Foundations of Novell Networking Section 26

Learn how web servers work and explore installing and configuring the NetWare Enterprise Web Server in NetWare 6, including support for iFolder and iPrint.

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(Self-Study) Identify How toImplement a Web ServerThe following objective will be tested:Identify the Process of Installing and Configuring NetWareEnterprise Web ServerIn this section you learn about web servers and the process ofinstalling and configuring the NetWare Enterprise Web Serverprovided with NetWare 6.ObjectivesIdentify How a Web Server WorksEvaluate Commonly Used Web ServersIdentify the Process of Installing and Configuring NetWareEnterprise Web ServerIntroductionWeb servers play a critical role in delivering content over theInternet. Each web page you sec in your browser is delivered from aweb server installed on a host computer that stores the page and itsobjects.S E C T I O N 2 6Web servers also provide technology for supporting other types ofcontent and services such as iFolder and iPrint.

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The Digital Airlines CIO wants each office to set up a web site onits NetWare server to handle local business needs.As the network administrator for your Digital Airlines office, youhave a CD with the basic web site to install. You also haveinstructions to install and use a web server to handle the web site.However, before you can install the files, you need to know moreabout how web servers work, what kinds of web servers arcavailable, and how to install and configure a web server.Objective 1Identify How a Web Server WorksTo identify how a Web server works, you need to know thefollowing:What a Web Server IsHow a Web Server Labels Content TypesHow a Web Server Delivers ContentTechnologies Used to Deliver Content over the InternetFor moreon thefunctionofaweb serverand how it works, seehltpitfwebcompare.inlemel.com/webbasics/index.hlinl.W/iataWebServer IsA web server is a software program that runs on a host computer(such as a NetWare, Linux, or Windows Server) and delivers filesover the Internet that arc stored on the host computer.Web servers let you publish Hypertext Markup Language (HTML)documents over the Internet. HTML is the primary language used tocreate content pages on the web.

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Web servers can also distribute many other types of files, such asprograms, videos, audio, graphics, and compressed ZIP files.Because the delivery of content is over the internet or intranet, thehost computer running the web server must be physically connectedto a TCP/IP-based network.Howa MfefcServerLabels Content TypesWeb servers were developed to deliver simple H TML documentsand images to a client (such as a web browser). However, webservers can now deliver more than HTML pages.To correctly identify and display other types of documents, a webbrowser relies on a Multipurpose Internet Mail Extension (MIME)header sent by the web server.The Ml MEL header tells the web browser what type of document isbeing sent and what program or plug-in is required to display it.These types include hundreds of different kinds of documents.For example, more than 360 MIME types arc included with theApache Web Server in the MIME.TYPES configuration file. Theconfiguration file also includes variations on file extensions (such asMPEG, MPG, or MPE for files containing MPEG video content).How a IVe£?Server Deflvers ContentA web server works in a client-server relationship with a clientprogram, such as a web browser. The client program requestsinformation, and the web server program supplies it.These requests and transfers use HTTP,, which is part of the TCP/IPsuite of protocols.

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Commands and data arc passed as plain text to port 80 (the defaultweb server port) through a TCP connection. Web browsers submitHTTP requests; web servers use II ITP to respond by sending therequested file through port 80.The following helps you understand this process:How a Web Server Delivers an HTML Page to a Web BrowserHow a Web Server Kinds a Requested FileHow HTML. v1.0 and HTML v I. I Use ConnectionsHow a Web Server Delivers an HTML Page to a Web BrowserTo understand how a web server delivers content, you need tounderstand how an HTML, page is delivered to a web browser.For example, suppose you arc looking for documentation forNetWare 6 at the Novell web site. When you select a ProductDocumentation link, your web browser sends the following URL tothe Novell web server:http://www.novell.com/docs/index.htmlThe URL points to an INDEX.HTML file on the web server’s hostcomputer. The INDEX.H TML file is an HTML document thatincludes links to all available Novell product documentation.

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The web server receives the URL through port 80 and maps it to theINDEX.HTML file, loads the file from disk, and then delivers theIITML page across the TCP/1P network to your web browserthrough port 80, as shown in the following:Figure 26-1WebServerHow a Web Server Finds a Requested FileThe web server uses a specified directory in the file system to storeall files it provides to clients. All the files in the directories andsubdirectories below that specified content directory are alsoavailable to clients.For example, suppose the INDEX.HTML file your web browserrequested is stored in the SYS:\NOVONYX\SU1TESPO'DDOCSdirectory on the Novell host server (NOVELL.COM) where the webserver operates.As you browse through the list of documents on the INDEX.HTMLpage in your web browser, you find a NetWare 6 link. When youselect the link, your web browser submits the following URL to theweb server:

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http://www.novell.com/docs/nwG/indcx.htmlThe web server receives the URL and maps it to the INDEX.HTMLfile in the NW6 subdirectory under DOCS.After you receive the new INDEX.HTML file in your web browser,you can then select other links for specific NetWare 6 HTMLdocuments stored in subdirectories under NW6.The following illustrates this example:Figure 26-2How HTML v1.0 and HTML v1.1 Use ConnectionsIn HTML vl.O, the web server delivered the requested content andthen closed the connection. A connection was made for each objectthe browser wanted to download.As Web pages became more graphic intensive, establishing aconnection for each graphic on an HTML page slowed the transferprocess considerably.

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In HTTP v l . l , the web server opens a multiple, persistent TCPconnection that transmits the HTML document and then causes theconnection to deliver each image using the same connection. Thismakes data transmission much faster and more efficient.To support hundreds or thousands of concurrent connections al a lime to aweb site, web servers often use multithreading and multiprocessing.Technologies Used to Deliver Content over the InternetThe following arc standard technologies other than TCP/IP that arcused by web servers and web clients to request and receiveadditional types of content (such as dynamic content) over theInternet:Common G a t e w a y Interface (CGI).Dynamic content on aweb page is content that changes each time you access the page(such as stock quote data). CGI is the oldest and most commonstandard for delivering dynamic content.CGI defines how a web server should run programs locally andtransmit content through the web server to a web browser that isrequesting dynamic (customized) web pages or content.Practical Extraction andReport L a n g u a g e (Perl).Perl is aprogramming language designed for processing text. Perl is oneof the most popular languages for writing CGI scripts.Because it is a high-level language, you can use it to quicklybuild and test simple programs.Secure Socket Layer (SSL). SSLis a protocol developed byNetscape for transmitting private documents over the Internet.SSL works by using a public key to encrypt data that'stransferred over the SSL connection.URLs that require an SSI. connection start with https: instead ofhttp:.

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SSI. provides users with a channel for safely submittingsensitive information (such as credit card numbers) over theInternet to the web server.Active Server Pages (ASP).These are web pages that useActiveX scripting (usually VB Script or Jscript code). Thesepages have an ASP extension.When a web browser requests an ASP page, the web servergenerates a page with HTML code and sends it back to thebrowser. ASP pages are similar to CGI scripts, but you useVisual Basicsinstead of Perl for development.Javae.Javaa is a high-level programming language withfeatures designed specifically for use with the web.Small Java applications, called applets, can be downloadedfrom a web server and run on your computer by aJava-compatible web browser, such as Netscape Navigator orInternet Explorer.Other Java applications, called servlets, run on the web serverand help applets deliver content to your web browser.Javascript .This isascripting language developed byNetscape to help web page authors design interactive sites withlimited dynamic content.Although some Javascript features arc similar to Java, the 2languages are not related.Javascript is supported by browsers from Netscape andMicrosoft, though Internet Explorer supports only a subset,called Jscript.

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Objective 2Evaluate Commonly Used Web ServersAlthough all web servers deliver HTML and other types of contentto a web browser ever the Internet, some provide limited servicesfor basic needs, and others arc developed specifically for high-end,commercial use.'['here arc 3 basic types of web servers:'ITiosc that arc freeware or shareware productsThose that arc bundled with an operating system or platform'ITiosc sold commercially as a separate applicationThe following arc examples of commonly used web servers:Apache Web ServerNetWare Enterprise Web ServerMicrosoft HS Web ServeriPlanet Web Server Enterprise EditionThe Apache Web Server is an example of an enterprise-level serverthat is freeware.NetWare Enterprise Web Server and Microsoft IIS Web Server arcexamples of web servers provided with an operating system.iPlanct™ Web Server Enterprise Edition is an example of acommercially available web server with high-end features designedto provide maximum security and manageability of contentdelivery.For more on popular web servers, seehltp:.',.,&eTverwatch.intemeL.coTn,webservers.html.

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Apache Web ServerApache Web Server is a free, open-source web server originallydeveloped by the nol-for-profit Apache Group. It is used by mostweb hosting companies, and and it is extremely stable.Apache Web Server is a high-end enterprise-level server for UNIX,OS/2, and Windows 95/98/NT platforms. A NetWare version isinstalled by default with NetWare 6.Apache Web Server for NetWare is an integral part of Novell Web Servicesand is used by services such as NetWare Remote Manager, NetWare WebManager, and i Folder.The keys to Apache's popularity over products such as NetscapeSuiteSpot™ and Microsoft US lie in its extensibility, its freelydistributed source code, and active user support for the server.Originally based on NCSA's free HTTPd server, Apache's strongestfeatures include the following:Cross-platform supportProtocol support (HTTP v I. I)Modularity support (API and ISAPI)Logging and security featuresPublic distribution of the source codeQuick response with security patchesOverall performanceApache distributes a core set of modules that handle everythingfrom user authentication and cookies to typo correction in URI.S.Many other custom modules have been developed by the Apacheuser support community.
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