Urchin Frequently Asked Questions

Urchin Software from Google: What Is It?

Urchin is a web analytics solution similar in scope to Google Analytics, but is a software version that is installed, hosted and managed by the customer. Urchin helps website owners better understand their online marketing initiatives, website traffic characteristics, and visitors browsing experience. However, unlike Google Analytics, Urchin is not free ($2995 license fee) and requires experienced technical staff for installation.

Because Urchin uses server logs as its primary data source, it can be used in applications unsuitable for a hosted service like Google Analytics, such as tracking corporate intranet traffic, re-processing of historical logs, and reporting on server errors.

Anyone can download and install the fully functioning free trial, but a license will only be available from Urchin Software Authorized Consultants, not through Google directly.

Will Google continue developing Urchin Software after this release? Although Google does not provide specifics on future product development, if demand is strong, we anticipate continuing development on Urchin Software.

What are the system/setup requirements for Urchin Software from Google?
The Urchin distribution itself requires approximately 700 megabytes. Storage allocation depends on the size of your site. You should allow for the growth of the Urchin databases over time. On a monthly basis, plan for approximately 10 gigs of new storage for every one million pageviews. Urchin comes bundled with an Apache webserver binary for configuration and report delivery. Your system administrators should be aware that this new web service will be running after Urchin is installed.

The person who sets up Urchin should be logged in as an Administrator on Windows systems, or a superuser on Unix-type systems.

Other considerations:

The following tools are offered for easy of installation of Urchin Software:

  • Access to webserver logs - you must know the path to the log files for a given site, and you must have permission to access these files. If the logs are on a remote system, then you will also need an account name and password to use when retrieving the logs.
  • Properly configured log format - although Urchin can process custom log formats, you will simplify the management requirements if you configure your webserver as appropriate to log in a standard format.
  • Scheduling - you will need to choose a run schedule for Urchin processing.

How is Urchin Software from Google different from Urchin 5?

  • Wizard-driven installer for Windows
  • Interactive Bourne-shell installer for UNIX-type systems
  • Unattended installs are supported on both UNIX-type and Windows systems.
  • Tools to allow importing of Urchin 5 configuration and reporting data are also provided.

Urchin Software from Google represents a major upgrade from Urchin 5. Urchin Software from Google is able to track much more data, offers advanced cross-segmentation, and has numerous interface enhancements.

Major improvements over Urchin 5:

  • Additional goals and funnel steps
  • Cross-segmentation options that allow you to view metrics sliced into dimensions such as by referring source, keyword, country, city, browser type, and more.
  • Improved user interface is presentation-ready Flash-based graphics instead of SVG
  • More robust log processing engine
  • E-commerce and campaign tracking are included, no more module additions
  • Vastly improved embedded scheduler to more easily and smoothly arrange processing and re-processing jobs
  • Numerous security enhancements including an updated Apache webserver
  • Improved translation interfaces in all languages
  • Configuration database now uses standard relational backend (including MySQL and PostgreSQL)
  • Improvements to clustering capability

And the following is a continued feature:

  • Visitor tracking methods include either Javascript tracking similar to Google Analytics with the UTM (Urchin Traffic Monitor) or IP+UserAgent tracking

How do I upgrade from Urchin 5 and how much does the upgrade cost?
Contact an Urchin Software Authorized Consultant. You can use the bundled migration tools to import your configuration and data from Urchin 5. Urchin Software from Google will be free for anyone who purchased an Advanced Support contract with Urchin 5. All other Urchin 5 license holders will receive a discount equal to the amount they paid for Urchin 5. This discount will be applied towards the purchase price of Urchin Software from Google. License holders of earlier versions of Urchin must pay full price in order to upgrade.

What is included with Urchin Software from Google?
The Urchin Software license includes 1000 reporting profiles and allows for use of an unlimited number of log sources (for load-balanced websites). It also includes e-commerce tracking and search engine marketing tracking capability.

How much does Urchin Software from Google cost?
The cost of Urchin Software will be $2995 (unless you own Urchin 5 - please see above). It will be available for purchase exclusively through our Urchin Software Authorized Consultants.

Can I use Urchin Software from Google and Google Analytics at the same time?
Yes. Please read: Can I use both Google Analytics and Urchin 5 at the same time?

How is Urchin Software from Google different from Google Analytics?
There are many differences between the two products.

Urchin Software from Google is an installable software product that requires server side configuration and log processing. Maintaining Urchin may require significant technical overhead since IT staff will have to monitor log files, backup data and perform product upgrades. In contrast, Google Analytics requires little if any technical maintenance. It is a hosted, or on-demand, free ASP model which users access using their Google Account. While it is a major upgrade from Urchin 5, Urchin Software from Google does not have the ease-of-use or feature improvements of the new version of Google Analytics (released in May 2007). However, Urchin Software from Google does offer you a high level of control and customization since it is housed on your own server.

Urchin Software from Google benefits:

  • Not necessary to tag web pages with JavaScript code ("IP+useragent" tracking, though much less accurate, can be used instead.)
  • Control the processing schedule of traffic logs, including the option to process data immediately
  • Can re-process and post-process data, which can't be done with Google Analytics
  • View all website traffic, including images, downloads, robots, status codes (e.g. 404s, 500s), and referral errors, including outdated links
  • Create customized reporting for different types of visitation data
  • Report data can be easily audited by 3rd parties

Google Analytics:

  • Represents the latest in web analytics technology, and includes many advanced features not found in Urchin Software
  • Is updated automatically when new features roll out
  • Is tightly integrated with AdWords reports from the AdWords user interface.)
  • Can be set up within a few minutes
  • Is free
  • Is offered in many more languages that Urchin Software.
  • Allows unique visitor drilldown - view session/path, platform, geo-location, browser/platform, etc. data for individual visitors (anonymous).

All Urchin Software from Google support is provided by Urchin Software Authorized Consultants.