Using the Web Administration Tool

The Web Administration Tool is a Web-accessible management interface for your Web site. You can use it to:

• Manage the files on your Web site.
• Define access restrictions for folders within your site.
• Access usage statistics.

Logging On

For instructions, refer to Logging On to the Web Administration Tool. Only administrators of a site may use the tool, however, if someone else needs access to your site, send an e-mail to hosting@vt.edu and include the name of your site and the PID of the person who needs access.

Managing Your Site's Files

Once you are logged on, you will see a listing of your site's files. You can copy, move, and delete existing files or create and upload new ones.

• To copy, move or delete files, refer to Copying, Moving, or Deleting Files Using the Web Administration Tool.
• To create new HTML and text files, refer to Creating New HTML and Text Files Using the Web Administration Tool.
• To upload files, refer to Uploading Files Using the Web Administration Tool.

Setting Access Restrictions

The access to any folder can be restricted by setting "Access Restrictions" (i.e., permissions). A folder that is restricted by permissions allows only specified persons or groups of people to gain access using their user name and password to read from or write into this folder.

There are several choices you will need to make:

• There are two types of access you can grant a person:
  • Read Access: This person can use a Web browser, navigate to your hosting site (e.g., http://www.[Your Site Name]), and view the Web site, documents, pictures etc. contained within this folder.
  • Write Access: This person can update, edit, and delete files within that particular folder. To do so, the person will have to use WebDrive/Goliath. Only the administrators of a hosting site can use the Web interface.

• There are different groups of people to choose from:
  • everybody
    Everyone has access to the folder without having to provide a user name and password.
    Caution: If you check the option "Everybody (no password prompt)" then this hosting site folder will be publicly readable. Search engines (like Google) will start indexing your content. If your hosting site is publicly accessible, your content may appear in Google's search results. Also, if your files have been publicly accessible once, certain Internet services like Google or www.archive.org are likely to have a copy (aka "cached version") of your files which you will not be able to protect anymore. If you want to avoid public access, then do not select the option "Everybody (no password prompt)" (see picture).
  • admins
    No one except the hosting site administrators have access to the folder.
  • authenticated users
    Everyone with a valid Virginia Tech PID/password plus all non-Virginia Tech affiliates you have defined have access to the folder.
    • Access for people with a valid Virginia Tech PID: Refer to Assigning Access to Your Filebox or Web Hosting Site to Virginia Tech Affiliates.
    • Access for people without a Virginia Tech PID (e.g., your sister, your father): You can define a user name and password combination (e.g., "hosting.mary") which then can be used to specify access restrictions to particular folders within your hosting site. For instructions, see Assigning Access to Your Filebox or Web Hosting Site to Non-Virginia Tech Affiliates.

Accessing Usage Statistics

As part of the Web hosting service, you will have access to usage statistics from your sites. These statistics are compiled every night from the Web server logs of your site. To access them, go to the Web Administration Tool and click the Statistics tab.

If you experience any problems using the Web Administration Tool, please contact hosting@vt.edu