Frequently Asked Questions
- What should my ‘homepage’ be called?
- What Versions of Apache, PHP and MYSQL do you run?
- What is the correct path to Perl and other programs on hornby.org’s Linux hosting servers?
- Does Hornby.org.nz allow me to use my own CGI scripts?
- What are the Hornby.org.nz mail server [POP/IMAP & SMTP] settings?
- What is a subdomain and why would I want one?
- Can I check web usage statistics for my website?
- How do I change file permissions?
- FTP:
- How do I use an FTP (File Transfer Protocol) program like CuteFTP to upload files to your server?
- Can I FTP from a browser without using a program such as CuteFTP or WS_FTP?
- How do I FTP upload my pages if my domain name is not yet delegated to Hornby.org.nz’s servers ?
What should my ‘homepage’ be called?
For Hornby Online’s Hosting Accounts the filename of your home page should always be:
index.htm, index.php or index.html
The Hornby Online web server will automatically send the file at path /home/username/public_html/index.htm or /home/username/public_html/index.html when a browser specifies http://yourdomain.com.
Back to top
What Versions of Apache, PHP and MYSQL do you run?
At the present we are running:
PHP Version 4.3.11 with gd support
Apache Version 1.3.33 MySQL
Version 4.0.21
all running on a Debian Linux box.
At present we do not support front-page extensions, but we are investigating this.
Back to top
What is the correct path to Perl and other programs on Hornby Online’s Linux hosting servers?
perl: /usr/bin/perl
sendmail: /usr/sbin/sendmail
date: /bin/date
python: /usr/bin/python
Domain server paths:
(using the example domain name fred.com)
Main dir: /virtual/fred.com/public_html/
Cgi-bin: /virtual/fred.com/cgi-bin/
Please Note
You will also need to make sure the scripts permissions are set to 755. You can change permissions through your control panel access and most reputable ftp clients.
Back to top
Does Hornby Online allow me to use my own CGI scripts?
Yes, certainly.
Each Linux hosting account has it's own cgi-bin folder enabled which you can run .cgi and .pl scripts from. This can be found in the root directory of your hosting space, alongside the ‘public_html’ folder.
You will also need to make sure the scripts permissions are set to 755. You can change permissions for hosting accounts on Hornby Online's Linux servers through your filemanager access or most reputable ftp clients. Usage of CGI scripts will be monitored, so that if there is excessive cpu usage you may be restricted in the future.
Back to top
What are the Hornby Online mail server [POP/IMAP & SMTP] settings?
If you are using email services through Hornby Online, your incoming [POP] mail server should be set to: mail.yourdomain.com
(Make sure you replace ‘yourdomain.com’ with your real domain name)
For your outgoing [SMTP] mail, we prefer our clients to use your ISP’s outgoing mail server. This reduces our costs, server load and allows maximum resources to be allocated by the server to serving web pages.
For example: xtra’s outgoing mail server address is – smtp.xtra.co.nz
Ihug’s outgoing mail server address is – smtp.ihug.co.nz
Please check with your ISP to clarify what their outgoing mail server [SMTP] setting should be.
If there is a problem using your ISPs mail server to send email, you can use the Hornby Online mail server address to send mail.
Back to top
What is a subdomain and why would I want one?
A subdomain is like an extension to your ‘root’ domain name. For example, you may register the domain name, ‘mydomain.com’. A subdomain would be something like ‘sales.mydomain.com’, ‘info.mydomain.com’ [or similar].
A new entry is made in the DNS records for the root [or parent] domain to create a subdomain.
You can use a subdomain in the same way as you would a normal root domain, that is: you can have it hosted as a website, you can point it to a URL, and so forth.
Back to top
Can I check web usage statistics for my website?
Hornby Online provides a comprehensive web site statistics program called ModLogan to clients with Linux hosting accounts.
You can check your website traffic statistics through your cpanel access, or though the url http://www.yoursite.com/stats/
Can I access the raw log files for my site?
Yes, these can be viewed on with ftp access in the folder /logs/.
Back to top
How do I change file permissions?
If you website is hosted on one of Hornby Online’s Linux hosting servers you can change permissions by logging into your cpanel, and going to the ‘file manager’.
Navigate to the folder or file you wish to change user permissions on, and click the number on the right of the file/folder (in the ‘perms’ column).
You then modify the file permissions as you require.
If your site is hosted on a Hornby Online Linux server, you can also change permissions through most reputable ftp clients.
For example with Cute-FTP you can right-click on a file and get a pop-up menu. On that is an option CHMOD. This is the command to alter the permissions. (For example: script files (*.cgi, *.pl) need to be 755 to function correctly).
Back to top
FTP
By far, the simplest way to manage your site content on Hornby Online's hosting servers is by using FTP.
You will need an FTP client [program]. (Many are available at download.com). You can then use the FTP client to login to your hosting space with the username and password supplied by us when the account is created and transfer files and/or folders from your local computer to the server quite simply.
Back to top
How do I use an FTP (File Transfer Protocol) program like CuteFTP to upload files to your server?
The first time you use CuteFTP, the Connection Wizard will start.
The Connection Wizard will prompt you for all the information required to connect to your site so you can upload your files to our server. You will be prompted for the following information:
- your ISP (Internet Service Provider) - choose one from the pull-down menu. If your ISP is not listed, select 'Other'.
- a name for your site (this can be anything you like).
- your ftp host address. You can enter your host address which is either your domain name either with or without ‘www’ in front. (Also, make sure to leave off the http:// ) As an example, if your website address is http://www.mydomain.co.nz you can enter either www.mydomain.co.nz or mydomain.co.nz
- your username. (the hosting account username we provide you with upon setup).
- your password. (the hosting account password we provide you with upon setup….or whatever you may have subsequently changed it to).
- the path for the directory containing the files you wish to upload. Press Browse to view the available directories on your computer. Click the directory containing the web pages you wish to upload. Please ensure your site content is always uploaded to the ‘public_html’ directory [linux hosting]
1. Alternatively, if you do not use the Connection Wizard, you will need to enter your FTP information using the Site Manager. Click the Site Manager icon on the upper left corner of your screen. Enter the information as described in step
2. If you have set the FTP program to connect automatically, you will already be connected. If you have not, you can use the Site Manager to connect or click the “Quick Connect” icon.
3. The files on your computer will be displayed on the left side of the screen; your web files on our server will be displayed on the right side of the screen.
4. You can ‘drag and drop’ any files you wish to upload to our server. Click the desired file in your local directory and drag it across the screen to the remote directory.
Note: The page that you wish to come up automatically when someone visits your site (your home page) must be in the ‘public_html’ folder and not in the root directory or another subfolder.
Back to top
Can I FTP from a browser without using a program such as CuteFTP or WS_FTP?
Yes. (Although we recommend using an FTP program as it is generally easier, less prone to technical trouble and much quicker).
For this example, we are using Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.
1. Open your browser.
2. In the Address bar, where you would normally type the URL - for example, http://www.mydomain.co.nz - enter your host address with 'ftp' instead of 'http'. For example, ftp://www.mydomain.co.nz
3. A window will pop up asking for your username and password. If it does not, select ‘file’ and then ‘login as’ at the top of your browser.
Enter the username assigned to you when you joined Hornby Online, for example: 'mydomain'. Enter the password assigned to you when you joined Hornby Online (or whatever you may have subsequently changed it to).
Click [OK].
4. Your web files that are being stored on Hornby Online's servers will appear in your browser just as they would in a normal window. You can now open Windows Explorer, go to the directory containing the files you wish to upload to the Hornby Online server and drag and drop (or cut and paste) the desired files to the Hornby Online server. Once pasted or dragged to the Hornby Online window, the files are uploaded. This technique can also be used to copy files from the Hornby Online server to your computer.
Back to top
How do I FTP upload my pages if my domain name is not yet delegated to Hornby Online's servers ?
You can upload your website before moving your domain name, thus avoiding any downtime as the domain is moved.
You can do this either via FTP [using the server IP as the host address] or through the file manager in your control panel access. >
Page last updated 24 March, 2008
Back
