Option 1
If you would like to create a simple webpage, you can save .htm & .html files in
your Public_html directory on MySBfiles.  

For more information visit: http://www.sinc.sunysb.edu/helpdesk/sbweb.shtml

{and/or}

Option 2
If you would like to create webspace that allows you to use scripts (such as cgi),
you can request 20 MB of webspace on the Sparky Unix server.  

See below for information on how to request this space and transfer files to the account.

---

REQUESTING WEBSPACE

In order to access your 20MB of webspace you will need:

1. A Stony Brook (Sparky) email account. Click here
   to find out to get a Sparky email account.
2. Once you have a Sparky email account you can request your webspace.
   You must send an email from your Sparky account to:
   webmaster@ic.sunysb.edu
   
3. In the Subject area, type: Request Web Space
4. The Message Content should include: Your Sparky username
   • For example: If your username is jdoe , you would simply put jdoe
     in the message area

   NOTE: You should receive a message confirmation from the Webmaster, indicating that your web space is ready, within 24 hours.

RECIEVED THE EMAIL CONFIRMATION! I HAVE WEBSPACE!

Now what do I do?

1. First, must login into Sparky, click here for directions
2. Second, access your Webspace on Sparky, click here for directions
   NOTE: We suggest you create Symbolic Link.
   • What is a Symbolic Link? Click here
   • Create a Symbolic Link for easy access to your webspace,
     click here for directions.
3. Third, create an index page, click here for directions
4. Fourth, upload files to your web directory using File Transfer Protocol
   (FTP) click here for directions.

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) from Stony Brook Students

• Web Technologies Available on the Sparky Unix Server
• Unix File Editors
• Windows and MacOS File Editors available
• Tips on how to keep your Webspace Organized

---

Login into Sparky and Access your webspace

Login into Sparky

1. If` you are in a SINC Site: double click on the SSH icon   Visit the help desk link with more information about softweb and to download SSH program to your computer
2. Click on File > connect . and enter the following information when the login window appears:
   • Username: your_sparky_username‡
   • Host Name: sparky.ic.sunysb.edu
   • Password: your_sparky_password***
   • press the< enter key>
3. The cursor's position will be at the Sparky prompt
4. To upload files from and to your webspace, you will need to use the FTP Client. Visit the help desk on-line documentation to learn more about File Transfer Protocol (FTP) and Unix.

• The web address to your website will be: http://www.sinc.sunysb.edu/Stu/your_sparky_username
• The Sparky directory will be:
  /usr/www/Stu/your_sparky_username

Access your webspace

For example, if your user/login name is jdoe,
your webspace address will be:
http://www.sinc.stonybrook.edu/Stu/jdoe

---

What is a Symbolic Link?

In computing, a symbolic link (often shortened to symlink) consists of a special type of file that serves as a reference to another file. Symbolic links appear particularly commonly in Unix-like operating systems.

Unlike a hard link, a symbolic link does not point directly to data, but merely contains a symbolic path which an operating system uses to identify a hard link (or another symbolic link).

Creating a Symbolic Link for easy access to your webspace

• If you would like to access you website files from Sparky quickly, you can create a symbolic link in your Sparky account following these steps:
  • Make sure you are in your home directory by typing:
    pwd
  • Type
    ln -s /usr/www/Stu/your_sparky_username www

You are now able to switch to your website directory by using the command cd www and back to your home directory using cd

Important Note: If you choose not to use the symbolic link for easy access, you can also get to your webspace from your Sparky home directory.

Once you have logged into Sparky, at sparky prompt, type:
cd /usr/www/Stu/your_sparky_username

REMEMBER! You will be placing your html and other web files within your www folder.

{ top }

---

Creating an index webpage

An index page (or homepage) is an important element to your website. It is the automatic opening page when you first access a website.

When you first request webspace, the Webmaster includes an index page in your web directory for you. You can simply replace this index file with your own when you upload your webpage to the webserver.

Important Note: Neglecting to include an index page, will allow visitors to have access to all the files in your web directory, including the files you don't wish for them to see. To avoid this, always be sure to have an index.html or index.htm file in your web directory because it stops visitors from accessing/viewing other files.

{ top }

---

[ Print this ftp document in MS Word format | in PDF format ]

File Transfer Between Your Computer and Your Sparky Account

You must have an active Sparky* account or an account that you can telnet‡ to in order to use File Transfer Protocol (FTP).

This page will explain:

1. The benefits of File Transfer Protocol (FTP)†.
2. How to FTP† using the SSH Secure Shell Client£ from a SINC Site and from home.
3. How to FTP† using WS_FTP 95 LE from a SINC Site and from home.

Why use File Transfer Protocol (FTP):

1. Floppies are not always reliable because they can be easily damaged. An electronic form of your work in a trusted storage space is a more reliable way of keeping your final work. However, keep in mind that servers may go down, so you should still keep a backup of your work on a floppy and/or zip disk.
2. If you have web space on a server, you can transfer your files via FTP†.
3. In order to email files as attachments on the Sparky* system, you must first transfer them to the server.

Using SSH Secure Shell Client from a SINC Site:

1. Click on Start > Programs > Network Tools > SSH Secure Shell Client > Secure Shell Transfer Client
2. Press Enter or Space to connect
3. For Host Name, enter the host address that you want to connect to. For example, if you were connecting to Sparky*, you would type: sparky.ic.sunysb.edu for the host ner your account password. If you are not on your own personal computer, DO NOT check the Save Pwd box!!
4. ame.
5. Next enter your Sparky* User Name and press Connect
6. Enter your password when prompted and press OK
   
   You should now see a window like the one shown. The left side lists the folders on your account while the right side shows both folders and files.
   
   
   
7. To change folders on your account, click on the desired folder either in the left or the right frame. To return to the previous folder, click on the Up One Directory button located on the toolbar.
8. To upload a file onto your account:
   1. Click on the Operation menu and choose Upload or press CTRL+U.
   2. Next, locate on the computer, the file you wish to upload and press Upload.
9. To download a file from your account onto your computer:
   1. Select the file you want to download
   2. Click the Operation menu and choose Download
   3. Select the folder on the computer where you want your file to be stored
   4. Click Download
10. When you have finished, go to File > Disconnect or click the Disconnect button.
    If you do not disconnect, you are giving someone else access to your account.

Setting Up SSH Secure Shell Client on Your Personal Machine

• SSH£ can be downloaded from SoftWeb at:
  http://clientsupport.stonybrook.edu/software.shtml
  under ‘Email and Telnet’
• If you are connecting from off-campus, you must connect via Stony Brook dial-up in order to access SoftWeb.
  
  For more information on Stony Brook dial-up, visit:
  http://clientsupport.stonybrook.edu/public/dialup/

Using WS_FTP LE from a SINC Site:

1. Click on Start -> Programs -> Network Tools -> WS_FTP -> WS_FTP 95 LE

2. In the Session Properties window, choose a Profile Name from the drop-down menu. For example, if your are transferring from your Sparky account, choose profile name Sparky*.
3. Next enter the Host Name/Address, which is the address that you want to connect to. In this case, it is sparky.ic.sunysb.edu
4. In the User ID text field, enter your Sparky account username. In the Password field, enter your password.
5. Click OK, and the Session Properties window will disappear while the program connects.
   
   
   
   
   You should now see on your screen something similar to the image on above. The left half is the Local System (the computer that you are currently using), the other half is the Remote System (Your Sparky account). The top portion of each half lists the folders on the system, the bottom portion lists the files in the selected folder.
   
6. To change the folder of the computer, click on the (left) drop-down menu where it says c:\user or click on the (left) ChgDir button and type in the folder you want and click OK
7. Now select the file you would like to transfer. Click <- to move from your account to the computer or click -> to move from the computer to your account
8. When you are finished, click Close at the bottom, then Exit.

Setting up WS_FTP LE on your Personal Computer:

You can download WS_FTP LE from http://clientsupport.stonybrook.edu/software.shtml/

Once you have downloaded and installed WS_FTP LE, you will need to setup your connection to your account.

Start the WS FTP LE program. The Session Properties window will appear. Click New.
WS FTP LE needs to know what account you want to connect to. Each account can be saved as a session. Here is the information you need to create a session:

If you wanted to put files on your web page (Sparky* account), enter in the following information:

Profile Name: Personal Web Page
Host Name: sparky.ic.sunysb.edu
User ID: Your Sparky* username
Password: Your Sparky* password

(For future connections, you should not have to do this again. From now on, you should be able to choose this profile. Follow the directions from step 5).

---

† FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol, the method by which one transfers files to and from a server.
‡ Telnet is software which allows you to connect to a remote server (i.e. Sparky) and use its resources (email, etc.).
* Sparky is the Teaching, Learning + Technology UNIX Server.
£ SSH Secure Shell Client is a secure telnet software package.