User Manual   
Chapter 1 Introduction 
Chapter 2 Getting Started 
Chapter 3 Features 
Chapter 4 Security 
Appendix A Administrative 
Appendix B add-ons 
Appendix C facilities 

 

Now, you have all your html and graphics files created on your local computer, you're probably anxious let the rest of the world see your Web site.  

Using FTP to Transfer files to Your Virtual Server  
Your ROCKCI DIY Virtual Server, provides you with 24 hour, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, access to update and maintain your web site. Perhaps the easiest and most popular way to access your Virtual server is through use of an FTP (File Transfer Protocol) client program. 
 
With FTP client Software You can: 

• Transfer files from your local computer to your virtual server (in the correct mode binary or ASCII) to allow anyone with access to the internet to view your pages.
• Create directories on your Virtual Server
• Delete, Rename files on your virtual server
• Set File permissions

Setting up your FTP Client Program  
Use this host: www.Yourname.com 
Use this User ID: emailed with activation 
Use this password: emailed with activation 
 
Directories  
As a ROCKCI DIY customer, you are given a user directory on our server where you can FTP your HTML Files and their associated images, maps, cgi, etc. We suggest using an FTP program for doing this (see our HELP-LINKS for FTP programs you can download). 

Using your FTP program, Log in Using the following: 

Use this Host:	www.YourName.com
Use this User ID:	Your_Login_Name
Use this Password:	Your_Password

You should automatically be switched to your user directory by the FTP program. 

The first directory you see is your user root directory. In order for your home page to load when a WWW user types http://www.YourName.com, you must have a file called index.html, index.htm, or index.shtml (for server side includes) in this directory. Note that we have installed a customized Homepage in your account index.html. Use this as an example to set up your Homepage. Your FTP program will permit you to make sub directories off your user directory (such as /images, /maps, etc) to better organize your account. 

Note: Please keep careful track of your disk space usage. You are responsible for staying below the limit of your specific plan. If this limit is exceeded you will be billed for the additional space.    

Making your home page load automatically 
Your home page file should be named either "index.shtml","index.html" or "index.htm" . Make sure you use lowercase, not "INDEX.HTM" . This file must to located in your home directory. Your home directory is the first directory you see when accessing your web server via ftp.  

Directory and file names  
The operating system (FreeBSD) is CaSe SeNsItIvE. In other words, the file name "joe.html" is NOT the same as "JOE.html". If your HTML code references a joe.html, but the actual file name is in uppercase, a File Not Found error will occur. This also applies to directory names. To prevent errors, name all files in lowercase. Spaces and special control characters are usually not a good idea. The underscore character ("_") is acceptable. You should avoid special characters (eg. ! @ # $ % ^ & * : ') in file and directory names. The tilde (~) cannot be used in directory or file names.  

Setting File permissions  
For .html and .gif pages most beginners will be fine with the default file permissions. However for cgi programs and other programming the user should be aware of how to set file permissions. 

ROCKCI DIY Virtual servers support file (chmod) commands in Cute FTP and WS_FTP. You can also shell in and set permissions the old fashioned way. 
 
Files types commonly used  for Web sites   

.html or .htm files - These files, called Web pages, are written in  HyperText Markup Language (HTML). These files are in ASCII format. 

.gif files - GIF files are graphics or image files with 256 unique colors or less. Two popular types of GIF files are animated GIFs, which contain multiple frames played back to produce animation, and  interlaced GIFs, which allow for a color to be transparent to produce dramatic affects with other images in the background. These files are in BINARY format.  

.jpeg or .jpg files - JPEG files are usually used for photographs and can contain up to 16 million colors, When creating JPEG files you can set the "quality level" which allow you to reduce the file size for faster loading. These files are in BINARY format.  

.mid or .midi files - MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) files containing  
 a digital number sequence of musical tones and instruments which can be played backed with a client MIDI player (built-in to most web browsers). These files are in BINARY format.  

.wav files - these are sound or audio files signals used for recording and playing music an voice audio with a computer. can be played backed with a client wav player (built-in to most web browsers). These files are in BINARY format.  

.ra files - REAL AUDIO these are sound or audio files signals used for recording and playing music an voice audio with a computer. can be played backed with a client Real Audio player (built-in to most web browsers). These files are in BINARY format.  

!!! It is important to understand the file type you are dealing with when transferring files to your ROCKCI DIY Virtual Server. !!! 
 
Tips 

Transfer your files using the proper mode. It is important to understand the file type you are dealing with when transferring files to your ROCKCI DIY Virtual Server and set the file transfer mode properly in your FTP client. Otherwise,  files will not load properly into a browser. Make sure you use ASCII mode for .html, .txt, .cgi files and BINARY mode for .gif, .jpg files.