Anonymous Monk has asked for the wisdom of the Perl Monks concerning the following question:

I'm trying to install AWStats on my server and I've been getting Perl errors. I've been able to do a test install on my machine using XAMPP on a WinXP machine. I followed the instructions from this link: http://www.apachefriends.org/f/viewtopic.php?p=39563

Now, with that knowledge, I'm trying to get AWStats on a different machine. I was able to install ActivePerl 5.10.0 (latest one) without any problems. Before I installed it, I made sure I did type in "perl -v" just to check it was already installed. It wasn't so I installed ActivePerl 5.10.0.

For AWStats, I brought over the files to the cgi-bin directory in Apache. I didn't use the MSI installer. The first step in the configuration required me to run awstats_configure.pl script. My error is Can't call method "Delimiter" on an undefined value at awstats_configure.pl line 385. Now, I wasn't sure if that was a Perl error or not so I just mentioned it.

The next thing I tried was to run the awstats.pl script in the cgi-bin directory. I get a pop up and this error perl.exe - Unable to Locate Component This application has failed to start because Perl56.dll was not found. Re-installing the application may fix this problem.

I know that this has to be a perl error. It may also be the reason I get my first error. Can anybody help me out here? I've look through all of the configuration files in AWStats. I've also looked at the http.conf file for Apache.

Here are my specs:

Replies are listed 'Best First'.
Re: Perl Errors with AWStats
by moritz (Cardinal) on Jun 19, 2008 at 14:17 UTC
    It seems that your apache tries to use a different perl than you have installed - the message about Perl56.dll is very suspicious.

    So at least that part seems to be an Apache configuration problem.

[reply]
[d/l]
      Okay, I guess then I should change the path to Perl in my Apache config. Where would I make that change and which folder inside my Perl folder should I point to?
[reply]
        Those are faq
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Re: Perl Errors with AWStats
by bcrowell2 (Friar) on Jun 19, 2008 at 16:19 UTC
    I know this isn't an answer to your question, but awstats has a long history of security problems, and you might want to think again about whether to use it. Although the author has been fixing them promptly, the fact that they kept cropping up made me lose confidence that the code had been written properly from the ground up with security in mind. At the very least, if you're going to use it you need to have an extremely disciplined procedure for checking for security updates.
[reply]
      Okay, I see. If I can't solve this error then I might just turn to something else. What do you recommend? Keep in mind of my setup. I would like for it to work with it.
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Re: Perl Errors with AWStats
by Anonymous Monk on Jun 19, 2008 at 15:19 UTC

    I tried to compare the two httpd.conf files between my two installs, the one on the server and the one I had on my WinXP machine using XAMPP. I did find that the one on my machine didn't refer to any paths to Perl. There was one but it's commented out. It has to do with the "shebang" line but I installed Perl to a different directory than what's on the "shebang" line.

    On the server, I found the same "shebang" line code. However, I did find paths to a Perl folder and I think it may be a 5.6 install. The code looks like this:
    # Required for cgi perl scripts that are run from /cgi-bin/.
    SetEnv PERL5LIB "<folder>\perl\5.6.1\lib;<folder>\perl\site\5.6.1\lib"
    Another path is over here:
    # PerlSetEnv PERL5LIB "<folder>\perl\5.6.1\lib;<folder>\perl\site\5.6.1\lib"

    Would these be the lines I need to change here?

[reply]
      set PERL5LIB to empty string, and use a correct shebang line ( #!F:/path/to/perl/i/want/perl.exe )
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Re: Perl Errors with AWStats
by Godsrock37 (Sexton) on Jun 19, 2008 at 15:16 UTC

    I encountered the same error (...Perl56.dll...) when I was using DBI and didn't have the right version of the module installed. I tried reinstalling perl to no avail. When i installed the right version of DBI it went away.

    Now i know nothing about AWStats... but does it require some module that you may have the wrong version of for your copy of perl. If you're on winxp im assuming you're using activestate... pull up the package manager and look to see if there are any modules that could be updated... that's all i can suggest

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Re: Perl Errors with AWStats
by Anonymous Monk on Jun 19, 2008 at 14:15 UTC
[reply]

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