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Help on setting up a web server

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W2DEN
W2DEN's picture
Help on setting up a web server
Thanks for reading this and happy new year.

How do I add a Windows Apache web server, of course with some web pages, to an AREDN network?
If this is spelled out somewhere, please point me to it. If not some simple instructions would help.

Setup: Windows 7 computer connected via a GS105E switch to an AREDN network through a Nano M2. Currently tunneled but will go on the air eventually.

I see other nodes serving web pages and have no idea how it is done. I have some familiarity with running a local Apache server as i have done some web development. Am lost on how to do it on the AREDN network.

Currently running 5 host MODE LAN Mode, but that is not in stone.

Will take any advice you can offer.

 
WU2S
WU2S's picture
Use Advertised Services

Go to the Setup page on the node that gave a DHCP address to the computer with the web server on it.
Then go to the Port Forwarding, DHCP and Services page.
On the right side of that page, enter the appropriate information under Advertised Services:
1) Name = some name you want to use as a link to your web server - example: W2DEN-www
2) Link = check this box if you want it accessible from other places on your mesh network
3) Just before the :// is an empty box - here is where you put the protocol to be used - typically http or https
4) URL = usually the IP address of the web server - possibly followed by a directory name - example: 10.118.208.231/www
5) Following the ":" is an empty box - here is where you put the port the web server uses - typically 80 or 8080
6) Following the "/" is the page file on the web server to access - typically index.html or may be something else like w2denpage.htm
7) Click the "Add" button to store this information on the node

Now you will see and link for this node on the Mesh Status page the will access the web page you just defined.
 

W2DEN
W2DEN's picture
Oops Doesnot work from a remote site
From my attached laptop this works fine. if I try from a remote site it will not connect to the web.
URL is drum-machine.local.mesh/index.htm
the error is This site can't be reached . . .
K5DLQ
K5DLQ's picture
Couple of things:

Couple of things:
1) is your windows firewall allowing connections on that interface (to the web server)?
2) is Apache bound to all interfaces, or, just 127.0.0.1 (local only)?
3) did you setup a DHCP reservation on the node for your PC?  (and named it "drum-machine")
 

W2DEN
W2DEN's picture
One by one
Thanks for helping out.
1) I added port 80 to the Win 7 incoming Rule with no change
2) Apache is listening to 0.0.0.0:80 which should mean any incoming IP on port 80
Listen 0.0.0.0:80
Listen [::0]:80
3) yes, Hostname Drum-Machine has its IP address reserved.

I have noticed that W2DEN-www shows up twice in the Services list on the remote node, accessed via Teamviewer..
 
W2DEN
W2DEN's picture
Here is what the remote node
Here is what the remote node gives when i try to connect to the web server:

Forbidden

You don't have permission to access /index.htm on this server.


Apache/2.4.23 (Win32) PHP/5.6.25 Server at drum-machine.local.mesh Port 80
K5DLQ
K5DLQ's picture
ok.  That's an error returned
ok.  That's an error returned by Apache, so, the browser is able to contact it. 
Next, is to figure out the Apache issue of accessing /index.htm
 
W2DEN
W2DEN's picture
Thank you VERY much, this is
Thank you VERY much, this is exactly what I needed....
FYI Step 4) only gives a dropdown of the attached devices (Ubiquity and the local computer). The local computer worked.

QUESTION: Should i be using NAT? or is 5 host Direct OK? I know NAT requires port forwarding. If you think i should switch then i will need more help.

73 & HNY
Den
kf7nqw
NAT vs Direct

In Salt Lake City, most are using the direct host option. This way no NAT is needed. One reason to use NAT is if you have over 13 hosts on that network. And for MESH, 13 is many. NAT also does provide a level of security but it may be overkill considering who is using MESH hosts.

W2DEN
W2DEN's picture
Found the solution
Thanks to all the help here especially WU2S with his step by step. I am confirming some of the additional steps i took and will write this up for our local group, can share here if there is any interest.
73 all and Happy New Year
W2DEN
K6OQK
K6OQK's picture
Nano Beam longevity...

Just curious how the survivability is of the Nano Beam units.  I'm in the Los Angeles area and was curious how well the plastic case and plastic mounting components of the units hold up over time when permanently mounted outside, on the side of a tower for example.

Thanks,

Burt, K6OQK

K5DLQ
K5DLQ's picture
(probably need to start a
(probably need to start a separate thread for the NanoBeam question)
K6OQK
K6OQK's picture
Ok, thanks.  Just did that, I
Ok, thanks.  Just did that, I hope.  :)

Burt, K6OQK
KB5LNC
Can't figure how to share connected Laptop C: Drive content

Greetings.  I looked through all the forums and this one looked as close to what I am trying to do.
I recently sent up a 4 node mesh and have been able to connect two 2.4GHz NanoStations and two 5GHz NanoStations together and able to see all the stations on laptops connected to nodes one and four.  Node 1 has internet access and I have that capable of being access on node four. 

​I am now trying to share files from my laptop connected on node 1 throughout the mesh.  I am been trying to utilize the "advertise services" section, but believe I must be doing something wrong.  I tried a few things and left them and captured a screen shot. It won't let me type in anything in the URL box, only select from a dropdown. From the directions above from WU2S, I can get close and see the "Laptop" advertised across the mesh, I just don't know what to put in all the blocks, or I'm entering something incorrectly.

​Below is a screen shot of the page...I've never worked with port forwarding before, so what am I missing....

Thanks,

Ron

Displaying pastedImage.png

K5DLQ
K5DLQ's picture
First, setup a DHCP
First, setup a DHCP reservation on the left side of that screen. 
Afterwards, you can create the advertised service by selecting your PC from the dropdown list of reserved addresses.
 
KB5LNC
Thought I did....

Thanks, but I thought that is what I did on the left with the 10.231.151.100 under DHCP Address Reservations.

​It not, do I need to create another one?  Assuming the picture made it through, do I have the "Advertised Services" correct?  Learning all this network stuff as I go...Sorry.

K5DLQ
K5DLQ's picture
the picture didn't come thru.
the picture didn't come thru.  You need to attached it at the bottom of the post entry screen
KB5LNC
Cleaned Up the Screen Shot

The first one didn’t appear to be very readable so I cropped it a bit in hopes the auto-resize doesn’t shrink it too much. 

I know I must be missing a step somewhere.

I think I have it set up correctly in the DHCP Address Reservations section.  Not to many options to select in there.

I have shared the C: drive on the connected computer, but believe I am missing something under the Advertised Services section. 

On other nodes, the “Laptop” and “Laptop2” are visible.  I did it twice in case the “https:” was required.

Any help or suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Ron

Image Attachments: 
K5DLQ
K5DLQ's picture
did you resolve the Apache
did you resolve the Apache error from my comment here?:  http://www.aredn.org/comment/5850#comment-5850
 
KB5LNC
Should I start a new thread?

Darryl,

Mine isn't regarding the Apache server or errors, which is where this thread started.  I guess I should have started a new one.  

I believe the Apache server question got resolved based on some earlier comments, but not 100% sure. I used this thread since it was the closest one to sharing a file or hard drive....they seem like the solution would be similar.  I am just at the beginning of all this and working to add things to my mesh.  Just planning to start with the basics for now before connecting to the larger mesh here in Virginia.  

I can start a new thread if that is more appropriate.  



 

KB5LNC
Picture Attached this time....
Thanks, I didn't realize it wasn't making it through....

Attaching this time....
 
Image Attachments: 
W2DEN
W2DEN's picture
I'm no expert
Shouldn't a web page (index.htm) b in the right most Advertised Services column rather than C?
This would be a web page in your Apache htdocs folder or www folder if you are using WAMP.
KB5LNC
Starting a new thread
I will start a new thread, I am just trying to share my C drive and/or files on it.  Sorry for using this thread..

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