Where does DA report Domain Pointer Traffic and pointer visit numbers?

[trader]

Domain Pointers (with Masking) are a great and quite valuable benefit of DA (I think the masking is fairly new). It's a quick and amazingly easy way to get a domain name resolving on the web. In fact, all my pointer domains resolve instantly as soon as I submit the domain pointer.

I use a lot of those so called "Domain Pointers" and make them all Aliases also (alias means Masked Forwarding). That is where your domain name stays visible in the browser address bar even though you are actually on a different domains website.

My question involves AWstats reporting of Domain Pointer traffic. I am quite confused as to where and how traffic originating from a domain pointer is identified within AWstats and a way to count domain pointer traffic stats too, which is unclear even after doing a fair amount of research on this.

In what category does the visit count? How can I see how many visits actually arrived via the domain pointer? This is important since I run some sites which I suspect get more visits form the pointer redirect vs the main domain itself, judging by the quality of the domains, and also should be getting lots of traffic overall from all my Pointers (but need to know for sure). Thanks.

 

[nobaloney]

I don't think an alias is what you think it is.

An alias is created by simply making an additional VirtualHostName entry in a single site container in the httpd.conf file.

I'm not sure if AWStats or Webalizer can or does break these out.

Anyone?

Jeff

 

[trader]

Really Jeff? It appears based on my heavy usage of the feature that you are incorrect. It seems quite odd you say my definition of how it works is wrong since every time I check the box to use the ALIAS domain pointer it actually does do the so called Masked Forwarding, but if unchecked does not do the masking, just the pointing! I have successfully used it as described hundreds of times so please trust me on this. Try it yourself and you will see.

Originally posted by jlasman I don't think an alias is what you think it is. An alias is created by simply making an additional VirtualHostName entry in a single site container in the httpd.conf file. I'm not sure if AWStats or Webalizer can or does break these out. Anyone? Jeff

 

[nobaloney]

Actually we're both wrong.

The best definition of masked forwarding I've found is here; it explains that masked forwarding is used to hide a complex URL.

Which isn't quite what you wrote. Masked forwarding is implemented in the Plesk Control Panel; perhaps in others as well.

An example of masked forwarding can be found here:

https://secure.ezsecureusa.com/nobaloney/domains/

Note that no matter what you click on, the above URL stays the same.

But the masked forwarding (implemented manually by me using a zero size frame) hides the real URL, which starts as:

https://secure.registerapi.com/order/register/check.php?siteid=9971

and changes as you navigate the site.

If you create a domain pointer in DA as a pointer it does add a new VirtualHost container to the user's httpd.conf file; here's a copy of my pointer VirtualHost container from nobaloney.com to nobaloney.net:

<VirtualHost 65.58.240.230:80>
        ServerName nobaloney.com
        ServerAlias nobaloney.com [url]www.nobaloney.com[/url]
        Redirect / [url]http://www.nobaloney.net/[/url]
        User nobalone
        Group nobalone
</VirtualHost>

Note that the pointer above does a simple redirect, and the domain name does change as the redirect takes place.

Now, here's my mistake:

I wrote:

An alias is created by simply making an additional VirtualHostName entry in a single site container in the httpd.conf file.

What I should have written is:

An alias is created by adding another two aliases to the ServerAlias section of the VirtualHost container for the domain for which you're setting the alias to resolve. Here's a portion of the VirtualHost container for nobaloney.net after I've added testforjeff.com as an alias for nobaloney.net:

        ServerName [url]www.nobaloney.net[/url]
        ServerAlias [url]www.nobaloney.net[/url] nobaloney.net  testforjeff.com [url]www.testforjeff.com[/url]
        ServerAdmin [email][email protected][/email]
        DocumentRoot /home/nobalone/domains/nobaloney.net/public_html
        ScriptAlias /cgi-bin/ /home/nobalone/domains/nobaloney.net/public_html/cgi-bin/

I'm sorry for my error, and I hope this thorough examination of the actual httpd.conf file helps explain exactly what happens.

Note that in a simple pointer, the site redirect means all the traffic will be reported as belonging to the site to which the original site is pointed.

In the alias example the logs for the site indicated by ServerName is where the traffic will be saved; I still don't know if the traffic is reported separately.

Jeff

 

[trader]

Thanks for all the details Jeff even though it's all too technical for me to grasp.

Anyway, all I know is that if I own a domain name but it is NOT a live website (nothing more than a domain name) and I check off Alias on the Domain Pointer Page then what happens is this as far as what a site visitor sees in his browser window:

http://www.unusedlong4worddomain.com/
like magic becomes
http://www.activesite2worddomain.com/

The unused domain starts working instatly on the-web, which is really cool and a fabulous feature of DA. In the example it looks like I have 2 websites when I really have one.

P.S. Can someone please tell mw how the traffic coming from the Pointer gets recorded by the stats in either AWstats or Weblizer?

 

[nobaloney]

Which isn't masked forwarding at all.

It's a true alias.

Jeff

 

[trader]

Ok, thanks but can someone please answer this:

"please tell me how the traffic coming from the DA Domain Pointer Alias gets recorded by the stats in either AWstats or Webalizer logs.

In other words, in which log category do the pointer forwarding stats appear, I can't seem to find the numbers reflected anywhere in my stats?

 

[nobaloney]

I haven't attempted to look this up (though I am doing some true aliases).

The key to knowing the answer would be knowing whether webalizer (for example) is sorting by domain name or by something else (perhaps by log file).

If the former, then the information is being thrown away because aliases don't do their own webalizer log parsing.

If the latter, then the information is being merged into the main domain.

Either way, the best way to fix it would be to set up two domain names then have your hosting company change the httpd.conf container for the new domain to point to the dirctory structure for the original domain.

That way you'll get two sets of logs.

But you'll have to figure out how to access them as you won't be able to access them by domain name unless you set up some kind of linking.

Jeff

 

[trader]

Thanks Jeff for the feedback though I don't think it helps my issue. Each active website it's own seperate webalizer and awstats report so not sure what you mean about sorting the stats by domain name and that does not seem relevant but thanks anyway.

Perhaps there is a basic misunderstanding of the issue which I must not have made clear. The main reason I want to know where the Domain Pointer Traffic is being reflected in my stats reports is so I can determine the amount of traffic coming from the DA domain name alias pointer.

The reason I use the domain pointer so heavily is it's too difficult to setup a virtual site and make a website for the thousands of domain names I own without any idea of the traffic already going to the domain name to help determine value. Therefore, I set them up to resolve as a domain pointer with an Alias. That way all my non-website domains resolve on the-web too.

Once I can see how much traffic the names get (mostly from type-ins but sometimes the pointer is also listed in the SE's too for SE traffic) I can determine if it's worthwhile to make a real website for the pointer domain name. That is why it's very important to find out where the pointer alias traffic shows up in the stats.

 

[nobaloney]

If you're not willing to set up a domain until you know how much traffic it's getting I can't see any way for you to solve your problem.

Perhaps you should try a webalizer forum, list, or newsgroup.

Jeff

 

[trader]

LOL. Jeff, if someone has say almost 3,000 domain names it is incredibly tough and time consuming to set up so many virtual sites on the server and make thousands of index pages, and get almost 3,000 new web-sites resolving!

All the domain names can in fact resolve on the web and get traffic indications using domain pointer aliases so that way the list can be narrowed down so the better domains can be made live websites first.

I have *tried* to explain this all before in posts. Hopefully by now I can be better understood on why this issue is so important. It is somewhat surprising others here also not used this method and wondered about domain pointer stats too?

I do not feel asking about where domain pointer alias stats show-up in the webalizer stats is not an unreasonable question on THIS forum and why I would need to go to the low activity Weblizer forum since domain pointer alias ability is offered by direct admin, and my Webalizer also came installed on the server with DA.

Plus, to be perfectly frank with you Jeff it is quite puzzling why you as the Admin and being so 'expert' on DA do not know where the Pointer stats appear yourself, along with all the other members who appatrently also do not know.

Originally posted by jlasman If you're not willing to set up a domain until you know how much traffic it's getting I can't see any way for you to solve your problem...

 

[resolveit]

Trader,

I think you need to learn a lot to get close to what Jeff has already forgotten so please don't criticize advice you receive on things you know nothing (very little) about, at least Jeff is trying to help you. I don't see anyone else doing this.

Looking through your posts I cannot say that you've actually bothered to be helpful or polite to people on this forum, you also constantly complain about things DA can't do.

When asking for help you want everything for free or for very little. I suggest you look over your posts and find someone to fix your issues for you. When you decide how much that person is worth to you look at how much time you're spending finding someone who'll do this for a low price and think to yourself if it's not worth paying someone a decent amount to get your problems solved once and for all.

As for sending you to the webalizer forum, Jeff is 100% corerct this is a webalizer issue or if you use AWStats it's an AWStatus issue and you'll find that you probably need to modify the configuration of the 2 statistics packadges to do what you want.

The standard configuration of DA does not seem to solve your problem therefor I will now also recommend you seek advice elsewhere. You can now also flame me for telling you this.

Regards,

 

[nobaloney]

I have *tried* to explain this all before in posts. Hopefully by now I can be better understood on why this issue is so important. It is somewhat surprising others here also not used this method and wondered about domain pointer stats too?

I don't think it matters to any of us that it's important to you. It certainly should matter to you. I think we've gone to great extent to tell you what we believe has to be done. So now it should be up to you to decide whether to take the steps to do it yourself, or to hire someone to do it.

I do not feel asking about where domain pointer alias stats show-up in the webalizer stats is not an unreasonable question on THIS forum and why I would need to go to the low activity Weblizer forum since domain pointer alias ability is offered by direct admin, and my Webalizer also came installed on the server with DA.

Perhaps because none of us know the answer and since we don't need it ourselves we're not taking the time it would take to research the answer. You're much more likely to find people knowledgeable in Webalizer on Webalizer forums than on the DA forum. If you'd rather keep asking here and not getting what you consider a satisfactory reply, instead of asking on Webalizer forums where you might get what you consider a satisfactory reply, then I suppose you should keep asking here. Results show you're not getting a satisfactory reply here; I thought I was being helpful by pointing out some places where you might get a satisfactory reply. If you don't believe it's helpful simply ignore my advice.

Plus, to be perfectly frank with you Jeff it is quite puzzling why you as the Admin and being so 'expert' on DA do not know where the Pointer stats appear yourself,

Personal attacks are not appreciated and will eventually get you blocked from the forums, so I hope you won't try one again.

I volunteer to be an Administrator on these forums so I can help people to the best of my ability within the limits of my availability. I offer to help anyone and everyone as time and resources permit. I certainly choose to which posts I respond. If I have the time I respond to posts if I know the answer, or if I can easily research the answer and either believe I should know the answer or if I decide I want to know the answer.

along with all the other members who apparently also do not know.

These forums make up a volunteer self-help community; they are not an official DirectAdmin support venue.

Anyone will either respond or not, as and if they know the answer, and as and if they wish.

You evidently believe that support for Webalizer for any possible use should be included with your DA license. If you're not getting the support you need from these volunteer forums, I'd suggest you contact DirectAdmin Support to see if they can offer you additional support.

Jeff

 

[nobaloney]

Trader, this post may be helpful.

Have you tried the suggestion?

Jeff

 

[trader]

Originally posted by jlasman Personal attacks are not appreciated and will eventually get you blocked from the forums, so I hope you won't try one again.

IMO, it can not be construed as a personal attack, all I was doing is stating (out of frustration) that I thought you should know the answer, nothing more or less. Granted, I should have worded it more nicely and softly rather than being perfectly frank and blunt as I was.

And as far as Resolvit saying this is an AWstats or Weblizer issue and I should try to hire someoine to address these issues I must with all due respect disagree.

I have been to the free Webalizer board. It is not too active and most people who post do not get any replies or issues addressed at all from what I can tell. In addition, I also posted there with no assistance offered. Another issue is that *if* you could get replies there I am positive they would all say that they do not know what a Domain Pointer Alias is.

In fact, even at the DA forum it appears few know what it is. They would also tell me the domain pointer alias is a Direct Admin feature and only DA can answer questions about it. I completely agree with that, since its a DA implemented feature we can not rely on others to support it. Why would you expect some other place to support a DA implemented new feauture which they likley never even heard of?

Regarding Resolvit implying I have not been polite in past posts, I do not think that is a totally accurate summation however I must admit I have been super frustrated and quite annoyed by making so many posts and threads here with little success in getting any issues resolved over time.

I am also told by Resolvit "....When asking for help you want everything for free or for very little. I suggest you look over your posts and find someone to fix your issues for you."

Though he said I could, I will not flame him over saying it. But nevetheless, an incorrect assumption by him, in fact that is actually contrary to the facts. I do not want everything for free or very little. I am more than willing to pay to get my issues handled and have made a number of posts, pm's and sent emails asking if I could hire them, and I did not mean for free.

The net result is most everyone I approached said they either lacked expertise or only knew some issues but not other issues, actually from what I recall no one offered to work for me on a paid basis, even though I asked some of them more than once, including even a few members who posted in this thread. The offer still stands and I would live to pay to get the issues solved rather than constantly beg here and elsewhere in a failed attempt to get most issues resolved.

However, some good news is I did manage to get a big issue I had in the past solved in that Jeff and others here said it was not possible to do a big merged stats log of all my virtual sites due to limitations within both DA and AWstats. I did not accept what everyone told me as Gospel so asked a new tech guy at my colocated host about it?

Quickly and without any bugs he wrote a cool program to do it within AWstats, where now I can run one giant log file using AW and get a big stats log report showing all the AWstats across every site running on the server. Amazingly, he did not even charge me for it, even though they do not provide full support in my colocation package. Isn't that great of them and the kind of fantastic service everyone should offer!

You need to realize I am totally frustrated and bewildered why it seems I can rarely get any issues solved or hire anyone on a paid basis. That is why I may have accidentlly stepped on some toes here and gave some the impression I was rude or imsulting, and for that I do fully apologize to everyone who thought so.

 

[trader]

Originally posted by jlasman Have you tried the suggestion?

Not too sure, as my being a non-geek and non-programmer has left me quite confused over several issues but will look thru the entire thread again when all the controversy over my alleged attacking and not being polite is over. Thanks again.

 

[nobaloney]

Please do check the thread carefully again to see if any of it is helpful.

I'm closing this thread because I believe it's been beaten to death and has gotten all the reasonable responses it's going to get.

If you can't get reasonable answers here, on the Webalizer forum, or anywhere else, my guess is that no-one knows the answer.

However there have been some good suggestions here.

And some offers to help you on an hourly rate basis in response to several of your posts.

If you don't want to go in either of those directions that's certainly your right.

Jeff