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Windows 2000CF webspace

This page is here to provide answers to some common questions about NetBenefit Win2KCF web space.

  1. What version of IIS is the server running?
  2. What file types does my Win2KCF webspace support?
  3. What is the default directory structure of my webspace?
  4. Where do I upload my databases?
  5. How many databases can I have for my site?
  6. What sort of databases are supported on my site?
  7. How do I set up ODBC Data Source Names for my databases?
  8. How do I connect to my NetBenefit Shared MS-SQL database from my Win2KCF website?
  9. How do I connect to my NetBenefit Shared mySQL database from my Win2KCF website?
  10. How do I upload my web pages from FrontPage?
  11. How do I request FrontPage Server Extensions on my site?
  12. What version of FrontPage Server Extensions are supported on my site?
  13. How do I change my webspace password?
  14. How can I send email from a form hosted on a Win2KCF site?
  15. What version of Cold Fusion is running on the Win2KCF servers?
  16. How can I find out more about Cold Fusion tags?
  17. Are there any restrictions on Cold Fusion tags?
  18. I am using session/application/server variables with Cold Fusion but I am getting errors. What could be the problem?
  19. Where do I put Perl scripts? Do I need to make a /cgi-bin folder?

1. What version of IIS is the server running?

All Windows 2000 servers run IIS 5.0

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2. What file types does my Win2KCF webspace support?

Our Windows 2000 webservers will support all of the standard files that ship as part of the operating system.

As well as static HTML pages this includes ASP (Active Server Pages) scripts and SHTML pages.

The servers also support Perl (.pl) files - our Win2000 webservers run version 5.61 of Active Perl.

Additionally our Win2KCF servers support Cold Fusion files (.cfm). This is not available on any of our other products.

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3. What is the default directory structure of my webspace?

Once you have made the connection to your webspace using FTP, you will see that the area has been arranged into three areas.

The databases directory is designed to hold your databases securely, outside the main web area. In this folder your databases will have the correct read/write permissions and will be protected from direct HTTP access.

The logs directory holds a series of raw log files which you can use to generate your own statistics; however we automatically generate a statistics report daily which can be accessed via www.yourdomain/stats/

The website directory is designed to hold your web pages, images and scripts, which are to be accessible to visitors to your website.

Inside your website directory you will find a subdirectory called stats. This read-only area contains your website statistics and control panel.

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4. Where should I upload my databases?

All databases should be uploaded to the databases folder on your webspace, where they will have the correct read/write permissions and will be protected from direct HTTP access.

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5. How many databases can I have for my site?

As many as you want. NetBenefit doesn't restrict the number of Databases that you can have.

Note that all databases should be uploaded to the databases folder on your webspace, where they will have the correct read/write permissions and will be protected from direct HTTP access.

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6. What sort of databases are supported on my site?

On the Win2000 webspace itself, you may use MS Access databases, MS FoxPro databases and even MS Excel-based databases.

MSAccess is recommended. You may create ODBC Data Source Names for MSAccess databases, see below.

You may also connect to our shared MS-SQL 2000 and mySQL database servers if you have purchased a database on either.

The recommended way of connecting to these external databases is via a connection string.

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7. How do I set up ODBC Data Source Names for my databases?

You may create an ODBC Data Source Name (DSN) for any Microsoft Access (.mdb) database that you have uploaded to your Databases folder.

To create a DSN, please go to your statistics page http://www.yourdomain/stats/ where you will find a link to the online DSN management tool for your website.

Your DSN will be of the format username-databasename e.g. if your username was nt1234 and your database was called properties.mdb your datasource would be nt1234-properties. For DSNs for other database types please email support@netbenefit.com.

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8. How do I connect to my NetBenefit Shared MS-SQL database from my Win2KCF website?

If you use ASP, the best way is via a connection string.

You will need to know your username, password, database name and name of the server on which your database is hosted.

Here is an example of an ASP script running a SELECT query on a MS-SQL database:

    StrSQL = "SELECT * FROM tblPlaces WHERE City='London'"
    Set Conn = Server.CreateObject("ADODB.Connection")
    ConnStr = "Driver={SQL Server};Server=myserver.netbenefit.com;"
    ConnStr = ConnStr & "Database=mydatabase;UID=myusername;PWD=mypassword;"
    Conn.Open ConnStr
    Set RS = Conn.Execute(StrSQL)

If you use Cold Fusion, you will need a DSN creating.

Please email support@netbenefit.com indicating your website and MS-SQL database if you require this feature.

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9. How do I connect to my NetBenefit Shared mySQL database from my Win2KCF website?

If you use ASP, the best way is via a connection string.

You will need to know your username, password, database name and name of the server on which your database is hosted.

Here is an example of an ASP script running a SELECT query on a mySQL database:

    StrSQL = "SELECT * FROM tblPlaces WHERE City='London'"
    Set Conn = Server.CreateObject("ADODB.Connection")
    ConnStr = "Driver={MySQL ODBC 3.51 Driver};Server=myserver.netbenefit.com;"
    ConnStr = ConnStr & "Database=mydatabase;UID=myusername;PWD=mypassword;"
    Conn.Open ConnStr
    Set RS = Conn.Execute(StrSQL)

If you use Cold Fusion, you will need a DSN creating.

Please email support@netbenefit.com indicating your website and mySQL database if you require this feature.

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10. How do I upload my web pages from FrontPage?

Before you attempt to publish your FrontPage web, you should request that the FrontPage Server Extensions are installed on your website (see below). This will ensure you are able to use FrontPage components and features in your web. If you do not have FrontPage Extensions, you will be unable to publish using the conventional method; FrontPage will default to FTP mode and parts of your site may not work as a result.

After creating and saving your web in FrontPage, select from the menus "File"-"Publish Web...". You will then be presented with the Publish Web dialog box. The top of this box asks you to specify where to publish your web to - enter your URL. Clicking on the Options button will give you the choice whether to publish only the changed pages or all pages (overwriting any already on your web site). Then click on the Publish button. A new dialog box will pop-up asking you for your UserID and Password for your web site. After entering these FrontPage will publish your web to your Win2K webspace.

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11. How do I request FrontPage Server Extensions on my site?

From your stats page you can request to have FrontPage extensions added.

We aim to get these installed within one working day.

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12. What version of FrontPage Server Extensions are supported on my site?

Our Win2000 webservers support FrontPage 2000 Server Extensions.

If you require FrontPage 2002 Server Extensions functionality, these are supported on our Win2003 product but please note that the Win2003 webservers do not support Cold Fusion.

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13. How do I change my web space password?

You will need to send a fax on headed paper to +44 (0)870 458 9454 or login to your control panel at http://web.archive.org/web/20070111122308/https://control.netbenefit.com/ and send a request using the request form in the Support section.

Please state your company ID, domain name and webspace username (e.g. nt1234).

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14. How can I send email from a form hosted on a Win2KCF site?

For Cold Fusion scripts you would use the CFMAIL tag.

A sample form and form-to-email script using CFMAIL may be found here.

For ASP scripts you could use either the CDONTS component or CDOSYS component.

A sample form and form-to-email script using CDOSYS, plus examples of CDOSYS usage, may be found here.

A sample form and form-to-email script using CDONTS, plus examples of CDONTS usage, may be found here.

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15. What version of Cold Fusion is running on the Win2KCF servers?

We are currently running Cold Fusion Enterprise 4.51 SP2.

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16. How can I find out more about Cold Fusion tags?

A list of available tags and their usage can be found here.

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17. Are there any restrictions on Cold Fusion Tags?

We've restricted the use of the following Cold Fusion Tags:

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18. I am using session/application variables with Cold Fusion but I am getting errors. What could be the problem?

You may see errors such as:

Symbol session.XXXX is in a scope that contains data shared across threads and cannot be accessed without an active lock

This is caused by using unlocked session (or application) variables in Cold Fusion code; our servers are configured to prohibit this.

Make sure that your variables are used in conjunction with the CFLOCK tag.

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19. Where do I put Perl scripts? Do I need to make a /cgi-bin folder?

You may out Perl scripts anywhere on your website.

You do not need to put them in /cgi-bin or /cgi, nor do you need any special permissions setting.

The only condition is that all Perl scripts must use the .pl file extension. (.cgi will not work.)  

  • CFREGISTRY
  • CFEXECUTE