Enable access logging

Overview

This article documents how to enable logging in Apache Tomcat and create a localhost_access_log.txt file. This feature is disabled by default. 

Web Help Desk may overwrite the tomcat_server_template.xml file when you update the software. Apply the steps in this article after each update.

Environment

All WHD versions

Steps

1. Log in to the Web Help Desk server as an administrator.
2. Stop Web Help Desk
3. Navigate to <WebHelpDesk\conf.
4. Open the tomcat_server_template.xml file in a text editor (such as Notepad).
5. Locate and uncomment the following code:
   className="org.apache.catalina.valves.AccessLogValve"
      directory="../../log"
      prefix="localhost_access_log"
      pattern="common"
     resolveHosts="false"
   />
   The directory should be /log.
   For additional detail, set the pattern parameter to combined. This value generates log that charting utilities (such as awstats) can understand.
6. Start Web Help Desk.
7. Navigate to <WebHelpDesk>\log,
   This directory contains the localhost_access_log.txt file. Open the file in a text editor to view the logging.