Multiple Server Site Report Visit Counts Are Inflated

ID: Q200189

The information in this article applies to:

SYMPTOMS

Large multi-site configurations may have two or more sites set up under different Log Data Sources configured under Usage Import Server Manager. Visit counts may appear to be higher than expected.


CAUSE

Multiple site Log Data Sources containing a multi-site configuration can be imported. A single visit that crosses the sites can be identified as the same visit. This occurs when [ASCII 147] stitches [ASCII 148] log files together during the import process. By default, external references included in a hit result in additional visit counts.

This behavior is by design.


RESOLUTION

If the external references are actually local, then these must be specified in Usage Import Server Manager in order to assure that the visit counts provided by Report Writer are not inflated.


MORE INFORMATION

Example Configuration in Usage Import Server Manager

LDS1

Server1
Site1: WWW1.Org.Co.com Org.Co.Com

LDS2

Server2
Site2: WWW2.Org.Co.Com Org.Co.Com
Note: Because the visit count should be performed across Site1 and Site2 as a single Virtual Site, the Home page URLs must include both.

Perform the following steps:
  1. Initialize Microsoft Site Server Analysis Usage Import.


  2. Click View, and then select Server Manager.


  3. Click Properties.


  4. Click Site.


  5. Click Basic, and then select Homepage URL.


  6. Specify all of the required URLs separated by spaces (for example [ASCII 147]WWW1.Org.Co.Com Org.Co.Com[ASCII 148]).


Example Log Entry:
1998-06-16 12:01:10 system.corp.com User W3SVC1 name name POST /filespec - 999 HTTP/1.0 Mozilla/4.0+(compatible;+MSIE+4.01;+Windows+NT) uid=999;+ASPSESSIONIDXXX://www1.org.Corp.com/filespec
A report created may use a filter selecting entries referring to filespec. In the example above, the external reference included at the end of this entry results in an additional visit count unless it is specified as a Homepage URL.


REFERENCES

Refer to the following for further information:

Q188281 Some Visits May Not Be Created For External Referrers
Microsoft Site Server 3.0 Documentation:
Analysis
Usage Import
Managing the Import Process
Stitching Log Files Together During Import

Additional query words: 


Keywords          : 
Version           : winnt:3.0
Platform          : winnt 
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: April 26, 1999