Digital Forensic Certification Practice Exam

What common log format element indicates the client’s IP address in an Apache log entry?

1. %h

2. %u

3. %r

4. %t

The correct answer is: %h

The correct response identifies that the element indicating the client's IP address in an Apache log entry is represented by "%h". In the context of Apache's Common Log Format (CLF), this element captures the remote host's name or IP address that made the request to the server. This is crucial for analysis in digital forensics and web server management, as it allows administrators and forensic analysts to track access to the server, identify potential unauthorized access attempts, or audit user activity over time. The other elements have different functions: "%u" stands for the authenticated userid of the person requesting the document, if available, while "%r" records the request line from the client (which includes the HTTP method, the resource being accessed, and the HTTP protocol version). The "%t" element captures the time the request was received, formatted in a specific manner. Understanding these functions helps in analyzing server logs effectively.