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-
-
- FrontDoor Log Analyzer - FDLA Version 1.01e
- Copyright 1991-94 by R.J. (Bob) Ross - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
- SysOp - RJ's Byteline BBS - FidoNet 1:134/75
-
- 03 June, 1994
-
-
- Short Preamble
- --------------
-
- FDLA is a filter program to extract information contained in the
- FrontDoor logfile generated by the FrontDoor program. It provides a
- summary of the incoming/outgoing calls, mail/file transfers, session
- costs undialable nodes and BBS caller activity over the period covered
- by the FrontDoor log file. FDLA needs a "all events processed log
- level except for remote system info and AKA's" to generate a log with
- sufficient detail. I believe this is an option in setting up FrontDoor
- using FDSETUP.
-
- I claim no credit for any portion of FrontDoor or QSort programs. All
- Advanced Engineering sarl and Joaquim H. Homrighausen products are
- trademarks or registered trademarks of Advanced Engineering sarl or
- Joaquim H. Homrighausen. QSort Text Sort program is copyright by Ben
- Baker.
-
- FDLA is free for use in a non commercial environment and may be copied
- and distributed freely and publicly for this purpose. I do request
- that you register your copy of FDLA though. This is primarily to feed
- my ego and satisfy my curiosity on where my programs are being used. I
- have a world map on my wall and stick map pins in at the geographical
- location of known users of my programs. Please see Register.txt
- included with this documentation. If you use FDLA I ask that you take
- a few moments to complete it and send it off to me.
-
- Commercial establishments who wish to use FDLA, please contact me. We
- can work something out.
-
- FDLA is distributed "as is" and is guaranteed to do nothing except take
- up space on your disk. I do hope that you will find it more useful
- though. It does run on my IBM clone machine and the IBM compatible
- machines that it has been beta tested on.
-
- Kick Start
- ----------
-
- For a "kick start" just place FDLA.EXE in any convenient directory on
- your hard disk but preferably in the same directory that FrontDoor
- creates it's log file in. At the DOS prompt, type FDLA -H to display
- the help screen.
-
- Command Line Switches
- ---------------------
-
- FDLA [<-switch>] [LOG=logfilename]
-
- All switches are optional as is the log filename and may be given in
- any order. Parsing of switches -H, -LL and -SN, are in -SN, -H and -LL
- order and are exclusive for obvious reasons. If no command line
- arguments are given, FDLA defaults to creating FDLARpt.Txt and uses the
- FrontDoor log (FD.LOG) in the default directory.
-
-
-
-
-
- - 2 -
-
- Switches
- -------
- No switch on the command line will produce FDLARpt.Txt
- providing that FDLA resides in the same directory as the
- FrontDoor log file and a log file exists in the name of
- FD.LOG.
-
- -D Will make a data file FDLARpt.Dat containing the data,
- plus some additional data, displayed in Part I of the
- output report (FDLARpt.Txt) file. FDLARpt.Dat is a comma
- delimited text file which may be useful for other
- applications. A record field description of FDLARpt.Dat
- file is outlined in Annex B to this document file.
-
- -EXN This is a very powerful cloaking feature which will allow
- you to exclude whole Zones, Networks, and/or Nodes etc
- from FDLARpt.Txt. Example: -EXN,Net:Node (ie -EXN,1:134)
- will exclude a whole Network. -EXN,1:,2: would exclude all
- Zone 1 and Zone 2 Network Nodes. -EXN,1:134/75 would
- exclude only Node 75 in Zone 1 Net 134. Note: -EXN
- parameters are delimited by a comma (,). A maximum of 10
- parameters may be used. If this feature is used, FDLA will
- behave as though no log entry occurred for the stated -EXN
- parameter(s).
-
- -H A brief help screen which describes the switches used to
- determine the program options or behaviour.
-
- -KTF Will cause the temporary work files created by FDLA to be
- retained. Temporary files created are:
-
- FDLATmp.$$$ - created to hold data extracted from
- the log file file to produce Part I
- of the FDLA output report file to
- summarize mail transfers and
- incoming/outgoing calls.
-
- FDLATmp.$$S - Sorted output from FDLATmp.$$$ input.
-
- FDLATmpF.$$$ - created to hold data extracted from
- the log file to produce Part II of
- the FDLA output report file to
- itemize file transfers.
-
- FDLATmpF.$$S - Sorted output from FDLATmpF.$$$
- input.
-
- FDLATmpC.$$$ - A picture image of Session Cost Part
- III portions of the output report
- minus the closing last line.
-
- FDLATmpU.$$$ - created to hold data extracted from
- the log file to produce Part IV -
- Undialable Nodes.
-
- FDLATmpU.$$S - Sorted output from FDLATmpU.$$$
-
- -L List FDLARpt.Txt to the screen after it has been produced
- by FDLA. The list procedure supports PgUp, PgDn, left,
- right, up down arrow keys, Esc and X to exit.
-
-
-
-
- - 3 -
-
- -LL Will list that last created FDLARpt.Txt residing in FDLA's
- home directory if it exists.
-
- -NHA By default, FDLA will use high Ascii characters to draw
- the boxes for the FDLARpt.Txt file output report. Using
- the -NHA switch will make FDLA use only low Ascii
- characters (-+|) to draw borders and boxes for the report.
-
- -SN System Name. Allows you to modify the FDLA.EXE program to
- include your System Name. If this switch is selected you
- will be prompted to enter your System Name. Upon
- completion, FDLA will modify itself and exit to DOS.
- Subsequent runs that generate FDLARpt.Txt will then print
- your System Name at the top of the output report.
-
- NOTE: This option will not work if you compress FDLA.EXE
- using an execute file compressor (LZEXE, PKLITE, etc)
- prior to modifying the FDLA execute file to include your
- system name. If you do, I can almost guarantee that you
- will lock up your system if you try to run FDLA after
- compression. You should be able to use the -SN option to
- add your System Name and then compress the execute file
- though.
-
- -SUP A powerful cloaking feature that will allow you to
- suppress the display of selected file names in Part II of
- FDLARpt.Txt. Example -SUP,.LZH,.ZIP will suppress display
- of all files with an extension of LZH and ZIP.
- -SUP,Nodediff will suppress display of all files that
- match "NODEDIFF". Note: Filename parameters are
- delimited by a comma (,). A maximum of 10 parameters may
- be used.
-
- LOG= LOG=drive:\path\log filename. Allows FDLA to run using
- log file names other than FD.LOG in the default directory
- or to run on a drive or in a directory other than where
- the log file is maintained by FrontDoor.
-
-
- Pitfalls
- --------
-
- Some resident virus detectors may complain about FDLA.EXE being
- modified when you use the -SN switch. Also see NOTE under -SN
- regarding compressing FDLA.EXE.
-
- I have one example of a cost record in a FD.LOG that exceeds 32767
- which would indicate that a single sessionn long distance call would be
- $327.67. I have ignored such records where the cost exceeds $300.00 in
- Part III as I now assume that this is a bug in the FD.LOG output. FDLA
- Version 1.00 would crash when numbers exceeded 32,767 while running the
- cost algorithm. This and subsequent versions should work OK by
- ignoring these entries. Those who frequently make long distance calls
- in excess of $300.00 per session can send me equivalent cash and I'll
- provide a custom copy of FDLA to record the cost of these calls. :-)
-
-
-
-
-
- As mentioned earlier, FDLA creates some temporary work files. If you
-
- - 4 -
-
- As mentioned earlier, FDLA creates some temporary work files. If you
- run out of disk space while FDLA is executing, this is probably the
- reason why. The solution; more disk space or smaller log files. Unless
- you use the -KTF switch, the work files will be deleted from your disk
- when FDLA has completed it's final output report. The used disk space
- consumed by the temporary files will then be returned to your system.
-
- FDLA needs to go out to DOS to externally sort some of it's work files
- (FDLATmp?.$$$). The default sort program used is QSort by Ben Baker. If
- DOS fails to find QSORT an error is returned to FDLA and it then looks
- for the DOS SORT program on your path and re-starts the sort process.
- If neither program can be found, FDLA exists with a file not found
- error.
-
- I highly recommend the use QSORT because it's much faster than SORT,
- uses less memory and will sort a file of any size subject to disk space
- limitations. If the sort is unsuccessful then the FDLA will terminate
- with a DOS error level of 1. If the program ends with an Out of Data
- error and indicates that file FDLATmp.$$S is nul, chances are you
- either ran out of memory or disk space. If you use the regular DOS
- SORT utility on LARGE log files, your chances of FDLA failing are VERY
- GOOD. The best solution is to use QSort. Those who don't have QSort
- can save some IO activity by placing a copy of the DOS Sort program in
- the same directory as FDLA and renaming it to QSort.
-
- If you run FDLA from a batch file the program will exit with an error
- level of 0 on successful completion. An error level of 1 will be
- returned to DOS if FDLA fails for any reason.
-
- Conclusion
- ----------
-
- This is the last official version of FDLA. I don't plan on any further
- development of this program.
-
-
-
-
-
- - 5 -
-
-
- Strings in FD.LOG that are very important to FDLA are:
-
- ---
- BUSY
- Calling
- Carrier lost
- CONNECT
- From
- Incoming call at
- Mail received
- Mail transfer completed
- NO CARRIER
- NO DIAL
- No response from remote system
- Rcvd
- Rejecting human caller
- RING
- Sending text in
- Sent
- Session handshake failure
- Timeout waiting for hello packet
- To
- Unable to complete mail transfer
- Unable to initiate transfer
- Undialable node
- Unexpected password
- Using: Fido
-
- If you merge logfiles from other applications which contain any of the
- foregoing strings, the output of FDLA could be unpredictable at best.
- Unfortunately the FrontDoor log does not contain a unique
- identification entry in the logfile such as is the case with MAX,
- BINK, TICK, etc, so the strings cannot be isolated from other log
- entries.
-
-
-
-
-
- - 6 -
-
- Please realize that although, to a non commercial user, FDLA is
- freeware, it costs real out of pocket money to develop and distribute
- FDLA both by myself and the SysOps who are gracious enough to
- distribute FDLA over the FidoNet Software Distribution Networks
- and other networks.
-
- The output of FDLA is not cast in stone. I'm always open to
- suggestions to improve the report or this documentation but please
- don't expect me to dedicate my life work to this task as I have many
- other interests that consume a lot of my time and energy. Some users
- may notice that FDLA looks a lot like BinkLA, the BinkleyTerm Log
- Analyzer. That's because I wrote BinkLA. I incorporated many of
- BinkLA's features in FDLA. BinkLA Versions 2.00+ use the same data file
- output format as FDLA so other application programs will be able to use
- data output from either FDLA or BinkLA to generate statistics unique to
- a Network or individual SysOp. If someone comes up with creative
- applications that use FDLA or BinkLA data files, I'd appreciate
- receiving a copy.
-
- I normally release source code with my programs but I'd like to
- re-write the FDLA code before doing this. FDLA is written using
- QuickBASIC 4.5 and some Crescent QuickPak Pro library functions. If
- you really want the current code then contact me and we can probably
- work something out.
-
- The latest version of FDLA (Beta or otherwise) will always be available
- at RJ's Byteline BBS, FidoNet 1:134/75, using magic file name FDLA or
- may be downloaded from File Area 1 without prior registration. My
- system presently uses a Courier HST DS V32b V42b modem for high speed
- V32 and HST connections.
-
- A sample output of FDLA FDLARpt.Txt file is included as Annex A to this
- document file. Field and record descriptions for the files created by
- FDLA are included as Annex B.
-
- Enjoy.....
-
- Yours truly,
-
-
- R.J. (Bob) Ross
-
-
- Annex A
-
- Sample output of FDLARpt.Txt.
-
- RJ.LOG FDLA Version 1.01e
-
- RJ's Byteline BBS - FidoNet 1:134/75
- FrontDoor Log Statistics for the period
- From Fri 27 Nov 92 21:35:53 to Fri 27 Nov 92 21:39:58
- ┌──────────────────┬────────────────────────────────────┬──────────────────┐
- │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ Part I - Message Transfers & Calls │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│
- ╞══════════════╤═══╧════════════════╤═══════════════════╧═════╤══════╤═════╡
- │Zone:Net/Node │ Telephone Calls │ Message Bytes │ CPS │ Tran│
- │ Number │ Out │ Connect │ In │ Outgoing │ Incoming │ Avg │ Min│
- ╞══════════════╧═════╧═════════╧════╧════════════╧════════════╧══════╧═════╡
- │1:140/1 1 1 0 2,001 0 1000 0.0│
- │1:140/301 1 1 0 1,148 0 574 0.0│
- │1:140/401 1 1 0 2,001 0 500 0.1│
- │1:140/51 1 1 0 1,148 0 574 0.0│
- ├──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
- │ TOTALS 4 4 0 6,298 0 629 0.2│
- ╘══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╛
-
- ┌───────────────────┬──────────────────────────────────┬───────────────────┐
- │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ PART II - Network File Transfers │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│
- ╞══════════════╤════╧═══════════════╤══════════════════╧══════╤══════╤═════╡
- │Zone:Net/Node │ │ File Bytes │ CPS │ Tran│
- │ Number │ File Names │ Outgoing │ Incoming │ Rate │ Min│
- ╞══════════════╧════════════════════╧════════════╧════════════╧══════╧═════╡
- │ No records to process for this report. │
- ╘══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╛
- ┌───────────────────┬──────────────────────────────────┬───────────────────┐
- │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ PART III - Network Session Costs │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│
- ╞══════════════╤════╧═══════════════╤══════════════════╧══════╤════════════╡
- │Zone:Net/Node │ Logged At │ Session Time │ Cost │
- │ Number │ Date │ Time │ Hrs │ Mins │ Secs │ │
- ╞══════════════╧═════════╧══════════╧═════════╧══════╧════════╧════════════╡
- │ No Network Session Costs recorded for the period covered. │
- ╘══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╛
-
- ┌───────────────────┬──────────────────────────────────┬───────────────────┐
- │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ PART IV - Undialable Nodes │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│
- ╞═══════════════════╧══════════════════════════════════╧═══════════════════╡
- │ No records to process for this report. │
- ╘══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╛
-
-
-
- Annex A
- Page 2
-
-
- ┌──────────────────────────┬────────────────────┬──────────────────────────┐
- │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ PART V - SUMMARY │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│
- ╞══════════════════════════╧════╤═══════════════╧══════════════════════════╡
- │ BBS Callers at 28800 = 0 ├──────────────────────────────────────────┤
- │ 26400 = 0 ├──────────────────────────────────────────┤
- │ 24000 = 0 ├──────────────────────────────────────────┤
- │ 21600 = 0 │ │
- │ 19200 = 0 │ │
- │ 16800 = 0 │ Message Bytes Transferred = 2,919,146│
- │ 14400 = 0 │ File Bytes Transferred = 0│
- │ 12000 = 0 │ │
- │ 9600 = 0 │ TOTAL Bytes Transferred = 2,919,146│
- │ 7200 = 0 │ │
- │ 4800 = 0 ├──────────────────────────────────────────┤
- │ 2400 = 0 ├──────────────────────────────────────────┤
- │ 1200 = 0 ├──────────────────────────────────────────┤
- │ Other = 0 ├──────────────────────────────────────────┤
- │ │ Message Connect Time = 0.5│
- │ TOTAL BBS Callers = 0 │ File Transfer Connect Time = 0.0│
- │ │ TOTAL Connect Time (Hours) = 0.5│
- │ Rejected BBS Calls = 0 │ TOTAL Network Session Costs = $ 0.00│
- │ ├──────────────────────────────────────────┤
- │ │ Unsuccessful Connect Attempts= 104│
- └───────────────────────────────┴──────────────────────────────────────────┘
-
-
-
- Annex B
-
- Record description for file FDLARpt.Dat
-
- Field Data Type Remarks
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
- ZoneNetNode STRING A fixed length string of 15 characters
- containing the Zone:Net/Node number.
-
- CallsOut INTEGER Positive numbers up to 32,767 which
- contains a count of the number of
- outgoing telephone calls.
-
- Connect INTEGER A count of the number of successful
- telephone connects which includes both
- outgoing and incoming connects.
-
- CallsIn INTEGER A count of the number of incoming
- telephone calls.
-
- MByteOut LONG Positive numbers up to 2,147,483,647
- which contains the total number of
- message bytes transmitted to a
- ZoneNetNode.
-
- MByteIn LONG Total number of message bytes received
- from a ZoneNetNode.
-
- MTimeOut INTEGER Total transmission time (in seconds) to
- transmit the total bytes in MByteOut.
-
- MTimeIn INTEGER Total transmission time (in seconds) to
- receive the total bytes in MByteIn.
-
- MByteOutIn LONG MByteOut + MByteIn
-
- MTimeOutIn LONG MTimeOut + MTimeIn
-
- MAvgCPS INTEGER MByteOutIn \ MTimeOutIn
-
- MTimeMinute SINGLE precision floating point decimal. Total
- transfer time (MTimeOut + MTimeIn) / 60.
-
-
-
-
- - 2 -
-
- Record description for temporary work files FDLATmp.$$$ & FDLATmp.$$S
-
- Field Data Type Remarks
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- ZoneNetNode STRING Fixed Length 15 characters contains
- Zone:Net/Node number.
-
- MCallsOut INTEGER Number of telephone calls out. Always 1
- or 0.
-
- MConnect INTEGER Number of successful telephone connects.
- Always 1 or 0.
-
- MCallsIn INTEGER Number of telephone calls in. Always 1
- or 0.
-
- MByteOut LONG Number of mail bytes transmitted during
- a mail session.
-
- MByteIn LONG Number of mail bytes received during a
- mail session.
-
- MTimeOut INTEGER Number of seconds to transmit MByteOut.
-
- MTimeIn INTEGER Number of seconds to receive MByteIn.
-
-
-
-
-
-
- - 3 -
-
- Record description for FDLATmpF.$$$ & FDLATmpF.$$S
-
- Field Data Type Remarks
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
- ZoneNetNode STRING Fixed length string of 15 characters
- containing the Zone:Net/Node number.
-
- FileNm STRING Fixed length string of 12 characters
- containing the outgoing/incoming DOS
- filename.
-
- FileByteOut LONG Size in bytes of transmitted file.
-
- FileByteIn LONG Size in bytes of received file.
-
- FileCPS INTEGER Transmission CPS of outgoing/incoming
- file.
-
-
- Record description for FDLATmpU.$$$ & FDLATmpU.$$S
-
- Field Data Type Remarks
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- ZoneNetNode STRING Fixed length string of 15 characters
- containing the Zone:Net/Node number.
-
-
-
-