Urchin Software from Google - Official FAQs
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scott crosby
Apr 4, 2008, 6:47:06 PM4/4/08
to Urchin Web Analytics by Google Help - Urchin 6
What is Urchin Software?
* Urchin Software is a web analytics solution similar in scope to
Google Analytics but is a software version, hosted and managed by the
customer. It represents an upgraded version of Urchin 5. Like Google
Analytics, it provides advertisers and website owners with the tools
to better understand their users' browsing experience.
* The major difference between Urchin and Google Analytics is that
Urchin is hosted by you, the user, and therefore requires technical
setup to process log files. However, your analytics data is housed
internally and locally so there are more options for re-processing and
customizing the data. Also, Urchin is not free ($2995), like Google
Analytics, and does not have the most recent interface updates and
email reporting capabilities that were launched in Google Analytics in
May 2007.
How does Urchin Software work?
o Urchin Software is an installable software product that
requires server side configuration, database setup, and log
processing. Maintenance of Urchin software entails significant
technical overhead, since system administrators will need to monitor
log files, backup data and perform product updates.
o The Software should be set up by a system administrator
with access to webserver logs. It comes bundled with an Apache
webserver binary for configuration and report delivery, and uses 3rd
party database software (mysql or postgresql depending on platform).
o Basic system recommendations: Windows server OS, Linux
2.4/2.6 kernel, and FreeBSD; 2gb ram, 250gb drive
Will there be other platforms supported by Urchin 6?
o Yes, the product team is planning to release an additional
several additional platforms / configurations shortly after the launch
in March / April.
Why is Google launching this product?
o The Software version is an alternative to Google
Analytics, which is a hosted service by Google offered "on-demand" by
logging into a Google Analytics account. Urchin Software is intended
for customers that prefer to keep their website traffic data strictly
in-house. It also allows tracking firewall-protected content such as a
corporate intranet, and features greater customization flexibility and
data processing options.
What is new in Urchin 6?
o see section below
Pricing & Sales
How much does Urchin 6 cost?
o Single license costs: US $2995.
o Site license for hosting companies costs: US $5000 per
month per physical datacenter.
o Note that this is a single bundled release -- there are no
add-on modules or extra fees
Where can users purchase Urchin 6?
Exclusively through authorized Urchin Resellers.
How much does Urchin 6 cost in EUR/JPY/GBP/etc. ?
The price of Urchin 6 is set in US dollars. Currency exchange
transactions will be handled by Urchin Resellers.
What is Google's stance on license price discounts ?
Google encourages resellers to maintain the Suggested Retail Price of
Urchin licenses as part of their solutions packages for customers.
Resellers should consider differentiating themselves via service
offerings and support plans.
How much does an upgrade to Urchin 6 cost for those who purchased
Urchin 5?
For those who purchased Urchin 5, the price of an upgrade is the
difference between the price of Urchin 6 and the price paid for Urchin
5. In other words, customers can apply all of the price paid for
Urchin 5 towards the purchase of Urchin 6.
Could users continue to purchase Urchin 5?
Yes until at least Q3 '08.
How much does Urchin 5 cost when Urchin 6 becomes available?
The combined maximum cost for any combination of modules (base, load
balancing, profile packs, e-commerce, and campaign tracking) is $2995
(down from $4995+), including a free upgrade to Urchin 6. This became
effective when the Urchin VAR portal updated its pricing logic
recently.
e.g., For users who want to purchase only the campaign tracking module
in Urchin 5, it is reduced from its $3995 to $2100 (which is $2995 -
$895 for the base Urchin 5).
Would Google restrict resellers to operate within territories?
No, all GAAC Urchin Resellers can approach the markets as they prefer
to without territorial restriction by Google.
Are future upgrades included in the license price?
All minor upgrades (designated by the pattern "6.x") will be free to
those who own a license for Urchin 6. Future major upgrades will not
be free and we are not offering upgrade rights that cover them for
purchase.
What are the main differences between Urchin 5 and 6?
Major Features
* Up to 1000 profiles (domains), log sources, e-commerce, and
campaign tracking all included with base license; no add-on modules
* Individual visitor-level tracking, including session (path) data
* Comprehensive SEO/SEM campaign tracking features, 4 goals per
profile
* Rich cross-segmenting available from most reports
* Full suite of visitor geo-location reports (not just visitor
domain)
* Processing speed roughly on par with Urchin 5 but with much
richer reports
Platform Support
* Broad range of Linux platforms supported with only 2 builds
(Linux 2.4 and 2.6 kernels)
* Added support for FreeBSD 5 and FreeBSD 6
* Dropped support for MacOS X and Solaris (may be reconsidered if
sufficient demand is demonstrated)
Installers
* Windows installer is now distributed as an MSI package, better
unattended install support, integration with SMS
Configuration
* Relational database (MySQL or PostgreSQL) administrative
configuration backend
* Support for configuration database hosted on remote
configuration server
Web Server
* Upgraded to latest Apache 1.3.X release
* OpenSSL and mod-ssl upgraded to latest versions
* Removed default modules not used by Urchin
* Added mod_expires for proper cache control headers
Task Scheduler
* Scheduler now runs as two processes - master scheduler and slave
scheduler
* Tasks easily managed via scripting interface to back end
configuration DB
* More robust/reliable support for running multiple instances of
slave scheduler on a single machines and/or in a cluster
Visitor Tracking
* The old __utm.js tracking javascript has been replaced with a
Google Analytics-compatible urchin.js tracking javascript (existing
sites will need to upgrade)
Log Processing
* geodata stored in memory (larger runtime memory footprint)
* Range of Days feature in log sources allows multi-day search for
log files matching a particular date pattern
* Ability to run profiles entirely in memory
Data & Storage
* Profile databases now default to 100,000 records/month (instead
of 10,000) with option to increase up to 500,000 records per month
* Expanded Geodata: full set of geolocation data from Quova,
replaces domain-only MaxMind data
* Monthly table record limit increased from default of 10,000 to
100,000 records
* 50 monthly files per profile, now organized by subdirectory
Reporting UI
* Flash replaces Adobe SVG for rendering graphs & charts
* Report exporting only in CSV and XML (removed unreliable MS Word/
Excel exporting)
* All Profiles report is defunct
* New visitor session/path level reporting capabilities
Ecommerce
* Ecommerce transactions can be written directly to webserver logs
via special functions in the tracking javascript (identical to GA)
* External shopping cart logs in ELF2 format also supported
Security
* Urchin 6 has gone through a thorough quality assurance for cross-
site scripting (XSS) and XSRF vulnerabilities
User Support
What is the user support model?
All end-user support for Urchin Software will be supplied by subset of
Google Analytics Authorized Consultants (GAACs). Emails sent to
"urchin-...@google.com" by end-users will be directed to GAACs.
End-users are encouraged to use the the "urchi...@googlegroups.com"
forum to get help with the Urchin product. GAACs are encouraged to
participate in the group discussions to resolve any end-user
inquiries. Google support staff will also monitor group discussions
and will contribute when practical.
Escalation support for GAACs will be provided by Google to "urchin-
sup...@google.com". Google strives to achieve a 24 business hour
turn-around time. No end-user support will be provided by Google.
Could GAACs charge for Urchin support?
GAACs are encouraged to provide the best support for their Urchin
customers in ways which make sense for them, and Google will not
restrict partners' professional services offerings.
* Urchin Software is a web analytics solution similar in scope to
Google Analytics but is a software version, hosted and managed by the
customer. It represents an upgraded version of Urchin 5. Like Google
Analytics, it provides advertisers and website owners with the tools
to better understand their users' browsing experience.
* The major difference between Urchin and Google Analytics is that
Urchin is hosted by you, the user, and therefore requires technical
setup to process log files. However, your analytics data is housed
internally and locally so there are more options for re-processing and
customizing the data. Also, Urchin is not free ($2995), like Google
Analytics, and does not have the most recent interface updates and
email reporting capabilities that were launched in Google Analytics in
May 2007.
How does Urchin Software work?
o Urchin Software is an installable software product that
requires server side configuration, database setup, and log
processing. Maintenance of Urchin software entails significant
technical overhead, since system administrators will need to monitor
log files, backup data and perform product updates.
o The Software should be set up by a system administrator
with access to webserver logs. It comes bundled with an Apache
webserver binary for configuration and report delivery, and uses 3rd
party database software (mysql or postgresql depending on platform).
o Basic system recommendations: Windows server OS, Linux
2.4/2.6 kernel, and FreeBSD; 2gb ram, 250gb drive
Will there be other platforms supported by Urchin 6?
o Yes, the product team is planning to release an additional
several additional platforms / configurations shortly after the launch
in March / April.
Why is Google launching this product?
o The Software version is an alternative to Google
Analytics, which is a hosted service by Google offered "on-demand" by
logging into a Google Analytics account. Urchin Software is intended
for customers that prefer to keep their website traffic data strictly
in-house. It also allows tracking firewall-protected content such as a
corporate intranet, and features greater customization flexibility and
data processing options.
What is new in Urchin 6?
o see section below
Pricing & Sales
How much does Urchin 6 cost?
o Single license costs: US $2995.
o Site license for hosting companies costs: US $5000 per
month per physical datacenter.
o Note that this is a single bundled release -- there are no
add-on modules or extra fees
Where can users purchase Urchin 6?
Exclusively through authorized Urchin Resellers.
How much does Urchin 6 cost in EUR/JPY/GBP/etc. ?
The price of Urchin 6 is set in US dollars. Currency exchange
transactions will be handled by Urchin Resellers.
What is Google's stance on license price discounts ?
Google encourages resellers to maintain the Suggested Retail Price of
Urchin licenses as part of their solutions packages for customers.
Resellers should consider differentiating themselves via service
offerings and support plans.
How much does an upgrade to Urchin 6 cost for those who purchased
Urchin 5?
For those who purchased Urchin 5, the price of an upgrade is the
difference between the price of Urchin 6 and the price paid for Urchin
5. In other words, customers can apply all of the price paid for
Urchin 5 towards the purchase of Urchin 6.
Could users continue to purchase Urchin 5?
Yes until at least Q3 '08.
How much does Urchin 5 cost when Urchin 6 becomes available?
The combined maximum cost for any combination of modules (base, load
balancing, profile packs, e-commerce, and campaign tracking) is $2995
(down from $4995+), including a free upgrade to Urchin 6. This became
effective when the Urchin VAR portal updated its pricing logic
recently.
e.g., For users who want to purchase only the campaign tracking module
in Urchin 5, it is reduced from its $3995 to $2100 (which is $2995 -
$895 for the base Urchin 5).
Would Google restrict resellers to operate within territories?
No, all GAAC Urchin Resellers can approach the markets as they prefer
to without territorial restriction by Google.
Are future upgrades included in the license price?
All minor upgrades (designated by the pattern "6.x") will be free to
those who own a license for Urchin 6. Future major upgrades will not
be free and we are not offering upgrade rights that cover them for
purchase.
What are the main differences between Urchin 5 and 6?
Major Features
* Up to 1000 profiles (domains), log sources, e-commerce, and
campaign tracking all included with base license; no add-on modules
* Individual visitor-level tracking, including session (path) data
* Comprehensive SEO/SEM campaign tracking features, 4 goals per
profile
* Rich cross-segmenting available from most reports
* Full suite of visitor geo-location reports (not just visitor
domain)
* Processing speed roughly on par with Urchin 5 but with much
richer reports
Platform Support
* Broad range of Linux platforms supported with only 2 builds
(Linux 2.4 and 2.6 kernels)
* Added support for FreeBSD 5 and FreeBSD 6
* Dropped support for MacOS X and Solaris (may be reconsidered if
sufficient demand is demonstrated)
Installers
* Windows installer is now distributed as an MSI package, better
unattended install support, integration with SMS
Configuration
* Relational database (MySQL or PostgreSQL) administrative
configuration backend
* Support for configuration database hosted on remote
configuration server
Web Server
* Upgraded to latest Apache 1.3.X release
* OpenSSL and mod-ssl upgraded to latest versions
* Removed default modules not used by Urchin
* Added mod_expires for proper cache control headers
Task Scheduler
* Scheduler now runs as two processes - master scheduler and slave
scheduler
* Tasks easily managed via scripting interface to back end
configuration DB
* More robust/reliable support for running multiple instances of
slave scheduler on a single machines and/or in a cluster
Visitor Tracking
* The old __utm.js tracking javascript has been replaced with a
Google Analytics-compatible urchin.js tracking javascript (existing
sites will need to upgrade)
Log Processing
* geodata stored in memory (larger runtime memory footprint)
* Range of Days feature in log sources allows multi-day search for
log files matching a particular date pattern
* Ability to run profiles entirely in memory
Data & Storage
* Profile databases now default to 100,000 records/month (instead
of 10,000) with option to increase up to 500,000 records per month
* Expanded Geodata: full set of geolocation data from Quova,
replaces domain-only MaxMind data
* Monthly table record limit increased from default of 10,000 to
100,000 records
* 50 monthly files per profile, now organized by subdirectory
Reporting UI
* Flash replaces Adobe SVG for rendering graphs & charts
* Report exporting only in CSV and XML (removed unreliable MS Word/
Excel exporting)
* All Profiles report is defunct
* New visitor session/path level reporting capabilities
Ecommerce
* Ecommerce transactions can be written directly to webserver logs
via special functions in the tracking javascript (identical to GA)
* External shopping cart logs in ELF2 format also supported
Security
* Urchin 6 has gone through a thorough quality assurance for cross-
site scripting (XSS) and XSRF vulnerabilities
User Support
What is the user support model?
All end-user support for Urchin Software will be supplied by subset of
Google Analytics Authorized Consultants (GAACs). Emails sent to
"urchin-...@google.com" by end-users will be directed to GAACs.
End-users are encouraged to use the the "urchi...@googlegroups.com"
forum to get help with the Urchin product. GAACs are encouraged to
participate in the group discussions to resolve any end-user
inquiries. Google support staff will also monitor group discussions
and will contribute when practical.
Escalation support for GAACs will be provided by Google to "urchin-
sup...@google.com". Google strives to achieve a 24 business hour
turn-around time. No end-user support will be provided by Google.
Could GAACs charge for Urchin support?
GAACs are encouraged to provide the best support for their Urchin
customers in ways which make sense for them, and Google will not
restrict partners' professional services offerings.
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