Instructions for the EnviroWeb Server
Due to limited staff resources, EnviroWeb requires that organizations are self-sufficient. We can only respond to requests for basic technical support (ie: website is unavailable, cannot access account, etc.). We cannot provide tutorials on how to create a website, how to ftp files, how to write cgi scripts, etc.
Before logging in or uploading any files, please read our Terms of Use.
Basic Instructions:
To upload your website files, follow these steps:
- ftp to your domain name (ex: yourdomain.org).
- login with your ftp username and your password.
- Go to the httpdocs directory.
- Upload your files to this directory. Be sure to include an index.html file as your main index page.
For security reasons, we do not provide shell access to the EnviroWeb servers. You can only access the server through ftp. Please do not request shell access.
Each organization can manage their e-mail accounts and website options through a web-based site management interface. Each organization is given only one account (called the "domain user" account) to access this interface. To log in, go to https://enviroserver.envirolink.org:8443 and type in the username and password for your domain user account.
Please continue reading this page for a detailed description of the services we are providing, and see our Frequently Asked Questions for more information about how to use your EnviroLink website.
Server Details
The EnviroWeb server runs Apache on a Linux operating system. We use Plesk 5.0 hosting software. EnviroWeb provides the following services to each hosted organization:
- virtual domain name hosting (required)
- 24/7 ftp access to your website files
- 40 MB of space for your website files and e-mail accounts (organizations requiring more space should contact after we approve your application)
- full management of up to 10 e-mail accounts for your organization (organizations requiring more e-mail accounts should contact after we approve your application)
- ability to set up mail groups, forwarding files, and vacation messages for your e-mail accounts
- ability to create mail groups for multiple e-mail addresses
- access to website statistics for your domain
- full control over your own CGI/perl scripts
- ability to set up password-protected directories
- ability to create one SQL database with multiple tables; access to PhpMyAdmin
- Note: we do not support Microsoft Frontpage extensions
- Note: we do not provide dial-up access to our server
Each organization's staff or volunteers are completely responsible for uploading the website files to the servers and updating and maintaining your website on a regular basis. EnviroWeb makes sure that the servers are operational and running smoothly.
We do not require that you have any links, framesets, banners, etc. related to EnviroWeb hosting on your website. All content on your site is your responsibility. Some of the organizations we host choose to link to us or thank us for providing free hosting, but this is voluntary. If you wish to use a graphic to link to us, you can find some choices here.
Types of Accounts
There are four types of accounts associated with your website:
- domain user
- ftp account
- web users
- e-mail accounts
Each website can have only one domain user account. The domain user has access to a web-based interface for the domain, where he/she chooses the settings and preferences for your website and e-mail accounts. This account is also used to set up new e-mail accounts, set up web user accounts, change passwords, and create protected directories. The username is your domain name (ex: yourdomain.org), and the password is originally assigned by EnviroWeb, but should be changed (after you first log in) to a secure password known only by authorized users in your organization. To log in, go to https://enviroserver.envirolink.org:8443 (you must have javascript enabled on your browser to log in).
Each website can have only one main ftp account. This account is only used for uploading and/or downloading your main website files. The username and password are originally assigned by EnviroWeb. The password should be changed by the domain user to a secure password known only by authorized users in your organization. To change the password, log in to https://enviroserver.envirolink.org:8443 as the domain user, then click on the Hosting button.
Each website can have up to 5 web users. Web users can create personalized webpages using individual ftp accounts which only have access to one subdirectory of the website. The subdirectory's web address is in this format: yourdomain.org/~webuser. Web users can be useful for organizations with multiple regional chapters which each want to have their own page to maintain within the organization's website, for example.
Each organization has the ability to create up to 10 e-mail accounts for their staff/volunteers. These accounts can be used in four different ways: 1) as a regular mailbox for receiving and sending mail 2) as a forwarding/redirecting account which sends all mail to an address you specify 3) as a mail group which forwards mail to a set of specified addresses (to be used for internal organizational mailing lists) and 4) as an autoresponder account/vacation message. All e-mail accounts are in this format: username@yourdomain.org.
E-mail accounts can be accessed in two ways: via POP3/IMAP protocols or via a web interface. To access your mail via POP3/IMAP, use an e-mail program like Netscape Mail, Outlook Express or Eudora. Set your incoming server to your domain name (ex: yourdomain.org) and your outgoing (SMTP) server to your Internet Service Provider's SMTP server. You may have to contact your ISP to find out what their SMTP server is. To access your mail via a web interface, go to webmail.yourdomain.org and log in with your e-mail username and password.
A secure password is one that contains letters (upper and lowercase), numbers and punctuation/symbols, and is not a common dictionary word. Do not share your password with anyone else. Do not use the same password for your EnviroLink website account that you use for other personal accounts.
All organizations are responsible for keeping their own backups of their websites. We strongly suggest that all sites be backed up on a regular basis by downloading all website files onto a personal computer.
Please see our Frequently Asked Questions for more information about how to use your EnviroLink website.