Webalizer is a free web analytics tool that analyzes your website's server logs and creates detailed traffic reports showing who visits your site, when they visit, and how they interact with your content. You can access Webalizer through your cPanel control panel to view comprehensive statistics about your website's visitors, including traffic patterns, referral sources, and visitor locations.
This powerful analytics tool helps you understand your website's performance without requiring external tracking scripts or third-party services. Unlike browser-based analytics tools, Webalizer analyzes server log files directly, giving you complete visibility into all server requests and visitor behavior.
What Information Does Webalizer Provide?
Webalizer generates detailed reports with multiple categories of website statistics. When you view your Webalizer reports, you'll see visual graphs and comprehensive tables displaying your site's activity.
The main dashboard shows an overview graph and summary statistics for your selected domain. For deeper insights, you can click on any month to access detailed reports containing:
- Daily and hourly traffic statistics presented in both graphs and tables
- Referring URLs showing which links bring visitors to your website
- HTTP status codes indicating successful page loads and errors
- Operating systems used by your visitors
- Browser information showing which web browsers access your site
- Geographic data revealing visitor countries of origin
These statistics help you identify traffic trends, popular content, technical issues, and visitor demographics. OBHost includes Webalizer with all hosting plans, making it easy to monitor your website's performance.
How to View Your Webalizer Statistics
Accessing your Webalizer reports is straightforward through your cPanel control panel. Follow these steps to view your website analytics:
First, log into your cPanel account and locate the Webalizer icon, typically found in the Metrics or Statistics section. The interface will display a list of domains associated with your hosting account.
Click the View button next to the domain you want to analyze. A new page will open showing your traffic statistics with a visual graph and summary data.
To examine specific time periods, click on any month's link in the report. This opens a detailed view with comprehensive charts and tables breaking down that month's traffic patterns.
Alternative Access Method Without cPanel Login
Your hosting provider may configure Webalizer to allow direct access without logging into cPanel. This feature provides quick access to your statistics from any web browser.
To use this method, navigate to http://example.com/stats in your web browser, replacing example.com with your actual domain name. You'll be prompted to enter a Webalizer-specific username and password.
Important: This functionality requires your hosting provider to create the stats directory and establish unique login credentials for Webalizer access. The directory must exist at /home/username/public_html/webalizer/stats where username is your cPanel username. Contact your hosting provider if you need this feature enabled.
Understanding Webalizer Configuration Options
Webalizer offers various configuration options that control how statistics are generated and displayed. While most users won't need to modify these settings, advanced users can customize their reports.
The configuration files contain settings for data processing, report generation, and display preferences. These options allow you to exclude certain traffic sources, customize report formats, and adjust how data is categorized.
For detailed information about all available configuration options, consult the official Webalizer configuration documentation. Most hosting environments, including OBHost, provide sensible default settings that work well for typical websites.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often does Webalizer update my website statistics?
Webalizer typically processes your server logs and updates statistics once daily, usually during off-peak hours. The exact timing depends on your hosting provider's server configuration. You'll see your previous day's traffic data reflected in the reports after the daily processing completes.
Can I export Webalizer data for external analysis?
Yes, Webalizer generates HTML reports that you can save or print from your web browser. While Webalizer doesn't provide built-in CSV export functionality, you can copy data from the HTML tables into spreadsheet applications for further analysis or record-keeping purposes.
Why are my Webalizer statistics different from other analytics tools?
Differences between Webalizer and browser-based analytics tools like Google Analytics are normal. Webalizer analyzes server logs and counts all server requests, including bots and automated scripts, while browser-based tools only track visitors who load JavaScript tracking code. Webalizer may show higher numbers because it captures all server activity, not just human visitors with JavaScript enabled.
What should I do if my Webalizer reports aren't generating?
If your Webalizer statistics aren't appearing or updating, first verify that your website is receiving traffic. Check that your domain is correctly configured and accessible. If problems persist, the statistics processing script may need attention from your hosting provider's technical team.
Our support team is available 24/7 to help you with Webalizer and all hosting-related questions. Visit https://www.obhost.net/contact or email support@obhost.org for assistance.
