1. Web Servers / Deployment
Alastair Dawes Original by Bhupinder Reehal

2. 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

3. Issues with Web Servers
Local Server
Security
Maintenance
Service Providers
User Support
Limited support of technology
Sensitive information exposed

4. Local Servers Testing purposes Windows
Time consuming to upload to external server
Windows
IIS
Download and Install web server software
Apache Web Server
Abyss Web Server X1

5. Apache Web Server
“ % 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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?

9. 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

10. 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

11. Firewall Security Protect using
Software Firewalls
Hardware Routers
Wireless Routers
Protects against unauthorised access and viruses
Windows XP in-built firewall

12. Software Firewalls Good for single computers Pro’s Cons
No requirement for additional software
No requirement for additional computer wiring
Cons
Speed – uses system resources

13. Hardware Routers Provide protection for multiple computers
If they have a hardware firewall
At least 4 network ports
Requires wiring

14. 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

15. Importance of a Firewall
Hackers with malicious intent
Delete information
Crash machine
Steal personal information
Passwords
Credit Card Numbers

16. Maintenance Keep software up to date Regular virus checks
Web Server software
Firewall security
Virus checkers
Regular virus checks
Regular Back-ups

17. 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)

18. Client/Server Communication Example
Client requests details from bank using HTTP

19. 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

20. What is FTP? File Transfer Protocol
Transfers files between server and client
Two Basic operations
Downloading
Uploading

21. How to use FTP Requires username and password
Anonymous – not secure
Easily accessible using web browser
Different protocol identifier e.g. HTTP or FTP
Command Line
Using and ‘Get’ and ‘Put’
FTP Programs
Provide a GUI
CuteFTP, FileZilla, SmartFTP

22. Using a web browser - IE
Upload
Download

23. Using Command Line Open FTP connection Enter username and password
Use ‘Get’ command to download a file
Use ‘Put’ command to upload a file

24. Using an FTP program - SmartFTP
Username
Password
Client
Files
Files on
Server
Transfer
Queue

25. Summary Web server setup Protecting your server Maintenance
Web page deployment