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University of Nebraska–Lincoln

Campus Wide Information System

Pioneering New Frontiers

CWIS Provider Account Policy

All eligible UNL units or individuals are responsible for maintaining their websites on the NU Frontier server in compliance with this document and

Content Guidelines

Because the “public domain” nature of the Internet allows for access and reproduction of information on the Campus-Wide Information System beyond the control of Information Services and the governing board, the Provider must understand that material placed on the NU Frontier server becomes part of the public domain. It is possible to restrict the use of licensed material to users on the UNL campus. A Provider must clearly state on the Registration Form that access is to be restricted to campus users only.

Account Basics

In most cases, all website files should be placed within the provider’s designated html directory on the Web Server. This is where the server is directed to look for the content of a site.

The default home page for a site is named index.html. This page will be displayed whenever a site URL is used in the browser. For example, the URL for the mysite account (http://www.unl.edu/mysite) will display the file index.html, while the URL http://www.unl.edu/mysite/mypage.html will display the file mypage.html.

Each provider is responsible for maintaining the content of their site, checking for dead links within their pages, and removing out-of-date pages and images in order to keep disk space available for current pages.

Account Information and FTP Instructions

Passwords

Passwords are assigned by CWIS Project personnel. Passwords will be changed on a time schedule set by CWIS Project personnel.

Disk Space

As disk space is limited, each provider should make a realistic attempt to keep their site under 10 MB in size as a courtesy to the other providers.

Backups and Archival

Server backups of NU Frontier are made daily, but each provider should keep a copy of their site in case of catastrophic failure or a serious break-in of the server.

The Provider may be asked to work with the University Archivist to identify information or data that need to be preserved for archival purposes.

CGI Scripts and Executable Applications

The PERL scripting language is preferred for CGI, as the web server has been optimized for PERL.

CWIS has several generic scripts available. These include a counter and a form parser.

Chat rooms, PHP, databases, webboards or other related Applications are not available.

Individual providers may develop their own scripts. Once written, the providers should contact the CWIS webmaster (cwis3@unl.edu), who will then examine the CGI for potential security problems. If no problems exist, the CGI will be moved into production. Further changes to scripts should follow the same steps.

HTML Development

HTML 4.0 core tags are supported. Microsoft or other vender extensions are not available. Dreamweaver is the preferred authoring software.

Providers may use Server Side Includes (SSI). SSI is supported only as 'noExec' currently, which allows HTML parsing. SSI is enabled on all directories on frontier since the switch to the new server in January 2004.

Providers may request virtual hosts (ex: mysite.unl.edu). To qualify for an alias it must have a regional, national or international scope and fall within the teaching, research and service mission of the University. If you have need to use virtual hosts, contact the CWIS webmaster (cwis3@unl.edu).

Mail Usage

Outgoing mail only. The web server is not for reading mail.

MIME Types

We support all standard MIME types.

Usage Stats

CWIS statistics are available on the web throught August 2005 through Analog, a monthly analysis of the web server log files.
Analog Reference Guide and monthly files

If you need access_logs after that date, contact from Gary Aerts gaerts1@unl.edu.

 

© Revised May 14, 2007 • University of Nebraska-Lincoln • Send comments or questions to the CWIS webmaster (cwis3@unl.edu)