Method and apparatus to solve compatibility between heterogeneous web server access logs formats

A method for translating heterogeneous web server access log formats, comprising:

• reading a customizable configuration file and creating configuration objects;
• setting a log pattern variable;
• opening a server access log file and reading a line within the file;
• translating data in the file line into a desired log format, by:
• parsing a server access log file line;
• if there is no error in retrieving required data, reordering data elements and syntax to mimic the desired log format;
• if there is an error in retrieving required data, checking if there in an entry in the web server comment field;
• if there is no entry in the comment field, rereading the file line;
• if there is an entry in the comment field, checking that a dictionary feature is enabled;
• sending the translated data to a computer process;
• and
• exiting when all lines in the access log file have been read.

A computer program product in a computer readable medium for use in a data processing system, for establishing compatibility between heterogeneous web server access log formats, comprising:

• instructions for receiving a description of an access log file of a web server, by:
• opening a customizable configuration file;
• if the access log is static, setting a log pattern definition to describe data elements, order, and syntax of log entries;
• if the access log is dynamic, setting a dictionary feature for a log pattern definition;
• saving and exiting the configuration file;
• and
• instructions for invoking a computer process, wherein the process in turn invokes a web server access log translation engine (WSALTE) which translates the described web server access log file to a desired log format and returns the translated file back to the computer process.

A computer program product in a computer readable medium for use in a data processing system, for translating heterogeneous web server access log formats, the computer program product comprising:

• instructions for reading a customizable configuration file and creating configuration objects;
• instructions for setting a log pattern variable;
• instructions for opening a server access log file and reading a line within the file;
• instructions for translating data in the file line into a desired log format, by:
• parsing a server access log file line;
• if there is no error in retrieving required data, reordering data elements and syntax to mimic the desired log format;
• if there is an error in retrieving required data, checking if there in an entry in the web server comment field;
• if there is no entry in the comment field, rereading the file line;
• if there is an entry in the comment field, checking that a dictionary feature is enabled;
• instructions for sending the translated data to a computer process;
• and
• instructions for exiting when all lines in the access log file have been read.

A system for establishing compatibility between heterogeneous web server access log formats, comprising:

• a receiving component which receives a description of an access log file of a web server, by:
• opening a customizable configuration file;
• if the access log is static, setting a log pattern definition to describe data elements, order, and syntax of log entries;
• if the access log is dynamic, setting a dictionary feature for a log pattern definition;
• saving and exiting the configuration file;
• and
• an invoking component which invokes a computer process, wherein the process in turn invokes a web server access log translation engine (WSALTE) which translates the described web server access log file to a desired log format and returns the translated file back to the computer process.

A system for translating heterogeneous web server access log formats, comprising:

• a reading component which reads a customizable configuration file and creates configuration objects;
• a selection component which sets a log pattern variable;
• an opening component which opens a server access log file and reads a line within the file;
• a translating component which translates data in the file line into a desired log format, by:
• parsing a server access log file line;
• if there is no error in retrieving required data, reordering data elements and syntax to mimic the desired log format;
• if there is an error in retrieving required data, checking if there in an entry in the web server comment field;
• if there is no entry in the comment field, rereading the file line;
• if there is an entry in the comment field, checking that a dictionary feature is enabled;
• a communication component which sends the translated data to a computer process;
• and
• an exiting mechanism which exits when all lines in the access log file have been read.