Differences Between the VAX and the New Web Server
The new web server runs Microsoft's Internet Information Server. This is a more modern server than that used on the VAX. As a result, there are a number of differences in its operation as compared to the VAX web server. Differences in the behavior of the web page counter and the fill-out-form functions are described in their own documents (there are links to those docouments at the bottom of this page.) All other differences are described here:
The "~" (tilde) is no
longer supported. On the VAX, your web page's address
began with http://uhavax.hartford.edu/~ followed by your account name --
for example, http://uhavax.hartford.edu/~jdoe. On the new web server, your
address does not contain a "~", and the
server's name is "uhaweb" instead of "uhavax". If your account name is
"jdoe", your web address changes as follows:
http://uhavax.hartford.edu/~jdoe
is now http://uhaweb.hartford.edu/jdoe
After all web pages are migrated
to the new server starting on May 21st, the name "uhavax"
will be moved to the new server (people continuing to
require TELNET and FTP access to the VAX will connect to
"vax.hartford.edu" instead of "uhavax.hartford.edu".)
This will be done because the VAX has hosted web pages
for so many years, it's become "habit" to go to
"uhavax", and the name "uhavax"
appears on many instructors' syllabi and numerous
letterheads and business cards. Moving the name with the
web pages will reduce disruption.
Although the new server does not
support using the "~" (tilde), we have
implemented a work-around so that if people do look for
your home page on the new server using the "~",
they will be redirected to your home page as expected. As
a result,
anyone connecting to http://uhavax.hartford.edu/~jdoe
will be
redirected to http://uhaweb.hartford.edu/jdoe
anyone connecting to http://uhaweb.hartford.edu/~jdoe
will be
redirected to http://uhaweb.hartford.edu/jdoe
Note, however, that this workaround ONLY WORKS FOR THE
HOME PAGE. That is, there cannot be anything after
the account name in the address.
So,
anyone connecting to http://uhavax.hartford.edu/~jdoe
will be
redirected to http://uhaweb.hartford.edu/jdoe
anyone connecting to http://uhaweb.hartford.edu/~jdoe
will be
redirected to http://uhaweb.hartford.edu/jdoe
anyone connecting to http://uhavax.hartford.edu/~jdoe/somepage.html
will FAIL
anyone connecting to http://uhaweb.hartford.edu/~jdoe/somepage.html
will FAIL
If your page is for a University
department and you have published
a web page address in a brochure containing a "~"
(tilde) with a specific web page name after it which
would fail as described above, contact I.T.S. at x5999
for assistance -- we can install a work-around to solve
the problem for that page.
Going forward, you should begin
using the "UHAWEB" name instead of "UHAVAX".
Both will work, but most people you speak with will
understand how to spell "UHAWEB" - no more
explaining how to spell VAX -- "VEE - AAY - EX"!
The new web server's file system
is similar to that of PCs and Macs. This will eliminate
file name limitations that have been troublesome on the
VAX server. Names may contain combinations of upper- and
lower-case letters, may contain more than one "period",
and can contain more punctuation than the VAX allowed --
just about any "PC-legal" file name may be used.
However, file names must also be "web-legal".
For example, having spaces in file names is not
recommended, even though it's legal
on a PC or Mac, and even if it seems to work.
The new web server uses the SAME
account name and password as your UofH e-mail
account. HOWEVER, faculty and staff must precede their
username with "hartford\" when logging in with
FTP to upload web pages. For example, if your e-mail name
is "jdoe", you would enter hartford\jdoe
as your FTP username, and then enter your e-mail password
as your FTP password.
The SETUPWWW command on the VAX
is obsolete on the new web server -- just FTP to your
account and upload your pages! Your web folder is created
ahead of time for you.
The following changes will be
made to your web pages by Information Technology Services
as they are copied to the new web server. If you are
still using any of these forms of web addresses, you must
note the new format for future updates that you may make
to your pages:
http://uhavax.hartford.edu
will be
changed to http://uhaweb.hartford.edu
http://uhavax.hartford.edu/
will be
changed to http://uhaweb.hartford.edu/
http://uhavax.hartford.edu/~
will be
changed to http://uhaweb.hartford.edu/
http://uhavax.hartford.edu/%7e
will be
changed to http://uhaweb.hartford.edu/
any address beginning with "/~
(quote-slash-tilde) will
be changed to "/
(quote-slash)
mailto:accountname@uhavax.hartford.edu
will be
changed to mailto:accountname@mail.hartford.edu/
http://uhavax.hartford.edu/disk$userdata/group/
will be
changed to http://uhaweb.hartford.edu/
http://uhavax.hartford.edu/disk$userdata/special/
will be
changed to http://uhaweb.hartford.edu/
http://uhavax.hartford.edu/disk$userdata/faculty/
will be
changed to http://uhaweb.hartford.edu/
http://uhavax.hartford.edu/disk$userdata/comstaff/
will be
changed to http://uhaweb.hartford.edu/
http://uhavax.hartford.edu/disk$userdata/student/
will be
changed to http://uhaweb.hartford.edu/
If your web pages contain either a web page counter, or a fill-out-form, you should review the following documents for information about how those features work on the new web server:
University of Hartford Information Technology Services