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How To Post A Webpage In Your Student Account

The following instructions will explain how to set up your student account to host a personal website and how to upload your files once it has been set up.

Please note: The student server does not support server-side programming or databases.

Set up your student account

• SSH (PC/Mac) to your Student account
• When you reach the prompt, type: webon. This will create the public_html directory in your student account where you will need to store the files for your website, as well as set the correct permissions on your student account so that people will be able to view your website.
• If you later wish to not have a website, or to not have your website visible, you can change your permissions back to the more secure settings by logging into your student account and typing weboff at the prompt instead of webon.
• Press ENTER.

Creating your files

There are a number of programs available that can be used to create webpages. However you choose to create your webpages, please note the following:

• Your filenames may be up to 240 characters long. However, limiting your file names to 8 characters is a good rule of thumb.

• Since UNIX is case sensitive it is a good idea to get into the habit of using all lowercase letters when you are naming files (to avoid confusion later on).
• Avoid the use of spaces or special characters, except for the underscore, in your file names.

Upload your files

Once you have your student account set up you will need to save the files for your website to your public_html directory. You can save your files to your public_html directory either through your Z: drive or via FTP.

Z drive

• Login to a computer in any of the Windows-based SCS computer labs in Watkins Hall 2101, Watkins Hall 2111, Sproul Hall 2225, and Olmsted Hall 1316.
• Double click on My Computer.
• Double click on the Z: drive.
• Double click on the public_html directory.
• Copy your files/folders to this folder.

FTP

These steps will vary somewhat according to what program you use.

• FTP (PC/Mac) to your student account.
• Select the public_html directory in the remote location window.
• Upload your files and folders to the public_html directory.

Viewing your website

After you are sure that you have saved everything to the public_html directory, go and look at your website. It is a good idea to get into the habit of always checking what you have posted because if you have made a mistake in your HTML code, what you see may not be what you were expecting.

• To view your web page, open your web browser.
• Go to http://student.ucr.edu/~UCRNetID/ where UCRNetID is your UCR NetID (ex: jdoe001)

If you receive an error saying that access is "forbidden" when you try to view your website then there is either an error with the permission settings on your account, or with your index page:

• Double check to be certain that you have an index page in your public_html folder named "index.html". Any variation, such as index.htm or Index.html, will not work.
• If you still receive an error you should try manually setting the permissions for your account:
  1. SSH (PC/Mac) to your Student account
  2. Type cd .. to change the directory to student/home%.
  3. Type chmod 711 username where username is your UCR Net ID.
  4. Type cd to change to your home directory.
  5. Type chmod 755 public_html.
  6. Type cd public_html to change to the public_html directory.
  7. Type chmod 644 *.