University of Connecticut

University Information Technolgy Services

Central Web Server

Using WebDav

The Central Web Server uses WebDav for updating web content. In order to use WebDav to manage your web site you must first have your NetID registered for that web site. Then you must use an application or an operating system which supports WebDav over SSL (not just WebDav alone). SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is an encryption mechanism which protects your web data in transit. Even if you do not consider your data private, SSL is required to protect your netid and password when you sign on at the start of a session.

WebDav URL

Every web site has its own WebDav URL based on your Operating System.

If you site name is mysite, and you use Windows (2000 or XP) or Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger, your WebDav URL would be:
https://web1.uits.uconn.edu:4443/mysite_source
Simply replace mysite with your web site's name.

All other versions of Mac OS X (10.2, 10.3) require a slightly different URL:
http://web1.uits.uconn.edu:8080/mysite_source

Setting up WebDav in Dreamweaver

Most web development applications support WebDav. The program Dreamweaver from Adobe is one such application. Dreamweavers' implementation of WebDav is slightly different depending on the version you use.

To set-up WebDav in Dreamweaver 8 (NOT MX or MX 2004):
(Watch the demonstration)

1. Select "Site" from the top menu
2. Select "New Site..." from the menu
3. At the top of the page, select the "Advanced" tab
4. On the left of the window, select "Remote Info"
5. Set Web Access to "WebDAV"
6. For URL, enter: https://web1.uits.uconn.edu:4443/mysite_source (mysite = your account name)
7. Enter your NetID and NetID password. (If you've forgotten your NetID password you can reset it at netid.uconn.edu)
8. Make sure that "Enable file check in and check out" is NOT checked

Your window should look something like this:


9. Click the OK button. You should be all set

To set-up WebDav in Dreamweaver MX or MX 2004 (NOT 8):

1. Select "Site" from the top menu
2. Select "New Site..." from the menu
3. At the top of the page, select the "Advanced" tab
4. On the left of the window, select "Remote Info"
5. Set Web Access to "WebDAV" and select "Settings"
6. For URL, enter: http://web1.uits.uconn.edu:8080/mysite_source (mysite = your account name)
7. Enter your NetID and NetID password. (If you've forgotten your NetID password you can reset it at netid.uconn.edu)
8. Make sure that "Check out files when Opening" is NOT checked

Your window should look something like this:


9. Click the OK button. You should be all set

Special Note for Dreamweaver MX and MX 2004:
Even after setting everything up correctly, you can still have problems in Dreamweaver MX and MX 2004. This has to do with the "Check In" and "Check Out" functions in these versions of Dreamweaver.
If you've used Dreamweaver with other servers, you are used to using the "Put" button to upload your files. However, if you use it with the WebDav server, you'll lock the file, and get errors. Instead, use the "Check In" button to upload your work when finished. The "Get" button should always be used to download files from your site.
If you are receiving error messages of "File is Locked", call the Web Development Lab at 486-0654 for further assistance.

Connecting to WebDav with an Operating System

Windows - Vista

Windows Vista is currently having problems connecting to WebDav. (April 2007)

Windows - XP, 2000

Watch Flash Video Demonstration

• Go to the Start button in the bottom left corner.
• Select "My Network Places"
• Select "Add a Network Place"
• Welcome to Add Network Place Wizard - Click Next
• Select "Choose another network connection"
• Enter your web site's full URL address
  • https://web1.uits.uconn.edu:4443/sitename_source
    • Replace "sitename" with your web server account.
    • Example: Admissions would enter:
      • https://web1.uits.uconn.edu:4443/admissions_source
• Enter your NetID and Password
• Check the option to remember your password
• Name your Network Place.
  • You can name it whatever you'd like, but it should be something particular to this account. The default tends to work well.
• Select Finish
• A window appears with a flashlight searching back and forth. There will also be a window called "Security Alert", it may be hiding behind other windows.
• Security Alert - Select Yes
• Enter NetID and Password - Select OK
• A window should appear showing you the contents of your web account. To upload, drag files into this window. To download, drag files off of this window.
• To reconnect in the future, just double click on the shortcut that should now exist in My Network Places

Troubleshooting:

• Check the URL address.
• Make sure you have access to the site.
  • You can check which sites you have access to by visiting http://web.uconn.edu/admin
• Make sure your NetID and password are current.
  • Check your NetID and Password
• Files that start with "._", for example: ._index.html
  • Ignore these, you can delete them if you like. These files are a side effect of files being uploading from a Mac.

 

Mac OS X

• Select the Finder from the dock. The finder icon is a blue smiling face.
• Click on "Go" from the white strip at the to pof the screen.
• Select "Connect to Server" from the drop-down menu.
• Enter your web site's full URL address
  • https://web1.uits.uconn.edu:8080/sitename_source
    • Replace "sitename" with your web server account.
    • Example: Admissions would enter:
      • https://web1.uits.uconn.edu:8080/admissions_source
• Enter your Net ID and Password
• A window appears with a flashlight searching back and forth. There will also be a window called "Security Alert", it may be hiding behind other windows.
  • Your web account will also appear as a Drive on your desktop.
• To disconnect from your account, select the icon for your web account, and choose File > Eject.

Troubleshooting:

• Check the URL address.
• Make sure you have access to the site.
  • You can check which sites you have access to by visiting http://web.uconn.edu/admin
• Make sure your NetID and password are current.
  • Check your NetID and Password
• Secure Directories
  • To access files in secure directories, Macs need to use a program called Goliath.
    • Otherwise file names will be truncated on download.

Mac OS 9

Mac OS9 does cannot connect to ther server through the OS, use Goliath instead.

Linux

There are several Linux distributions and desktop environments. Rather than give detailed instructions for each, we'll just mention a few universal methods for using WebDav:

• cadaver
  • Many Linux distributions supply the command-line program cadaver for connecting to WebDav sites. Just run it with your web site URL on the command line to start an FTP-like session. Note that Debian's version of cadaver does not support WebDav over SSL.
• nautilus
  • Gnome's nautilus browser can also browse WebDav shares. Type in your URL as show above.
• konqueror
  • KDE's konqueror browser can browse WebDav shares. Just type in your URL, except you must replace the https: with webdavs