

• In the PORT text box, enter the port number at which the target host being monitored listens. By default, this is 80.

• By default, this test collects the required metrics by reading the access log file of the target Apache Web server. Specify the full path to the access log file in this text box. By default, the ACCESS LOG PATH parameter is set to default indicating that the path to the access log file is “/var/log/httpd/access_log”. Ensure that the eG agent install user accessing the log file is vested with read permission.

• Specify the format of the access log file in the LOG FORMAT text box. By default, this parameter is set to default indicating that the default format of the log file is %h %l %u %t \“%r\” %>s %b \“%{Referer}i\” \“%{User-agent}i\”

• Specify a comma-separated list of transaction URL patterns that need to be excluded from the scope of monitoring. By default, the parameter EXCLUDE URL PATTERN is set to none.

• By default, the parameter MAX REQUESTS IN DD is set to 1000. This indicates that detailed diagnosis of the Total Requests processed and the Requests processed successfully measures will report detailed metrics for 1000 requests in a chosen measure period.

• By default, the flag SHOW TOTAL REQUESTS DD is set to No. This implies that by default, detailed metrics will not be available for the Total Requests processed measure of this test. To enable detailed diagnosis for this measure, you can set this flag to Yes.

• By default, this flag SHOW SUCCESS REQUESTS DD is set to No. This implies that by default, detailed metrics will not be available for the Requests processed successfully measure of this test. To enable detailed diagnosis for this measure, you can set this flag to Yes.

• By default, the USE SUDO parameter is set to No. This indicates that, by default, the eG agent install user will be able to read the access log file and collect the required metrics. If the access log file could not be read by the eG agent install user, then, set this flag to Yes. This test will then report the metrics by executing the usr/bin/sudo command or /usr/sbin/sudo command.

  However, in some highly secure environments, the eG agent install user may not have the permissions to execute this command directly. In such cases, do the following:

  1. Edit the sudoers file on the target host and append an entry of the following format to it:

     For instance, if the eG agent install user is eguser, then the entries in the sudoers file should be:

     eguser ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD: /usr/bin/sudo

     eguser ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD: /usr/sbin/sudo

  2. Finally, save the file.

  Then, when configuring the test using the eG admin interface, set the USE SUDO parameter to Yes. This will enable the eG agent to use sudo to collect the required metrics from the access log file.

• By default, this parameter is set to none. This indicates that the eG agent would automatically discover the default location of the sudo command i.e. /usr/bin or /usr/sbin, when the Use Sudo flag is set to Yes. However, if the sudo command is installed in a different location in your environment, then specify that location in the SUDO PATH text box.

• The DD FREQUENCY parameter refers to the frequency with which detailed diagnosis measures are to be generated for this test. The default is 1:1. This indicates that, by default, detailed measures will be generated every time this test runs, and also every time the test detects a problem. You can modify this frequency, if you so desire. Also, if you intend to disable the detailed diagnosis capability for this test, you can do so by specifying none against DD FREQUENCY .

• To make diagnosis more efficient and accurate, the eG suite embeds an optional detailed diagnostic capability. With this capability, the eG agents can be configured to run detailed, more elaborate tests as and when specific problems are detected. To enable the DETAILED DIAGNOSIS capability of this test for a particular server, choose the On option. To disable the capability, click on the Off option.

  The option to selectively enable/disable the detailed diagnosis capability will be available only if the following conditions are fulfilled:

  • The eG manager license should allow the detailed diagnosis capability.

  • Both the normal and abnormal frequencies configured for the detailed diagnosis measures should not be 0.

  When changing the configuration for specific servers, a “*” beside the text box corresponding to the parameter signifies that these values have to be manually configured by the user. The parameter values that require to be configured will typically be prefixed with a “$” or contain a series of “*”. A value of “none” in the parameter value indicates that the corresponding parameter value can be changed if required.