Log analysis

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  1. Log Analysis for MediaWiki Administrators

This article provides a comprehensive guide to understanding and utilizing log analysis for maintaining a healthy and secure MediaWiki 1.40 installation. Effective log analysis is crucial for identifying and resolving issues, monitoring system performance, and detecting potential security breaches. This guide is geared towards administrators new to server-side log management.

Understanding MediaWiki Logs

MediaWiki generates a variety of logs that record different types of events. These logs are invaluable for troubleshooting and monitoring. Knowing *where* these logs are located and *what* they record is the first step toward effective analysis.

Log Locations

The default log locations depend on your operating system and installation method, but are commonly found within the `mw-config` directory. Here's a typical setup:

Log File Description
`error.log` Records PHP errors, exceptions, and warnings. Critical for identifying application-level issues.
`debug.log` Contains detailed debugging information. Enable only when troubleshooting specific problems, as it can be very verbose.
`access.log` Records every HTTP request made to the wiki. Useful for tracking user activity and identifying potential attacks. (Often handled by the Web Server, see below)
`maintenance.log` Records details of maintenance tasks, like database backups and updates.
`update.log` Records information about MediaWiki core and extension updates.

It’s important to note that `access.log` is frequently managed by the web server (Apache, Nginx, etc.) and not directly by MediaWiki. Consult your web server documentation for its location and configuration.

Web Server Logs

Don't forget to examine your web server’s logs! These provide context around MediaWiki requests and can reveal issues like slow page loads or server errors. Key logs include:

  • Apache: `error.log`, `access.log` (usually located in `/var/log/apache2/` or similar)
  • Nginx: `error.log`, `access.log` (usually located in `/var/log/nginx/` or similar)

Common Log Analysis Techniques

Analyzing logs manually can be time-consuming. Here are some common techniques and tools:

Grepping

`grep` is a powerful command-line utility for searching plain-text data sets for lines matching a regular expression. It's invaluable for quickly finding specific events in logs. For example:

```bash grep "PHP Warning" error.log ```

This command will display all lines in `error.log` containing "PHP Warning".

Using `tail -f`

The `tail -f` command displays the last lines of a file and continues to monitor the file for new additions. This is useful for real-time monitoring of log activity:

```bash tail -f error.log ```

This will output new errors as they are written to the `error.log` file.

Log Rotation

Logs can grow very large quickly. Log rotation is a process that automatically archives and deletes old log files. Proper log rotation is essential for managing disk space and maintaining performance. Configure logrotate (on Linux systems) or similar tools on other platforms.

Utilizing Log Analysis Tools

Several tools can simplify log analysis:

  • AWStats: A free, open-source web log analyzer that generates graphical reports from web server logs. AWStats helps visualize website traffic and user behavior.
  • GoAccess: A real-time web log analyzer and interactive viewer that runs in a terminal or through your browser. GoAccess is a fast and lightweight option.
  • ELK Stack (Elasticsearch, Logstash, Kibana): A powerful, but complex, stack for centralized log management and analysis. ELK Stack offers advanced features like data aggregation, visualization, and alerting.

Interpreting Common Log Messages

Here's a breakdown of some common log messages and their meaning:

Log Message Example Possible Cause Recommended Action
`PHP Warning: include(…/NonExistentFile.php): failed to open stream: No such file or directory` Missing or incorrectly configured extension or file. Verify the file exists and is correctly included in your configuration. Check Extension installation.
`Database Error: Unknown column 'some_column' in 'field list'` A query is attempting to access a column that doesn't exist in the database. Check the query for errors and ensure the database schema is up to date.
`[client 192.168.1.100] File does not exist: /some/sensitive/file` Someone is attempting to access a file that doesn't exist, potentially probing for vulnerabilities. Review web server configuration and file permissions. Consider Security measures.
`User 'BadUser' attempted to edit 'Main Page' with malicious code.` Potential vandalism or attack. Review the edit history and consider blocking the user. Refer to Vandalism prevention.

Performance Monitoring

Logs can provide valuable insights into MediaWiki's performance. Pay attention to:

  • **Slow Queries:** Long database query times can indicate performance bottlenecks. Enable slow query logging in your database server (e.g., MySQL, PostgreSQL). Database performance
  • **High CPU Usage:** Repeated errors or inefficient code can lead to high CPU usage. Analyze error logs and consider optimizing your MediaWiki configuration.
  • **Memory Consumption:** Monitor MediaWiki's memory usage to identify potential memory leaks or excessive memory consumption. PHP configuration

Security Monitoring

Logs are crucial for detecting and responding to security threats. Look for:

  • **Failed Login Attempts:** Repeated failed login attempts from the same IP address may indicate a brute-force attack. Account security
  • **Suspicious User Activity:** Unusual patterns of page edits or user registrations could be signs of malicious activity. User rights management
  • **Attempts to Access Restricted Files:** As shown in the table above, attempts to access sensitive files should be investigated immediately.

Conclusion

Effective log analysis is an ongoing process. Regularly reviewing your MediaWiki logs and understanding the messages they contain is essential for maintaining a stable, secure, and high-performing wiki. Remember to adapt your monitoring strategy as your wiki grows and evolves. Familiarize yourself with MediaWiki administration and the related documentation for more advanced techniques.

Special:Log provides a user interface to various logs within MediaWiki itself.


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Configuration Specifications Benchmark
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