We recommend installing the CardioLog Analytics application on a dedicated server, and the CardioLog Analytics database on a dedicated SQL Server instance. The CardioLog Analytics application and database can be installed on-premise, on physical servers or virtual machines, or hosted on Microsoft Azure virtual machines (IaaS) which meet the system requirements and with the required ports and permissions.
The following architecture diagrams display a typical implementation of CardioLog Analytics hosted on-premise, or on Microsoft Azure virtual machines (IaaS):
Note: When hosting CardioLog Analytics on Microsoft Azure virtual machines (IaaS) and tracking a SharePoint on-premise farm, a site-to-site VPN is required. To support single sign on and leverage all product features, the Azure servers should be domain-joined.
The CardioLog Analytics solution includes the following components:
User Interface | A web application for configuring and viewing the web analytics reports. |
Database | A repository (SQL database) for storing all tracking and reporting data. |
Website Tree Service | A web service which provides the structure of the monitored website to CardioLog. |
Tracking Agent | A JavaScript tag which is included in all website pages, monitors site usage and personalizes site content. |
Event Collector | A web service which sends tracking data from the tracking agent to the CardioLog database. |
CardioLog Scheduling Service | |
A Windows service that runs scheduled jobs, including usage data processing, website tree structure syncing and user information syncing. | |
CardioLog Diagnostics Service | A Windows service used to run regular health checks on the CardioLog system. |
The CardioLog Scheduling Service includes the following components:
In order to provide enhanced reports and meaningful insights to stakeholders to better understand and improve the business, the CardioLog Analytics solution collects, processes and stores data from various sources. Some of these sources are shared (such as the SharePoint databases, SharePoint APIs, SharePoint user profiles, Active Directory, IIS logs*) and some are the unique IP of CardioLog Analytics (such as the JavaScript tracking agent).
Data collected by CardioLog Analytics includes the following:
To enable CardioLog Analytics to provide distinctive reports with exceptional value, the solution is required to collect, store and process more data and information than most generic analytic solutions.
The following events are collected via page tagging:
*History data is collected from IIS logs during the initial installation only
The data collected by CardioLog includes page URL, query string, user name, date and time, browser type, operating system, workstation IP and WFE server IP. Tracking of usage data operates in a non-invasive transparent manner and should not affect the monitored website's overall performance and response time. It is asynchronous to the monitored website's execution and user activity, and therefore has no direct impact on the monitored environment. The product has a marginal footprint on the website and can be turned off instantly should you require any site diagnosis.
JavaScript Tracking Code
Website usage tracking is performed by the Tracking Agent, which is a 300KB block of JavaScript code, half of which is optional. The code is added to all relevant website pages.
CardioLog Agent File | Bytes Received | Bytes Sent |
/CardioLogAgent/AgentEmbed.aspx | 146000 | |
/CardioLogAgent/getCAData.aspx (optional) | ~300 | |
/CardioLogAgent/ca.aspx (optional) | ~168000 | |
/CardioLogAgent/caUser.aspx (optional) | ~300 | ~100 |
/CardioLogAgent/tunnel.aspx | ~291 | ~300 |
The download time for the Tracking Agent JavaScript code is dependent upon multiple factors including network connectivity and bandwidth. Generally, the download time is negligible. The Tracking Agent JavaScript code is executed on page document ready, and sends usage data to the CardioLog server asynchronously.
After the first time a page is loaded, the larger files (AgentEmbed.aspx and ca.aspx) are cached in the browser for one hour. This allows speeding up the loading process of the tracking agent and save bandwidth.
The ca.aspx file is cached by page URL and may contains CSS information about personalized pages configured in CardioLog (such as behavioral targeting rules and A/B and MVT tests).
The size of the getCAData.aspx file depends on the personalized content configured in CardioLog (such as visitor segments, surveys, message bars, behavioral targeting rules and A/B and MVT tests).
The Tracking Agent stores data in session cookies, it is recommended to increase the cookie size limit to at least 8 MB and make sure cookies are not cleared automatically when the browser is closed.
The calls to the CardioLog server do not affect the page response time. If there is a connection error, the tracking agent tries to reconnect after 60 seconds in order to send usage data. The page will be displayed without modifications, assuming any were available, after 5 seconds of no response. For more information see Tracking Agent Configuration. Intlock encourages each customer to run their own performance tests.