Topics

Server Index file names

When a filename isn't specified in a URL, the server will look for a default file to send, if none is found, then the server will make up and return an index of the contents of the directory being accessed, the default file name for an index file can be any of the following list:

Taking the orbhost site as an example, the URL http://web.orbhost.net/ and http://web.orbhost.net/index.html would both return the home page, because the file index.html is present in the directory containing the site.

Every directory and subdirectory not containing such index file, will be processed by the server and an index of the contents will be produced and returned to the browser. This feature is sometimes enhanced and called "fancy indexing".

It is not advisable to ommit an index file, for security purposes, it is preferable not to let the public know what is in the directories. So you should always make sure while you are designing your site, that the page that is to be returned to the browsers by the server, in each directory and subdirectory, is named by one of the names listed in the table above.

The names in the table above reflect an attempt to accomodate the different platforms available out there on the market. The files ending with only 3 letters, are for the ones using the PC platform, which only handles the 8.3 scheme for filenaming. This will allow those who design their site only on PCs to not have to worry about their limited filenaming capabilities. The uppercase names are for the one using only MS-DOS type software and platform.

The orbhost server is a UNIX system and doesn't have filenaming limitations like on the PCs. But always keep in mind that UNIX is case sensitive and INDEX.HTML isn't the same as index.html, so you should always check for such things if your links don't work. This also applys to the directory names.

orbhost's Support

Check the How Do I page for answers to many of the most common basic questions  Hit Counter  FTP login  Telnet login  Basic UNIX  Basic CGI  permissions  E-mail & Mailboxes  Web design Tips and tools  Search Engines Hints & strategies  Shopping cart Also check the external links about Minivend  Database Also check the external links about MySQL

External Links

MySQL site Relational database  Minivend site Shopping cart  wwwcount Graphical hit counter  Perl Links  Search engines Info & resources

In case of emergency

E-mail the tech support or you can also try contacting the system administrator directly on ICQ at #18164451