help with Apache and Perl

Hello there,

I just registered and domain name and also installed Apache web server I just don't know what to do after in order to get .cgi or .pl programs to work. Can somebody give me any advice on what to do from now?

Young

What kind of server you using? *nix? windows?

here's some useful guides to get started...

How to Add Perl CGI Script Support to Your Apache Server on Windows
http://www.thesitewizard.com/archive/addcgitoapache.shtml

Running CGI Scripts With Perl, Apache and Win95/98
http://www.visca.com/clueless/perl_apache_win9x.html


I'm pretty sure these guides work in Linux/Unix as well, just change the paths accordingly.

thanx a trillion everyone!! actually, I got the perl and CGI to work on my
windows Apache server.

here's the problem now. i just registered my domain name last week, and i don't have a
clue what to do next. couple of days ago i just forwarded my domain name, and i don't know
exactly what this does. lemme clearify my question. what do i have to do in other to get these
.pl or .cgi programs (or even .html) programs to load after typing www.mydomainname.com?
If you could give me some hand with this, I would be much appreciated.


Young

Do you have a server with your files hosted?

hello,

what do you exactly mean by that?

To have your files online you need to host them on a computer right? Do you have one already setup?

Hello,

I am not sure if I did or not. Can you tell me the procedure of doing what you just mentioned?
Sorry for all the trouble. I am a beginner with these things, and I just don't have a clue what I am doing.


Sincerely,
Young

Here read this http://www.w3schools.com/hosting/default.asp it has some stuff on it. If you don't understand something just say so.

Just reread your first post you state

Where did you install the Apache web server?

sounds like Young hopes to run the website from his/her Windows machine... no?
i still recommend reading that turtorial...

I've set this up before, but its fairly unreliable... seeing as your computer has to be on all the time... but if you can't afford hosting, sometimes its the only option... [still involves a fee to a naming service]

hello,

I installed the Apache web server in my labtop, in
C drive. This is the directory :

C:\Program Files\Apache Group\Apache2

and basically in this directory, folders like cgi-bin and and
htdocs are stored

I have one more question to ask. I just read the documentation, which you
recommended me and was wondering exactly what the documentation meant by
these following lines:

"To publish your work, you must copy your site to a web server."

First of all, does this mean that I must save my web pages in this directory?
"C:\Program Files\Apache Group\Apache2\htdocs"

"Web hosting means storing your web site on a public server"

I cannont understand this line at all. What is a difference between a web server and public server?

Young

Hello there,

Yes, that is correct. I am trying to run the website from my windows machine (a laptop running windows xp pro). The whole website business is just part of a project, which I planned for couple of months. I am trying to see if the whole plan works out.
Now, as far as turing on my machine for twenty-four hour, this won't happen, since I was planning to set up the "operation-hour" (the time, when I will turn on the machine. This website will not be any sort of e-commerce or anything like it. Just a simple project that will help me learn how the running the web site will be like. Hopefully by the time when I can afford hosting, then I might go into something more serious. Until then, this is just a simple project that I planned out. Anyhow, thanx for asking. I really appreciate it.


Young

Ok if your just doing this to learn then you don't need a domain it's just a waste of money (unless you want it so no one else can take it). You are doing it correctly put your files in the "C:\Program Files\Apache Group\Apache2\htdocs" directory and you'll be able to see them by going to http://localhost/ You're on the right track.



A public server is a web server, well a public server has a web server running on it, that is on 24/7 and normally hosted on a fast connection and not from your home. Once you go public you definity don't want to have it running off your local computer.

Hello,

So then what type of server is Apache? I know for sure that
it's open source http server.

And when I type in the http://localhost, it shows me the page indicating
that I have successsfully loaded the server, but it doesn't show me anything that
I saved in the htdocs folder.

I still also don't get the reason, why if I type in my registered domain name, it shows
the page indicating that the website cannot be found. Weird.

Young

Apache is a web server, it's a program that runs on your computer/server that serves up the files for the visitors. When I said "A public server is a web server" I ment that it's a server (i.e a remote computer that hosts files for people that is up 24/7 normally) and on it, it runs Apache/IIS etc... and then it becomes a webserver.

Did you link the files correctly in the htdocs folder? Is there a file called index.html or index.htm? (are you using PHP?)

Your domain name won't take you to your local computer unless you tell it to, just buying a domain won't automaticly take it to your web server. You have to have it point to an IP. You could have it point to your IP (only if it's a static IP) then when you type your domain in it'd take you to your webserver, but localhost is faster .

Hello there,

Thank you for another helpful tip. I just found out how to link the files correctly in htdocs folder. When I type http://localhost/myfile.html, it shows the file that I created. Whew, one problem down, one problem to go (By the way, I won't be using PHP in this project, only HTML, JavaScript and CGI Perl).

You also have mentioned about pointing my domain to the static IP. Yes, I do have a static IP, but just don't know how to get my domain point to the IP. I think I will try to find out how to do this by myself, although some advice would be appreciated. It will be a good practice for me, as I am trying to understand the whole concept of webserver, domain and such and such. Anyways, thank you very much for your help. I truly appreciate it.

Young