EWB Denver Webdisk Manual Version 0.91
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EWB Denver Webdisk Manual version 0.91 Summary This manual is for EWB Denver members for use with the file storage capabilities that are available on our organization's website. Our current web hosting provider calls this service a webdisk. Technically speaking, it's more like a web-based file system than a disk or a folder. However, for the purposes of this manual the term webdisk will be used. This manual is broken into two main sections. First is the users perspective which covers how to use a webdisk, and explains the reasons for using a webdisk. The second section is more for the IT personnel and those tech savvy folks who can set up either the operating system interface, or install the applications that are webdisk-aware. Section 1 – User's Manual What is a Webdisk? A webdisk is a web accessible storage area. Because it uses a communications protocol related to that used for serving web pages, web browsers have built-in capabilities for traversing and reading a webdisk. Additionally, the open standard protocol used with a webdisk allows many operating systems to treat them like a local file systems. Validated users can use familiar operating system utilities, like a file manager, to manipulate a webdisk. Also, applications that are webdisk-aware will allow validated users to use the webdisk as a file storage area. Why use it at EWB Denver? The main purpose for the webdisk is as a temporary shared storage area for preparing project materials. Another is for archiving project materials for future reference. Also, because a volunteer's time is very valuable, the simplicity of working with a webdisk makes it ideal to quickly become productive with it. How to view a webdisk in read-only mode? For traversing and retrieving files from our webdisk, a web browser can use either http://ewbdenver.org:2077 or http://www.ewbdenver.org/webdisk . The first URI is the form used by both web browsers and file managers. It uses an explicit port that is tacked at the end of the web location (the colon followed by the port number). For browsers that do not know what to do with the port, the second URI form can be used instead. With either browsers or file managers, a dialog box or prompt will initially appear that will ask for user authentication. Please contact the webdisk administrators ([email protected]) to get the values needed for your use. Current directory layout? The current webdisk directory structure is split up into the following areas: 1) Current project area – active project files and subdirectories 2) Artifacts area – mostly read-only historical reference use 3) Toolbox area – programs and manuals 4) Sandbox area – playground for working with webdisk There are usually “README.html” files throughout the webdisk to help guide users through the subdirectories. These can either be read directly by web browsers, or can be viewed as text files since their format is very simple. Most of the current work should be done within the current project area. There are subdirectories within this area that are partitioned by the project name. Note that this version of the webdisk does not provide version control, so it's up to the project members to come up with procedures to reduce clobbering each others changes to files and directories. The archived artifacts area is used to store old files for future reference use, and are usually in read- only mode. If you need specific files and directories in this area to be writable, or need to move items in and out of the subdirectories of the archive, then you may need to contact our webdisk administrator ([email protected]) to allow this. This policy is for security reasons so that an intruder cannot easily insert malware in the webdisk. The toolbox area has a few programs and documents to help work with the webdisk. Once again, although precautions have been made to prevent malware from being inserted into the files in the webdisk, it's usually a good idea to check files retrieved in this section with your anti-virus software. Finally, the sandbox area is a good way to familiarize users with how to use the webdisk. A script is run in intervals to clean up this area, usually soon after midnight MST. So, please don't leave anything you want to preserve in this section. How to use a webdisk in read-write mode? There are two methods to opening a webdisk that allows file and directory manipulations. The first method is to configure the native operating system to make the webdisk emulate a local file system. The procedure to do this is operating system dependent (see the Installation and Setup part of this document). Though there are more steps to making the operating system work directly with a webdisk , the seamless access to the webdisk makes it worthwhile and the preferred method. The second method is to use a webdisk-aware application. This method is easier to install but the user is required to learn the application's user interface, as oppose to using the already familiar and native utilities supported by the operating system. Here's a brief outline of the recommendations for each operating system: 1) MS Windows (except Windows 7) – map network drive (may need O.S. patch) 2) Windows 7 – DAVExplorer Java application (from UC Irvine, see toolbox subdirectory) 3) Mac – filefinder configuration, and maybe DAVExplorer 4) Linux/Unix – special mountfs command, some file managers already aware, cadaver app What the webdisk administrators needs from you Once you use and become familiar with the webdisk, it would be nice to get feedback on what you would like changed to accommodate your work. After we accumulate and analyze these replies, we can then arrive an some requirements for future enhancements. Section 2 – Installation and Setup Setting up an OS for disk emulation Having the operating system of your computer treat a webdisk like any other mountable file system is the preferred method to use with the webdisk. Each operating system has a different procedure to do this, and may also be dependent on the version of the operating system. The alternative is to use a webdisk-aware application. This is less desirable because the user would need to learn and remember yet another unique application. One thing in common with all interfaces to the webdisk is the need for an account and password. Webdisk with Windows XP, Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows 2003 Use a web browser to look in the toolbox area of the webdisk and find the visual basic script that is labeled “webdisk_98_00_03_xp.vbs” (http://www.ewbdenver.org/webdisk/toolbox/webdisk_98_00_03_xp.vbs) that can be downloaded and run to install a desktop shortcut. This file is a readable text script, so security conscious IT folks can inspect it to see that nothing nefarious is being done to the system. Once the script is run, there should be an “ewbdenver.org” icon on the desktop which can be used to access the webdisk. After activating the icon, a dialog box will appear asking for the user account and password, which should be requested from the webdisk administrator or your project lead. If no dialog box appears, then the most likely reason is that port 2077 on the local computer is being blocked by the firewall protecting it. You will have to use the firewall management software to remove the block from this port. Another potential problem is with older versions of the operating system that are missing a critical patch. Using a web browser again, look in the toolbox area of the webdisk and find an executable file “Webfldrs-KB907306-ENU.exe” (http://www.ewbdenver.org/webdisk/toolbox/Webfldrs-KB907306- ENU.exe). Download the program and run it to install the Microsoft patch for “web folders”. Webdisk with Windows 7 Unfortunately Windows 7 does not yet support our type of webdisk. However webdisk-aware applications can be used in Windows 7 to read and write files on our webdisk. See the description below under “Setting up a webdisk-aware application” to install one for your computer.. Webdisk with Apple MacIntosh “Tiger” and “Leopard” (except v10.5.3) For the Mac “Tiger” release, use your Safari web browser to our webdisk toolbox area and find the quick start script labeled “webdisk_mac_tiger.zip” (http://www.ewbdenver.org/webdisk/toolbox/webdisk_mac_tiger.zip) and save to your machine. For the Mac “Leopard” release find the quick start script labeled “webdisk_mac_leopard.zip” (http://www.ewbdenver.org/webdisk/toolbox/webdisk_mac_leopard.zip) and save to your machine. Once the appropriate quick start script has been saved, open it with the Safari browser. It will unzip the archive for you. Find the unziped file named “ewbdenver.org Webdisk” and double click the icon. You should see a dialog box appear asking for the user account and password, which should be requested from the webdisk administrator or your project lead. For Leopard v10.5.3, or any version of the Mac that doesn't work with the above procedure, try using one of the webdisk-aware applications as explained below. Webdisk with Linux/Unix There are two mountable files systems that can be used. The first is DAVFS2 which can be mounted as type CODA, and the other is FUSEDAV which can be mounted as a FUSE file system. Your Linux distribution needs to support either one or have loadable modules that support either one. You will need to look at your distribution manuals to use these. Also, the KDE distribution may also have it's support for webdisk already built in, and may not require either of the previous two file systems.