Using MysaNiTy to Work with Internet Information Server

MysaNiTy generates folders for users to save and store work, as well as configuring for use with mail clients if you are running a mail server. As well, it creates virtual web directories for each user account which can be used with Internet Information Server, versions 2 to 5.

Internet Information Server(IIS) is a web service that can be installed with Windows NT or as an add on component included in the Windows NT Option Pack. It comes free with every licensed copy of NT.    

To check if you have IIS installed and running on your server, go through the following steps.  

1. Open up Control Panel.

2. Select the Services icon.

3. Scroll down and look for the World Wide Web Publishing Service. Its status should be Started and Automatic. If the service is not listed, you need to install IIS. If it is listed , but if the status is Stopped, you need to go into Startup and start the service.

If IIS is not installed prior to using MysaNiTy to generate accounts, go to the final section that explains what you must do to configure your accounts to integrate themselves to work with IIS. 

This service will allow students to view each others web pages through an Internet browser, provided the correct web address is filled in the Go To (Address) section in the web browser.  

Some schools have a registered DNS. However, many do not. IIS will still run a web service even if you are not connected to the Internet. As long as you know the IP address of the server, you can access other user's pages as if on the Web.  

You would type in the following in your browser (if you have no registered DNS) to access a users page..

                               IP address/username

                            ie - 102.129.0.71/cfagan

This will enable you to access an html document called Default.htm, which resides in the

homefolder\www directory for that user. If you wish to access another file in the users folder (myfile.htm as an example), then you would type in

                                      IP Address/username/name of file

 Ie       105.129.0.71/cfagan/myfile.htm

(*If you school has a registered DNS, you could type that in instead of the IP address.)  

Suppose a teacher wishes students to access a page she designed. She could modify the existing "default.htm" file which exists in the www directory under her home folder. Or, she could create a new .htm document, save it in her \www folder, then have students type in the address to that document in their web browsers.

For example, the teacher may be logged on to one of the workstations in the school. She runs Netscape Composer (or any other web page editor). She can choose to edit the "default.htm" in the www folder under her home folder. Or she can create a new page and save it to her www folder. Next, she would have the students in her class run a web browser and type the following into the Go to (Address) box;  

                                IP Address/username/name of file (if not called "default")

                                     ie - 105.129.0.71/cfagan/homework.htm

(If one chooses to show their default page, then you do not need to type in the /name of file).

You may wish to create a web page, with some links to students pages that you want your class to view. Run Netscape Page Composer to create a new page. When adding a link to a students page:

1. Block over the text on the page (most likely a students name or title of a topic).

2. Select "Link" from the menu bar.  

3. A form will open. Type the link. (You must type "http:// before the rest of the address.)                                                          

In the example picture, a link is  being made to  spower's page. The link includes   the IP  address  of the  server  running  IIS, theUser name, and the name of the page stored in her www directory, assignment.htm. Remember, if the name of the page is default.htm, you do not need to add the / file name at the end of the address.  

It is possible to connect your entire school in this fashion.  If one person created a page with links to teachers www directories, and each teacher created a page of links to their students' www. directories, then the whole school can become interlinked.   

Installing IIS After Account Generation                                  

Here is the simplest way to integrate MysaNiTy accounts with IIS.  

1. Run up MysaNiTy and  go into "Account Management"

2. Select "Add Classes" 

3. Create a new class.  

4. Close, then select "Move Accounts"

5. Select a class to move to the new class you created.

6. Move the accounts to the new class, then move them back to the original class.