WEB SITE GUIDE

SUBJECTS

FTP

EMAIL

SET UP GUIDE

FORMS

COUNTER

YOUR CGI-BIN

SSILOGS

PASSWORD PROTECT FOLDERS

SECURE SERVER

MS FRONT PAGE

MYSQL & PHP

OTHER PAGES

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TROUBLE SHOOTING

FTP

Working with ftp:

FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is a method of transferring files over the Internet.  This allows you to move files from your computer to the server.  The process is very simple, in fact with just a little practice you will sending and receiving files in your sleep.

Step 1
Get a copy of WS_FTP ( available at freeware sites like TUCOWS or NONAGS) or any other FTP utility, such as CUTEFTP or FETCH (for MacIntosh)  Unzip it and run the setup program.

Step 2
Start the program, you will see a connection box.  Enter the following in the fields:

  • Profile Name: Anything You Want To Name It
  • Host Name: your_domain.com (Or IP Address)
  • User Name: Your domain name without the .com, .net, etc
  • Password: The password the you were provided when you signed up.

    Step 3
    At this time you should be logged into the server and should see an (almost) empty folder on the right and your local hard drive on the left.  This is your home folder on the server.  Double click the file you want to transfer and it will be uploaded to the server.
    Some of you are hosted on a new server. In this case you may see a subdirectory called www. You will need to test your index.html file to see if files loaded to this www folder appear on the web or not. So you will either be uploading your public files into this www folder or just into the main area of your home folder. Most of the time it is best to upload your files into the www directory.

    To test your site before your domain works use this URL:
    http://solsticepoint.com/username

    • Important things to remember:

  • UNIX is case sensitive - FILE.HTML is not the same as file.html
  • Your home page MUST be named index.html. (not index.htm)
  • Send 3 or 4 files at a time
  • Never Delete files that have _ or . in front of them.
     

    Web Site Guide Index

    EMAIL

    One of the best things about having your own domain is that you can set up e-mail addresses (anything@your-domain.com).  This gives you the power to give your friends e-mail accounts, have special names for sale events, or use a default e-mail drop to make up addresses on the fly.

    We provide everything because unlike most ISPs we don't limit the number of e-mail accounts or restrict how you set them up.  We give you all the power!

    You can set up your email through your control panel. Make sure that you change the password as soon as possible.

    The easiest, and most trouble free method of using your own domain email account, is to forward anything@yourdomain.com to your own regular ISP email address. If you choose to use a POP account, you may still use the forwarding option, but must create each individual forwarding name. There are complete instructions on your control panel.

    You can access your email using a POP account or via the web. To send and receive email using the web, go to http://pop.yourdomain name, and log in with the email address and password you have set up.

    You can setup your e-mail accounts using the control panel.  You can get to the control panel by using the url you are given when you signed up for an account  Full documentation on each type of account is included.

  • IMPORTANT! Email addresses MUST be all LOWER CASE! So, jollyroger@yourdomain.com is fine but JollyRoger@yourdomain.com won't work.
  • IMPORTANT! The only restriction to the use of this email server is that you must download all email before you can send any. If there is any email on the server when you try to send email, you will get an error message. This means you must always run "receive" before running "send".

    E-mail software settings:

    Follow the directions on your e-mail software, and in the control panel. This should be the only information you need.  We do not use SSL for e-mail.

    When can I start using the new mail addresses?

    In general your new pop accounts should be ready for use as soon as you set them up.  Forwarding accounts may or may not be ready for use at the time of setup.  Please allow up to 24 - 48 hours for forwarding accounts to start working.

    To test your mail simply send mail to your new address.  If it is returned to you please go to the problem solving page for more information before you contact the support team.

    There is more detailed help for email and the control panel at SET UP page.

    Web Site Guide Index

    FORMS

    Solstice Point has a simple cgi progam on the sever that will mail your form results to you.  All you need to do to use this script is to put the following 4 lines to your html.

    <form action = “/cgi-bin/fmail.pl” method = “POST”>
    <input type = “hidden” name = “recipient” value = “the e-mail address”>
    <input type = “hidden” name = “subject” value = “the subject for the mail”>
    <input type = “hidden” name = “thankurl” value = “thank you page url”>

    If you don’t want a thank you page enter:
    <input type = “hidden” name = “thankurl” value = “no”>

    If you plan to use your own form mail program you need to make sure that you DO NOT send the form to anything on your domain.  Please send it to your ISP EMAIL ADDRESS .

    IMPORTANT! IF YOU COPY AND PASTE THE SIMPLE SCRIPT ABOVE, IT MAY NOT WORK . Type in the code by hand. Go over your script carefully, check the code for errors, then test the script before asking for help.

    Web Site Guide Index

    COUNTERS

    Solstice Point has a counter script on the server, but you MUST request a counter be added to your domain first.  All you need to do to use it is enter this line to your html:

    <img src = "/cgi-bin/Count.cgi?ft=5|dd=C|frgb=255;255;255;&df=userid.dat">

    If you need more that one counter just change userid.dat to userid1, userid2, and so on. 

    If you get an error message let support know and they will fix it for you.

    There are a number of different styles of counter on the system, you can try them out by changing the dd=C to dd=A,B,C,D,E,S 

    Do not cut and paste the counter code, (TYPE IT IN BY HAND) or it will not work correctly.

    If you see an error or don't see the counter at all check the problem pages.

    Web Site Guide Index

    PERL SCRIPTS & CGI-BINS

    There are a number of useful scripts you can pick up on the net.  You are welcome to use any script provided you have tested it first to make sure that it will not crash the server.

    Here is what you need to do:

    1. Make a new directory called yourdomaincgi. For example, if your domain is called www.goofy.com, make a new directory named goofycgi
    2. Upload the script using ASCII
    3. Make sure your script uses the extension .pl or .cgi
    4. Test the script from the web
    5. Settings you need for perl scripts:

    Path to perl: /usr/bin/perl
    Path to sendmail: /usr/sbin/sendmail
    Remember to chmod 777 any files that need to be written to by the script
    Remember to chmod 755 the directory and files
    It is important that you give the full URL of the script when you use SSI. (http://www.domain.com/domaincgi/script.pl)

    CPU Load:  You are welcome to use any script that you want.  However some scripts use way too much of the CPU.  If this is the case we will contact you and request that you make changes so that we can maintain a fast server for everyone.

    SSI

    This system supports server side includes. The only restriction is that you must name your page anyname.shtml.The extension "shtml" tells the server that the page may contain exec tags that need to be run. SSI is not supported on html pages.

    If you get errors check the problem solving page.  We do not provide ANY free help with scripts. 

    Web Site Guide Index

    LOGS

    Two types of problems come up when working with server logs. 

    The main complaint is that the log script is not working when the problem is that customer NEVER requested the logs in the first place.  Server logs are not written for your domain until you request them.  If you do request them make sure you remove them from time to time or you will use up your allocated web server space. Remove them by deleting the log file. The server will recreate the log automatically.

    The next problem is that the server logs are corrupt.  This results in an INTERNAL SERVER ERROR.  If you get an internal server error remove the log and let the server recreate it for you.

    Web Site Guide Index

    PASSWORD PROTECT FOLDERS

    Password protecting folders:

    Sometimes you may want your users to have a password before they can access areas of your web site. To do this the web server looks for a file called .htaccess.  This file tells the web server to do something special before it allows access to the folder.  Your .htaccess file should look just like this (except it has your information)



                AuthName (any name you want)
                AuthType Basic
                AuthUserFile /usr/local/etc/htpasswd/your_userID


                Require valid-user

     

    Now upload the file to the folder you want to protect:  THE FILE NAME MUST BE .htaccess  Yes there is a dot before the file name.

    Now you can use the control panel to make the passwords.  The password system uses a normal UNIX password system so people can look them up.

    You should now have a password protected folder.

    Web Site Guide Index

    SECURE SERVER USE

    You may request a secure server access account. We reserve the right to examine all pages that reside on the secure server. If you need a secure order form, all you need to do is create the form using the fmail.pl script.  (see form howto) and up-load it to the new account area.

    Link your site to the URL you are provided.

    You now have a secure form!

    Web Site Guide Index

    MS FRONT PAGE

    Everything will work just fine if you let FrontPage upload your files via FTP.
    To publish your web site:

  • Click publish FrontPage web
  • Enter http://www.yourdomain.com
  • Enter your username and password when asked
  • Wait ....
  • Your site is on-line
    If you run into problems please report the error message from the text file that FrontPage writes in your temp directory.

    DO NOT DEPEND ON OUR BACKUP SYSTEM FOR YOUR SITE.  IN CASE OF A HARD DRIVE CRASH, HACKERS OR WHATEVER WE ARE NOT GOING TO RESTORE IT FOR YOU FOR FREE OR MAY NOT BE ABLE TO DO IT AT ALL.

    Web Site Guide Index

    MYSQL & PHP

    You may use a MYSQL database. We DO NOT provide support for the software. If you do not know how to work with mysql go to www.mysql.org and read through the extensive amount of information that you will find there. Please do not ask us for help with setting up tables etc. We are not trained in database administration.
    Before you can use mysql, you will need to send an email requesting us to setup your database. We will get back to you with all the information you will need to log into your database.

    PHP

    The servers support php4. Just upload your php file with a .php (myphp.php) More information can be found at www.php.net.

    Web Site Guide Index

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