Web FAQ

1. How do I create a personal web page?

   We allow personal web sites on a case by case basis. Generally, if your site does not negatively impact the project and it is within the acceptable usage guidelines for the project and the University then it is fine. You are solely responsible for the content of your site.

   Creating a personal web site is quite simple:
   
   • Create a directory for web content
     mkdir ~/public_html
     
   • Make sure that the directory has the proper permissions
     chmod 755 ~/public_html
   • Make sure that the web server software can get through your home directory
     chmod go+x ~/

   Now when you create a file named index.html in your public_html directory it will be seen on the web at http://acs.pha.jhu.edu/~USERNAME/. You will most likely see an error regarding file permissions the first time you try and view your personal web page. If so, please see the mini-FAQ on Web Page Permissions.

2. How do I create an official ACS web page?

   Please see one of the ACS Systems Administrators.

3. Where should I put files so that anyone can access them over the Web?

   Once you have performed the steps in Web FAQ item 1, you can copy files into subdirectories of your public_html directory.

4. How can I password protect a directory on my personal web page?

   First, make a directory that you want to protect with a password.

   $ cd ~/public_html/
   $ mkdir secretfiles
   $ cd secretfiles
   

   Now, create a password file. In the following example, I am making the username "Romeo". Romeo's password is "acsrules!". You'll need to change these values in the following line to reflect a username and password more suited to your tastes.

   $ perl -e 'print "romeo:"; print crypt ("acsrules!",SA); print "\n";' >> .passwordfile
   

   Next, you will need to edit the file .htaccess in your /home/romeo/public_html/ directory. Please make it look like the following, changing the username as appropriate.

   AuthUserFile /home/romeo/public_html/secretfiles/.passwordfile
   AuthName ByPassword
   AuthGroupFile /dev/null
   AuthType Basic
   require valid-user
   

   Now, try and test your password by browsing to http://acs.pha.jhu.edu/~romeo/secretfiles/ (or whatever your name/directory is) and testing the username and password. All files in this "secretfiles" directory will now require a password to access!