The WELL - Web Publishing

Web Publishing on The WELL

Contents:

Publishing your Web pages on The WELL
Using ssh or telnet and ftp
CGI - counters, and forms
Web traffic and costs
Tools and resources

If your WELL account includes Web page publishing, setting it up to serve Web pages involves two steps: setting up your Web directory and transferring your html pages to your Web directory. If you are already familiar with ssh or telnet and FTP skip down to Using ssh or telnet and ftp.

Publishing your Web pages on The WELL

When you publish your Web page on the WELL your URL or Web address will be:
http://www.well.com/user/yourlogin/

You may also use the "tilde" shortcut URL:
http://www.well.com/~yourlogin/

Setting up a Web directory
To get started you will need to send an email to helpdesk [at] well dot com and ask for a Web directory. When Helpdesk tells you your Web directory is set up, prepare your files for transfer to the directory.

Transferring your html files
When preparing your html files you should name your main page index.html. If you give the file another name its URL would be:
http://www.well.com/user/yourlogin/filename.html

Files are transfered from your desktop computer by using FTP (file transfer protocol). With any desktop FTP program connect to host www.well.com. Log in with your username and password. If your program asks for a default directory, leave it blank. When you connect you will automatically be put into your Web directory. Upload the files, disconnect your ftp program and enter your URL in your Web browser to see your Web page.

Using ssh or telnet and ftp

Ssh or telnet to host well.com, log in, and type !makeweb at the OK prompt to create a WEB directory in your WELL home directory. This only needs to be done once, and only if you do not request setup from Helpdesk.
FTP your html and image files to www.well.com.

(You may also FTP files to your home directory on well.com, where you will see your WEB directory linked from the Web server. If you upload Web files via well.com instead of www.well.com, you'll need to adjust the permissions via your FTP program after uploading. If your FTP program does not provide that option, telnet or ssh to your account and type !websecurity to change the Web file permissions so your pages can be read.)

CGI - Counters and Forms

The WELL offers several CGI programs which you can use to enhance your Web pages. Currently, you can set up a mailto form and a visitor counter.

Web Traffic and Costs

The Complete plan includes Web publishing at no additional cost. The included storage allotment is currently set at 100 Megabytes, including combined email, home and WEB directory content. Additional storage is charged according to our Membership plans, pricing and billing policies. Surcharges for exceptionally heavy traffic to personal WELL Web pages are also described on that page.

To see your Web site traffic and statistics, check the Analog Web Logs for your login. If you choose to have raw Web logs sent to your home directory on The WELL, be sure to delete them frequently to avoid storage charges.

Tools and Resources

SSH (for initial setup)
Ssh is a terminal emulation protocol. It makes your machine a terminal for issuing commands to The WELL's machines. Ssh programs for Windows as well as Mac machines can be downloaded from shareware sites such as Tucows or CNet.

Mac OSX machines have an ssh program in Terminal. Go to the Applications folder, then the Utilities folder to find Terminal and the ssh program. To use ssh from Terminal, just type ssh username@well.com to be connected to your account on The WELL.

Telnet (alternative for initial setup)
Telnet is an older, less secure terminal emulation protocol. We recommend you use ssh in place of telnet.

Microsoft Windows comes with a built-in telnet program. While connected to the Internet, click on Start, then Run and type telnet well.com and hit Enter to connect directly to the WELL. If your program allows you to set your terminal type, set it to VT100.

FTP (for publishing pages and files)
File transfer protocol (FTP) is a method for moving files over the Internet. FTP programs for Windows as well as Mac machines can be downloaded from shareware sites such as Tucows or CNet.

Windows machines have a command line FTP program built-in which can be accessed by clicking Start, then Run and typing ftp www.well.com. You must log in just as you do when telneting to The WELL. A list of commands can be generated by typing a ? at the ftp> prompt.

Mac OSX machines have an ftp program in Terminal. Go to the Applications folder, then the Utilities folder to find Terminal and the ftp program. To use ftp from Terminal, just type ftp username@www.well.com to be connected to your Web directory on The WELL.

Most Web page authoring programs use built-in FTP to move files. Point them at www.well.com, enter your login and password, and they should end up in your Web directory.

For Further Information...

The Web Conference on The WELL is a good source of expert advice.

For information about The WELL or for WELL Customer Support, contact:

WELL Helpdesk
The WELL
101 Spear Street, Suite 203
San Francisco, CA. 94105
(415) 645-9300

email helpdesk [at] well dot com for more information about The WELL and WELL Customer Support.

The Web Conference on The WELL

Adding CGI (Common Gateway Interface) to your WELL Web page