SiteGround Server Log Access
How to download server access logs from SiteGround WordPress hosting for AI bot analytics.
About SiteGround
SiteGround is a popular WordPress hosting provider known for its performance, security, and excellent customer support. They offer Site Tools, a custom control panel that provides easy access to server logs and advanced features, making it straightforward to download access logs for bot analytics.
Overview
SiteGround provides multiple methods to access your server logs through their custom Site Tools interface. Unlike traditional cPanel hosts, SiteGround has developed their own control panel that's specifically optimized for WordPress hosting.
SiteGround's Site Tools makes accessing logs straightforward with a dedicated Statistics section that includes raw access logs. The interface is modern and user-friendly, designed specifically for WordPress users.
Method 1: Using Site Tools (Recommended)
The easiest way to access your server logs on SiteGround is through their Site Tools interface:
Log into Your SiteGround Account
Navigate to my.siteground.com and sign in with your account credentials.
Access Site Tools
In your hosting dashboard, locate your website and click on "Site Tools" to access the control panel.
Navigate to Statistics
In Site Tools, go to Statistics → Access Logs. This section provides direct access to your server's raw access logs.
Generate and Download Logs
Click "Generate" to create a downloadable log file. SiteGround will compile your access logs into a compressed file.
The log file will include:
- • Visitor IP addresses
- • User-Agent strings (crucial for bot identification)
- • Request timestamps
- • Accessed URLs
- • Response codes
Download the Log File
Once generated, click the download link to save the log file to your computer.
Upload to Bot AnalyticsMethod 2: FTP/SFTP Access
You can also access logs via FTP if you prefer using an FTP client like FileZilla:
Setting Up FTP Access
- In Site Tools, go to Site → FTP Accounts
- Create a new FTP account or use existing credentials
- Note your FTP hostname (usually your domain or server name)
- Connect using port 21 for FTP or port 22 for SFTP
Finding the Logs
Once connected, navigate to:
/home/username/logs/Look for files named like yourdomain.com.access.log
Method 3: File Manager
SiteGround's File Manager provides direct browser-based access to your files:
- In Site Tools, go to Site → File Manager
- Navigate to the logs directory (usually
/home/username/logs/) - Right-click on the access log file
- Select "Download" to save it to your computer
Method 4: SSH Access (Advanced)
For advanced users, SiteGround provides SSH access on most hosting plans:
Enabling SSH Access
- Go to Site Tools → Devs → SSH Keys Manager
- Generate a new SSH key pair
- Add your public key for authentication
- Enable SSH access for your account
SSH Commands
# Connect to your server
ssh username@yourdomain.com -p 18765
# Navigate to logs directory
cd ~/logs/
# View recent log entries
tail -n 1000 yourdomain.com.access.log
# Compress logs for download
tar -czf logs.tar.gz *.log
# Download via SCP
scp -P 18765 username@yourdomain.com:~/logs/logs.tar.gz .SiteGround-Specific Features
SuperCacher: SiteGround's caching may affect bot detection. Ensure you're analyzing raw access logs, not cached responses.
Security Features: SiteGround's AI Anti-Bot system doesn't block legitimate search engine bots like ChatGPT-User or GPTBot.
Log Retention: Access logs are kept for 30 days. Set up regular downloads or use their backup service for longer retention.
Multiple Sites: Each site in your account has separate log files. Download logs for each domain you want to analyze.
Troubleshooting
Can't find Access Logs in Statistics?
Ensure your plan includes access to raw logs. Some starter plans may have limitations. Contact SiteGround support to verify your plan features.
Log files are empty or very small?
Check if your site is using Cloudflare. If so, you may need to access logs through Cloudflare instead, as traffic may not reach SiteGround's servers directly.
FTP connection fails?
Ensure you're using the correct hostname and port. SiteGround may use custom ports for security. Check Site Tools → Site → FTP Accounts for exact connection details.
SSH access denied?
SSH is not available on all plans. Upgrade to GrowBig or higher, or use FTP/File Manager as alternatives.
Next Steps
After downloading your SiteGround logs and uploading to Finseo Bot Analytics:
- Monitor AI bot traffic patterns to your WordPress sites
- Identify which content attracts the most AI crawler attention
- Optimize your content strategy for better AI visibility
- Use SiteGround's speed optimization tools to improve bot crawl efficiency