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Version: 10.2

Configure Web App Tracker

Web App Tracker collects web logs from the history database of a browser. It reads the database and merges the contents to create a report of usages based on the configured web applications.

Before proceeding, make sure the Web App Tracker collection is activated.

Include or Exclude URLs to Track​

  1. Open url_filter in the Configuration directory, which is by default in C:\Program Files\OpeniT\Core\Configuration.

    Notice that it contains instructions on how to edit the file and a list of URLs already included for initial data collection.

  2. Configure the URL filter with the following syntax:

    Command Syntax
    <use> = <regular_expression>

    where <use> is either include or exclude, and <regular_expression> is any valid regular expression pertaining to a group or a specific URL.

    note

    Only URLs that match the specified pattern will be recorded. To track usage, at least one include pattern must be defined.

    Use globs (*) to match the URLs and page titles. Use # to comment.

    note

    Specify general elements first, followed by specific elements. Entries are processed sequentially, starting from the top.

  3. Save the changes.

Recommended readings: Renaming Application Name for Collected URLs/Page Titles.

Configuring Browsers to Track for Data Collection​

The Web App Tracker supports data collection from Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Microsoft Edge by default. The following are the supported browsers, along with their key counterparts.

BrowserKey
Google Chromechrome
Microsoft Edgeedge
Mozilla Firefoxfirefox
Internet Explorerie
Microsoft Edge Legacyedge legacy
Supported Browsers for Data Collection

  1. Go to the scheduler directory, which is by default in C:\Program Files\OpeniT\Core\Configuration\scheduler, and open collect_browser-log.oconf.

  2. Locate root.scheduler.jobs.collect_weblog.operations.arguments and specify the browsers for which to collect usage data.

    collect_browser-log.oconf
     }
       arguments
       {
     	type=string
     	value=--target "${OpeniT.directories.temp}\PollCollector\Weblog" --interval PT1H --exe "${OpeniT.directories.bin}\openit_weblogpoller.exe" --timeout PT30M --module usageanalyzer --datatype webappbrowserlog --skip-onerror --key weblog --args --statusdir "\"${OpeniT.directories.temp}\"" --browsers chrome,firefox,ie"
       }

    In this setup, only Google Chrome (chrome), Mozilla Firefox (firefox), and Internet Explorer (ie) will be included for data collection.

  3. Save the changes.

Configuring Browser Usage Data Collection​

  1. Go to the scheduler directory, which is by default in C:\Program Files\OpeniT\Core\Configuration\scheduler, and open collect_browser-log.oconf.

  2. Locate and set root.scheduler.jobs.collect_weblog.general.active to true to activate the collection of browser data.

    collect_browser-log.oconf
    	}
    		general
    		{
    			active
    			{
    				type=bool
    				value=true

  3. Save the changes.

Advanced Configuration

The collection runs hourly using a 5-minute sample interval by default. The primary data is then transferred to the server every night according to the client timezone for processing. To configure the intervals, locate the instances attribute under collect_weblog, preprocess_weblog, transfer_weblog_parsed, or transfer_weblog_raw in the same file and configure the attributes.

Refer to the Web Log Job Scheduler Instances Configuration table to learn about the attributes used for configuring web log data collection and transfer.

Attribute NameAccepted ValueDescription
max-instancesUint (e.g., 5, 8, 9)The number of instances allowed to run at the same time.
max-handlingString (end-oldest, end-all-old, or end-new)The action done upon reaching the maximum number of instances. Specify end-oldest to stop/kill the oldest instance and then start the new, specify end-all-old to stop/kill all running instances and then start the new, or specify end-new to not start the new instance.
end-timeoutTimespan (e.g., P30S, P5M, P1H)The maximum waiting time before terminating a running instance.
quarantineTimespan (e.g., P30S, P5M, P1H)The waiting time before starting a new instance after a previous one.
Web Log Job Scheduler Instances Configuration

Open iT calculates the Elapsed Time value by multiplying the duration by the number of used applications (always 1). Without defined mappings, the default duration is set to 15 minutes for all applications, which will then be the minimum usage per application.

Verifying Web Log Data Collection​

After configuration, you can verify that the data is collected and sent to the server by following these steps:

warning

Quit Safari browser to save its recent logs/history.

  1. Open a command prompt with Administrator level privileges.

  2. Go to the bin directory, which is by default in C:\Program Files\OpeniT\Core\bin, run the command:

    Command Syntax
    cd $BIN_DIR
    Example
    cd C:\Program Files\OpeniT\Core\bin

  3. Run the command:

    Command Syntax
    openit_pollcollector --target "${OpeniT.directories.temp}\PollCollector\Weblog" --interval PT1H --exe "${OpeniT.directories.bin}\openit_weblogpoller.exe" --timeout PT30M --module usageanalyzer --datatype webappbrowserlog --skip-onerror --key weblog --args --statusdir "\"${OpeniT.directories.temp}\"" --browsers chrome,edge,firefox"
    Example
    openit_pollcollector --target "C:\ProgramData\OpeniT\Data\temp\PollCollector\Weblog" --interval PT1H --exe "C:\Program Files\OpeniT\Core\bin\openit_weblogpoller.exe" --timeout PT30M --module usageanalyzer --datatype webappbrowserlog --skip-onerror --key weblog --args --statusdir "\"C:\ProgramData\OpeniT\Data\temp\"" --browsers chrome,edge,firefox"

  4. Verify that the temp directory, which is by default in C:\ProgramData\OpeniT\Data\temp, contains a Weblog directory containing .data files containing raw browser usage data.

Troubleshooting​

Missing URL or Websites in the Reports​

Problem​

There are missing URL(s) or website(s) in the generated report.

Resolution​

Make sure that the URL pattern, expected in the report, is included and does not match any of the exclude patterns in the url_filter in the Configuration directory, which is by default in C:\Program Files\OpeniT\Core\Configuration.

Archive is not Created in the Server​

Problem​

There are no archive files created in the Core Server even after collection.

Resolution​

Make sure that the transfer_weblog_parsed and transfer_weblog_raw jobs in collect_browser-log.oconf in the scheduler directory, which is by default in C:\Program Files\OpeniT\Core\Configuration\scheduler, are set to true.

collect_browser-log.oconf
 transfer_weblog_parsed
 {
    about
    {
        type=string
        value=Transfer browser log data to server
    }
    general
    {
        active
        {
            type=bool
            value=true
        }
collect_browser-log.oconf
 transfer_weblog_raw
 {
    about
    {
        type=string
        value=Transfer browser log data to server
    }
    general
    {
        active
        {
            type=bool
            value=true
        }

Additionally, attempt to verify the collection of raw browser usage data. If data is not created, it may indicate that there is no recent browser history usage from any of the supported browsers.

Sample Report​

Web App Browser Log​

This report is generated using data type (120) Web App Browser Log.

Web App Browser Log

Web App Browser Log