Setting up a web server the easy way

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Setting up a web server the easy way
R. Chris Fraley http//www.web-research-design.
net/P593/
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How the Net Works
web user types a URL into the browser
web server locates requested HTML file and sends
it to users computer
web user the browser renders the HTML file as a
web page
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Web servers

• There are a number of ways to obtain access to a
  web server
• Your university or business
• Set up your own using a spare computer
• Use a professional web hosting company

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Web servers

• For the purposes of this course, Im going to
  show you how to set up a free account with
  Netfirmsa professional web hosting company.
• Why Netfirms?
• They provide free server access with CGI
  capabilities
• The free part means that they place ads at the
  top of your pages, but those ads are not
  obtrusive like some other companies (i.e., no
  pop-ups, not flashy).
• Upgrading is simple and low-cost
• Great tech support
• Easy to transfer files to-and-from the server

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• For this class I STRONGLY encourage you to get a
  paid account so that you do not have to deal with
  adds, long load times, server downtime, etc. If
  you only use the free account, you WILL get
  frustrated and I dont want that frustration to
  be taken out on me because Im sensitive in that
  way.
• Lets begin . . .
• Go to http//www.netfirms.com/web-hosting/
• Note The screenshots that follow are old, but
  will help absent people catch up. For those
  viewing ppt only, keep in mind that we did this
  live in class.

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Click the Free Web Hosting link.
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Click the signup now button to continue
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Click the link for a free Netfirms sub domain
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Enter the domain name of your choice and then
click the search button
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Click the continue button at the bottom of the
page (not shown here)
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Enter your information here. Be sure to enter a
valid e-mail address because Netfirms will send
you the information you need to use your account
(e.g., passwords) to that e-mail address. Press
the continue button when youre finished.
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Review your order and click continue
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Congrats! Now go check your e-mail
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Youll need this info when you login Note Ive
hidden the password in this slide.
This is the URL for your web site. Click on this
link to visit your new web site.
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Your default page will look something like
this. Notice that the URL is http//aps2005.netfir
ms.com
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Enter your member name and password then click
the login button.
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File manager can be used to transfer the web
pages you create to your account.
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Things to know about your Netfirms account

• There are two major directories
• www this directory will hold all the files that
  end with .htm, .html, or .txt. In other
  words, this directory will hold web pages or
  other documents you want people to be able to
  see.
• cgi-bin this directory will hold all CGI/Perl
  scripts you write (or borrow) to process data
  (i.e., to perform dynamic web functions). These
  files will typically end with the .pl extension.

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Netfirms File Manager
The cgi-bin folder will hold any Perl/CGI
scripts that you write.
The www folder will hold any HTML files that
you write.
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File manager

• You can transfer files from your computer to the
  Netfirms server by using Netfirms File manager
  application.
• This application provides an interface that
  allows you to upload files from your computer to
  the server, in the same way that you may upload
  files that youre submitting for publication or
  to granting agencies.
• Click on directories to see their contents click
  the Up button to move backwards through a
  directory. Click upload to upload a file to the
  server.

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Create a new directory

• Later were going to write programs that save
  data to a text file on the server.
• To keep everything organized, well save data
  files to a directory called data
• This directory does not exist by default in your
  Netfirms account you must create it.

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To create a new directory 1. Chose the
directory option 2.Enter data in the
textbox 3. Press the create button
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This shows you which directory you are currently
navigating.
The new directory is now listed.
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Click here if you need to change permissions
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Caveat

• As of 2009, it is now possible to run
  Perl/cgi-scripts in your www directory. Your cgi
  files do NOT have to exist exclusively in your
  cgi-bin directory to operate.
• For the sake of consistency with the book and
  good ole fashioned organization, however, I will
  continue to encourage you to place perl files in
  cgi-bin directory and standard HTML files in your
  www directory. Just keep in mind that, literally,
  this is not required.