Putting Files on the Web
Though all students and employees are able to create and upload Web pages to the school Website, the process is different for each group. This page outlines the process you'll need to go through to get your pages online.
Information for Students | Faculty and Staff
Students
Step 1. Create your account: The student Web server is called Phoenix. The first step towards setting up a Website is creating an account on the Phoenix server. Fill out the student Web sign-up form and we will create an account for you. Once you fill out the form, your login and password will be available in the MMC 101 computer lab 24 to 48 hours later.
Step 2. Log in to your account: When your account is created, we assign you a temporary password that will allow you to log in to your account from the command line using a "secure shell" client. When you first login, you will be prompted to change your password. You must login and change your password within six days of the account's creation or your account will be disabled.
SSH instructions for Windows | Mac
Windows SSH: Phoenix requires secure connections, so you need to access it from the command line using a Secure Shell client that supports SSH-2. One such client is Microsoft's Secure Shell Client, which is available on computers in the student computer labs on campus. If you cannot find this program, lab assistants will be happy to help you locate it. You may also download it for your own use from WSU's FTP server. Another popular program is PuTTY.
If there is no shortcut to Secure Shell Client on the desktop, it is usually located in the Start menu under All Programs in a folder called SSH Secure Shell. After the program launches, click the Quick Connect button and enter the following settings:
- Host Name: phoenix.vancouver.wsu.edu
- User Name: (enter your user name)
- Port Number: 22
The first time you connect to a server, a "host identification" window will appear. Click Yes. Enter your supplied password in the "enter password" window that appears next. Passwords are case-sensitive. You should then see something similar to this screen:
You are now connected to the Phoenix server. For security purposes, you are required to change your password as soon as you log in.
- Type your current password (the one you used to log in) at the "(current) UNIX password:" prompt
- Type a new password of your choosing at the "New UNIX password:" prompt. This password must be a combination of letters and numbers. If the password is not sufficiently difficult to guess, you will be asked for a different one
- Retype this new password at the "Retype new UNIX password:" prompt
- You will then be logged out automatically
If you are familiar with UNIX commands and want to log back in, make the connection to phoenix as before and use your newly created password. Otherwise, you are finished with Secure Shell.
Mac SSH: Macs can make SSH connections using the built-in command line program called Terminal. It is located in the Utilities folder, which is located in the Applications folder. Find this through the Finder, or by entering "terminal" into the Spotlight search box. When you launch it, you should see a window like this:
Type the following, entering your Phoenix username in place of username:
ssh username@phoenix.vancouver.wsu.edu
Once you press return, it will give you a warning about "The authenticity of the host..." Type yes and press return.
Enter your Phoenix password at the password: prompt and press enter. You will not see anything on the screen as you type.
You are now connected to the Phoenix server. For security purposes, you are required to change your password as soon as you log in.
- Type your current password (the one you used to log in) at the "(current) UNIX password:" prompt
- Type a new password of your choosing at the "New UNIX password:" prompt. This password must be a combination of letters and numbers. If the password is not sufficiently difficult to guess, you will be asked for a different one
- Retype this new password at the "Retype new UNIX password:" prompt
- You will then be logged out automatically
If you are familiar with UNIX commands and want to log back in, make the connection to phoenix as before and use your newly created password. Otherwise, you are finished with Terminal.
Step 3. Transfer your files to your www folder: When your account was created, a directory called "www" was created in your home directory. Any file that you want to make available on the Web needs to be placed in this directory. To move files to this directory, you will use an FTP (File Transfer Protocol) program.
FTP instructions for Windows | Mac
Windows FTP: Any Windows program that is capable of making secure FTP (SFTP) connections will work. Computers on campus have such a program called CoreFTP. If you cannot find this program in the labs, lab assistants will be happy to help you locate it. You may also download it for your own use. Launch CoreFTP and enter the following settings:
- Host: phoenix.vancouver.wsu.edu
- Username: (your username)
- Password: (your password)
- Uncheck "Anonymous" if it is checked
- Check "Don't save password" if you are on a shared computer
- Check "SSH/SFTP" if it is unchecked
After you click connect, you may see a warning saying "The server's host key is not cached..." -- click "Yes". You should then see something like this:
On the left are the files on your computer. On the right are the files on the server. You should see a "www" folder in your file list on the right. You must put all of your Web files inside this www folder for it to show up on the Web. To do so:
- double-click the www folder so that you're inside it
- find your files or folders in the left pane
- highlight them
- click the arrow pointing to the right to move them into your www folder
Mac FTP: Any Mac program that is capable of making secure FTP (SFTP) connections will work. Macs on campus have such a program called Fugu, which is available for free download. (Note: If you have an Intel Mac, be sure to download the Universal Binary version, which is linked at the bottom of the front page).
After you launch Fugu, enter phoenix.vancouver.wsu.edu in the "Connect to:" line and your Phoenix account username in the "Username:" blank, then hit "Connect". It will then ask you for your password. Enter the one you chose above and hit "Authenticate". You should then see something like this:
The left side is what is on your computer, while the right side is what is in your home directory on the server. You should see a "www" folder in the right pane. You must put all of your Web files inside this www folder for them to show up on the Web. To do so:
- double-click the www folder so that you're inside it
- find your files or folders in the left pane
- highlight them
- click and drag them over to the right pane (you may also right-click (or control-click) and choose "upload")
Step 4. Find your files on the Web: Now that your files are on the server, you probably want to know where to find them on the Web. Let's assume your account name is "genericstudent" and you have a file in your www directory called "webpage.html". To bring up that page in a browser, type the following in the browser's address bar: http://phoenix.vancouver.wsu.edu/~genericstudent/webpage.html
Faculty and Staff
Step 1. The first step toward setting up a Website is getting an account on the school Web server. If you do not already have an account, e-mail helplog@vancouver.wsu.edu and request one. Please include contact information, location, department, and what pages you will be working on if you'll be responsible for more than just your own pages. Your login information will be delivered to you or your faculty support person.Step 2. Transfer your files to your directory: Now that your directory on the server has been created, it's time to transfer files to it so that they are visible on the Web. To do that, you will use an FTP (File Transfer Protocol) program.
FTP instructions for Windows | Mac
Windows FTP: Any Windows program that is capable of making secure FTP (SFTP) connections will work. Computers on campus have such a program called CoreFTP. If you cannot find this program on your computer, you may download it. Launch CoreFTP and enter the following settings:
- Host: www.vancouver.wsu.edu
- Username: (your username)
- Password: (your password)
- Uncheck "Anonymous" if it is checked
- Check "Don't save password" if you are on a shared computer
- Check "SSH/SFTP" if it is unchecked
After you click connect, you may see a warning saying "The server's host key is not cached..." -- click "Yes". You should then see something like this:
On the left are the files on your computer. On the right are the files on the server. To move files to the server:
- find your files or folders in the left pane
- highlight them
- click the arrow pointing to the right to move them into your www folder
Mac FTP: Any Mac program that is capable of making secure FTP (SFTP) connections will work. Some Macs on campus have such a program called Fugu. If yours does not,it is available for free download. (Note: If you have an Intel Mac, be sure to download the Universal Binary version, which is linked at the bottom of the front page).
After you launch Fugu, enter www.vancouver.wsu.edu in the "Connect to:" line and your Web account username in the "Username:" blank, then hit "Connect". It will then ask you for your password. Enter it and hit "Authenticate". You should then see something like this:
The left side is what is on your computer, while the right side is what is in your home directory on the server. To move your files to your Web directory:
- find your files or folders in the left pane
- highlight them
- click and drag them over to the right pane (you may also right-click (or control-click) and choose "upload")
Step 4. Find your files on the Web: Now that your files are on the server, you probably want to know where to find them on the Web. Let's assume your account name is "genericstaff" and you have a file in your directory called "webpage.html". To bring up that page in a browser, type the following in the browser's address bar: http://www.vancouver.wsu.edu/staff/genericstaff/webpage.html (for a facutly page, replace "staff" with "fac").