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Web Servers / DeploymentAlastair Dawes Original by Bhupinder Reehal

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What is a web server? Computer with a software package

Manages and shares web based applications

Files retrieved via a web browser Using HTTP protocol

Accessed via IP address/Domain name

Types of Servers Local Service Providers

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Issues with Web Servers

Local Server Security Maintenance

Service Providers User Support Limited support of technology Sensitive information exposed

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Local Servers Testing purposes

Time consuming to upload to external server

Windows IIS

Download and Install web server software Apache Web Server Abyss Web Server X1

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Apache Web Server

“. . .63% of the web sites on the Internet are using Apache, thus making it more widely

used than all other web servers combined" Apache.org

Install server before any other technologies PHP MySQL

Configure themselves for the server

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Using Apache Web Server Software

Database and PHP hosted on Server

PHP executed on Server

Install Web Server Software MySQL Database PHP

Front end for MySQL database (optional) MySQL Control Centre MySQL Administrator

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Using Internet Information Server (IIS) Installed on Windows 2000 server by

default

Use Add/Remove to install components

Use Inetpub root directory to store files

To access files http://servername/filename

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Web Server Requirements

Server must support Database Server Side Scripting Language

Unable to communicate without support

If using a Service Provider Where will the database be stored?

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Database with a Service Provider Most provide a GUI

Create database and tables online

Update database via service provider website

Import and export your database

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How secure is your web server? Public websites are hacked on a daily basis

Hackers may be seeking to: Embarrass an organisation Placement of illegitimate material

Can your files be easily accessed?

How will you protect your server? Firewall Security

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Firewall Security Protect using

Software Firewalls Hardware Routers Wireless Routers

Protects against unauthorised access and viruses

Windows XP in-built firewall

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Software Firewalls Good for single computers

Pro’s No requirement for additional software No requirement for additional computer

wiring

Cons Speed – uses system resources

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Hardware Routers

Provide protection for multiple computers

If they have a hardware firewall

At least 4 network ports

Requires wiring

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Wireless Routers Allows wireless

connection

Excellent for laptops, PDA’s etc

Unauthorised access Encryption

Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA

and WPA2) Neighbours People outside home

Not always available with built-in firewall

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Importance of a Firewall

Hackers with malicious intent Delete information Crash machine Steal personal information

Passwords Credit Card Numbers

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Maintenance

Keep software up to date Web Server software Firewall security Virus checkers

Regular virus checks

Regular Back-ups

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How will your web files be accessed? Client/Server Communication

A web browser is a client program that requests services from a web server Hypertext Transport Protocol

(HTTP)

The web server responds to the request

File requests also made using File Transfer Protocol (FTP)

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Client/Server Communication ExampleClient requests details from bank using

HTTP

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Web page deployment Web files need to be:

Stored Retrieved Updated

How will files be transferred?

Local Server Transfer to root folder

External Server FTP

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What is FTP?

File Transfer Protocol Transfers files between server and

client Two Basic operations

Downloading Uploading

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How to use FTP Requires username and password

Anonymous – not secure Easily accessible using web browser

Different protocol identifier e.g. HTTP or FTP ftp://username:password@webaddress.com

Command Line Using and ‘Get’ and ‘Put’

FTP Programs Provide a GUI CuteFTP, FileZilla, SmartFTP

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Using a web browser - IE

Download

Upload

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Using Command Line

Open FTP connection

Enter username and password

Use ‘Get’ command to download a file

Use ‘Put’ command to upload a file

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Using an FTP program - SmartFTP

Files on Server

Client Files

Username Password

TransferQueue

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Summary

Web server setup

Protecting your server

Maintenance

Web page deployment