Users home page HOWTO on OpenVMS

OpenVMS is not one UNIX like operating system, even if it fulfils UNIX standard, that lot of other unices do not. This mini HOWTO will describe, step by step, howto create and get working your home page at typical OpenVMS system as vax.polarhome.com and alpha.polarhome.com.

Create subdirectory structure [.WWW.CGI-BIN] from your home (if it is not automatically created)
```
			set def sys$login
			cre/dir <.www.cgi-bin>
	        
```

set protection to World read/execute - able whole username/www/cgi-bin path

			set def sys$login
			set def <->
			set prot=(W:RE) USERNAME.DIR
			set prot=(W:RE) <.USERNAME>WWW.DIR
			set prot=(W:RE) <.USERNAME.WWW...>*.*

Put your html files and CGI's in deployment location. Note: Do not forget that INDEX.HTML is the default index file.
During file creation default file permissions are (S:RWE:O:RWED,G:R,W:) therefore you have to change all publicly available files to Word readable, one more time:
```
			set def sys$login
			set prot=(W:RE) SYS$DISK:*.*
		
```
Test your homepage with
```
			lynx http://localhost/~username
		
```
Test some CGI - that you created in CGI-BIN subdirectory
Your home page is ready for use :)
Important note: Server will respond: "directory not found" error, when user has password expired.
Another important note: Server vax.polarhome.com is portforwarded in polarhome REALM, therefore the home page http://www.polarhome.com:703, and users home pages could be found at http://www.polarhome.com:703/~username. You can found more information about port forwarding at polarhome.com realm at ports page.
The last important note: You have to be aware of security risks that come with enabling "World read/execute" permission over your home directory. You can always disable your homepage iand improve your home directory protection with:
```
			set def sys$login
			set def <->
			set prot=(W) USERNAME.DIR
		
```

ACL approach

VAX user LEDUDU <ledudu@vax.polarhome.com> pointed out that it is more safe to use OpenVMS ACLs to set right security permissions for directories:

			set def sys$login
			SET SEC/ACL=(IDENTIFIER=[HTTP$SERVER],ACCESS=READ+EXECUTE) WWW.DIR
			SET SEC/ACL=(IDENTIFIER=[HTTP$SERVER],ACCESS=READ+EXECUTE) <.WWW>CGI-BIN.DIR
			SET SEC/ACL=(IDENTIFIER=[HTTP$SERVER],ACCESS=READ+EXECUTE) <->YOUR_USERNAME.DIR

This approach is favorised and all new users has already set correct directory rights.

NOTE: these settings are valid for alpha server as well, except that public_html directory is users HTTP home/root and not WWW as on vax.

ACL comands for alpha.polarhome.com are:

			set def sys$login
			SET SEC/ACL=(IDENTIFIER=[AP_HTTPD,APACHE$WWW],ACCESS=READ+EXECUTE) PUBLIC_HTML.DIR
			SET SEC/ACL=(IDENTIFIER=[AP_HTTPD,APACHE$WWW],ACCESS=READ+EXECUTE) <.PUBLIC_HTML>CGI-BIN.DIR
                        SET SEC/ACL=(IDENTIFIER=[AP_HTTPD,APACHE$WWW],ACCESS=READ+EXECUTE) <->YOUR_USERNAME.DIR

Please note, that all new users (from 20.10.2003) have these settins and home pages should work correctly.

If you have some problem, send questions to support@polarhome.com