Finseo

cPanel Server Log Access

Step-by-step guide to download server access logs from any cPanel hosting environment.

About cPanel

cPanel is the most widely used web hosting control panel, providing an intuitive interface for managing websites, domains, and server resources. It offers multiple methods to access server logs, making it easy to download access logs for bot analytics.

Industry Standard
User-Friendly
Multiple Access Methods

Overview

cPanel provides several ways to access server logs, from direct download via "Raw Access Logs" to FTP access and file manager tools. Most shared hosting providers using cPanel make server logs easily accessible to users.

Key Insight

cPanel's "Raw Access Logs" feature is specifically designed for downloading server logs, making it the most straightforward method for accessing the data needed for Bot Analytics.

Raw Access Logs Method (Recommended)

The easiest and most direct method using cPanel's built-in log access feature:

1

Log into cPanel

Access your cPanel dashboard using the login URL provided by your hosting provider (typically yourdomain.com/cpanel or yourdomain.com:2083).

2

Find Raw Access Logs

In cPanel, look for the "Raw Access Logs" icon, typically located in the "Metrics" or "Logs" section:

  • • Section: Metrics, Logs, or Statistics
  • • Icon: Usually shows a document or chart symbol
  • • Alternative names: "Access Logs", "Log Files", or "Server Logs"
3

Select Your Domain

Choose the domain you want to download logs for. You'll see a list of available log files:

  • access-logs/yourdomain.com
  • access-logs/yourdomain.com-ssl_log
  • access-logs/yourdomain.com.processed

Choose the main domain log (without -ssl_log or .processed suffix)

4

Download the Log File

Click on the log file link to download it directly to your computer. The file will typically be named something like:

yourdomain.com-access_log

This file contains all the server access data you need for Bot Analytics

5

Upload to Finseo Bot Analytics

After downloading your access log file:

Upload to Bot Analytics

Alternative Methods

If Raw Access Logs isn't available, try these alternative approaches:

Method 1: Archive & Download Logs

Some cPanel installations offer an "Archive & Download" feature:

  1. Go to "Metrics" → "Awstats" or "Webalizer"
  2. Look for a "Download Logs" or "Raw Data" link
  3. Select the time period you need
  4. Download the archived log file

Method 2: Through Awstats

Access logs via the Awstats statistics tool:

  1. Open "Awstats" from the Metrics section
  2. Click on your domain name
  3. Look for "View raw log file" or similar option
  4. Download or copy the log data

Method 3: File Manager

Navigate to logs using cPanel's File Manager:

  1. Open "File Manager" from the Files section
  2. Navigate to common log directories:
  • /logs/
  • /access-logs/
  • /var/log/
  • /home/username/logs/

3. Right-click on access log files and download

Method 4: FTP Access

Use FTP credentials to access logs directly via FileZilla or similar FTP clients. See our WordPress FTP guide for detailed instructions.

Important cPanel Settings

Enable Raw Logs: Some hosts disable raw log generation by default. Check "Raw Access Logs" settings to enable if needed.

Log Retention: cPanel typically keeps logs for 30-90 days. Download regularly for historical analysis.

Log Format: cPanel uses standard Apache Common Log Format, perfect for Bot Analytics processing.

Multiple Domains: If you host multiple domains, each will have separate log files in the Raw Access Logs section.

Common cPanel Hosting Providers

Popular hosting providers that use cPanel:

Bluehost

Raw Access Logs in Metrics section

HostGator

Access via Metrics → Raw Access Logs

GoDaddy

Logs section in cPanel dashboard

InMotion Hosting

Statistics → Raw Access Logs

A2 Hosting

Metrics section with log downloads

SiteGround

Site Tools → Statistics → Access Logs

Troubleshooting

Can't find Raw Access Logs?

Check different sections: Metrics, Logs, Statistics, or Advanced. Some hosts customize the cPanel layout. Contact support if you can't locate the feature.

Raw Access Logs is disabled?

Some shared hosting providers disable this feature. Contact support to request access or ask them to provide the logs directly.

Log files are empty?

This could mean logging is disabled, or your site hasn't received traffic yet. Check that your website is accessible and receiving visitors.

Download fails or times out?

Large log files may cause timeout issues. Try downloading during off-peak hours, or use FTP access for more reliable large file transfers.

Multiple log files for one domain?

You may see separate logs for HTTP and HTTPS traffic, or processed vs. raw logs. Download the main domain log without suffixes like "-ssl_log" for comprehensive data.

Next Steps

After uploading your cPanel logs to Finseo Bot Analytics:

  • Track AI bot visits across all your cPanel-hosted domains
  • Monitor which content attracts the most AI crawler attention
  • Analyze patterns in bot behavior and visit frequency
  • Optimize your content strategy for better AI search visibility
Back to Bot Analytics Overview