WWW

WWW materials on mi-linux

The apache web server on mi-linux serves both staff and student pages, however staff pages should ideally be accessed via www.scit.wlv.ac.uk (scitua) - the scitua server is the home of staff materials and school facilities - all student files, services, and facilities are now provided via mi-linux.

SSH - Secure Shell

In order to publish student websites, a student must login to mi-linux.wlv.ac.uk using an SSH client. SSH client software can be found pre-installed on most linux desktop computers. PuTTY is a free SSH client for Microsoft Windows operating systems and can be downloaded from http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/

HOW TO

1. SSH to mi-linux.wlv.ac.uk using your university account and password

2. Confirm the existence of (or create) a "public_html" directory

ls public_html

if no files/directories found

mkdir public_html

3. Confirm or change the access permissions of this directory so that it is world-readable, but not world-writable

chmod 755 public_html

4. Upload (see (S)FTP notes) materials to be served via the WWW to the public_html directory

5. Your website address is http://mi-linux.wlv.ac.uk/~yourAccount

(where yourAccount is your university user name - example, if your username is 9876543 your website address is http://mi-linux.wlv.ac.uk/~9876543)

How to transfer files to/from mi-linux from a Windows based computer

The procedure for uploading files to mi-linux is different depending on whether you are connecting from the university or from home.

Note: Once uploaded, your files will be accessible here: http://mi-linux.wlv.ac.uk/~1021838

Where 1021838 is your student number.

From the university

You can connect to mi-linux using PSPad from within the university. PSPad is a freeware text editor that is installed in all the labs, and can be found in “All programs / SCIT software / PSPad”.

Simply click on the FTP tab on the left of the screen, and create a new connection with the following details:

• Connection name: any name you like
• Server: mi-linux.wlv.ac.uk
• User name: your student number (or staff number if you are staff!)
• Password: your normal password
• You may also want to check the “keep connection” box, to stop your connection from timing out.

From home

From within the university (any campus based computer) it is possible to make an FTP connection to mi-linux using FTP client software, however from the rest of the Internet, Secure FTP (SFTP) connections are required.

You may still choose to write your code in PSPad, but you will have to save your files locally, and then upload them separately, using a dedicated SFTP client application:

1. Download and install the freely available Filezilla FTP client, or use your preferred application.

2. Create a new connection using the following settings:

• Host: mi-linux.wlv.ac.uk
• Servertype: SFTP - SSH File Transfer Protocol
• Logontype: Normal
• Username: (Enter your student number here)
• Password: (Enter your IT password here)

Connect from home using PSPad - by Jack Turner 0609572

You are able to connect to mi-linux using PSPad with the aid of a tunneling program. Mind Term is one.

Run the program by opening the command line (windows) and navigating to the directory you extracted the files to, then entering the following: java -jar mindterm.jar

• You need to have Java installed on your system before-hand.

Once the software is running, type mi-linux.wlv.ac.uk:22 and press enter. It will ask you for an alias, just hit enter again, and it will ask you for your username, this being the username you use to log on to the university systems, enter it and press enter. The same goes for your password, enter it and press enter when prompted.

You will see a message along the lines of "You are enrolled for Oracle".

Select the Plugins menu, and click "FTP to SFTP Bridge". Click enable on this menu as the default settings should be okay.

Now open PSPad and set up an ftp connection using the server 127.0.0.1

Some very good (S)FTP clients by Cara Hughes 0615410

I have downloaded and tested a variety of FTP clients throughout my assignment. It is really your choice, but these are some of my favourites:

• SmartFTP
• FileZilla
• CuteFTP
• FireFTP - FireFTP is a free, secure, cross-platform FTP client for Mozilla Firefox which provides easy and intuitive access to FTP servers.

For those who use Linux:

• gFTP
  

Edited by Nick Davies

A good one I have used for a while, and still use now for Mac users:

• Cyberduck

FileZilla also works with Macs as well. (Although I don't recommend it myself, as I regularly get connection problems with it.)

If you plan on using FTP a lot for more than just the course, and don't mind shelling out a bit, Flow is a brilliant FTP client for Macs with the ability to create "droplets" which will upload files you drop onto it without even loading the main application. Unfortunately, it's $30, so it's not one for just the occasional FTP user. - Peter Shillito

Mapping Your MI-Linux Area as a Windows Drive By Simon Watts (0506659)

If for some reason you want to work on windows but edit files on your linux storage area, for example working on a website hosted from public_html, and you can't be bothered to keep going to your ftp client and sending the files and waiting for then to send you can download SFTPDrive (http://www.expandrive.com/sftpdrive) and map your linux area as a windows drive. Then when you edit your file that is stored on your linux area in windows and save it you don't need to FTP it over to your linux storage. Useful if you are using an IDE perhaps?.