Programming Applications for Netscape Servers - Softcover

Bassiri, Kaveh Gh

Softcover

ISBN 10: 020141970X ISBN 13: 9780201419702

Publisher: Addison-Wesley, 1998

Synopsis

A guide to configuring, managing, and programming Netscape servers for developers building Web-based applications. Describes the inner workings of Netscape servers 1.x through 3.5.1, including a review of server configuration options, file settings, and administration techniques. Reviews the Netscape server application programming interface and the Web application interface, and compares NSAPI, CORBA, WAI, CGI with other server programming options. The included CD-ROM includes code samples, utilities, documentation, and CGI libraries. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

About this title

From the Inside Flap

When I first began working as a consultant for Netscape, I had not planned on writing a book about the Netscape Server. At that time, the Netscape Server was only an enhanced version of the original NCSA HTTP Server written by Rob McCool. I was excited about the potential for developing Internet applications. Netscape was the first company to add an API to server programming options. The use of this API (NSAPI) opened a whole new realm of possibilities. I worked with Netscape to provide support, instruction, and examples for the Netscape Server. While working on NSAPI sample applications, I noticed the lack of essential information and resources. NSAPI was a new programming model, and its examples and documentation were sparse and rudimentary.

After my talk on NSAPI at the Netscape Developer Conference, I was asked to write a book on Netscape Server. I was hesitant. After all, I was busy developing and there was no time to write. Working as a Netscape server developer and training different Web administrators and programmers, however, I knew what other developers needed. What finally persuaded me to write such a book was the need.

So, I set out to write the book. I planned to write a book that discusses programming and technical issues not covered by other resources. I wanted to respond to some of the most frequently asked questions about the Netscape Server and how to extend it. I wanted the reader to gain not only a general review of server management and programming issues, but also an in-depth understanding of key programming options and different server configuration settings. My intended readers are experienced Webmasters who need to understand how the server works and how to customize its features, as well as developers who need to program for the Netscape Server.

In this book, server administrators will find information about the workings of the server, about how the server processes a request and the variety of server configuration settings. Programmers will find a review of different programming options for extending the server's processing of client requests. This book includes API reviews, examples, and walk-through tutorials for writing server applications. The programming options for Server 3.5.1 are so numerous that a single book cannot cover all the topics with meaningful study. This book focuses in on a review of CGI, NSAPI, CORBA, and WAI. CGI is the traditional server programming option and provides a good starting point. NSAPI is the least documented and most in need of a detailed discussion. CORBA opens the door for future methods of extending the server. WAI, itself a CORBA implementation, is the way of the future.

There still remains the problem of writing a book about a server that is updated so quickly. In this book, I try to address programming issues for anyone who runs a Netscape Server from Server 1.x to 3.5.1. Since many of you are using the latest version of the server or are planning to update to the latest version, I have focused on Enterprise Server 3.5.1. I kept in mind those who are still using earlier versions of the servers and made efforts to provide information about all the earlier servers. Much of the information covered in this book should remain the same for the future Netscape Server 4.x.You will find the latest revision of manuals, sample programs, articles, and other resources at this site.The release notes include important information about the latest updates, changes, and bugs. Netscape's online documentation provides the most current information about each version of the server. In an attempt to provide the most current information, much of this information may still be in revision. Online documents may be inaccurate or incomplete.

In this book, I have provided a tested review of the Netscape Server and its programming options. Although a printed book may not be as current as an online document, it has gone through a number of additional reviews and tests. Manuals or help files from a company usually provide the reference material and how-to instruction, but they do not provide an outsider's view. This book includes a number of warnings, bug reports, hints, and suggestions to assist you as a developer. The reason for the inclusion of this information is not to lessen the reputation of Netscape Server; instead, this information helps you find the source of a problem quickly and allows you to continue developing server solutions.

I hope you will find this book a source of learning and resources, because I really wrote it for my friends and colleagues. What You Need to Know

To use the information in this book to greatest advantage, you should have a general understanding of the Internet, the Web, HTML, and Netscape Server. You should become familiar with Netscape Server and the Netscape client browser, both Navigator and Communicator.

You should also be familiar with the C programming language. You should have experience with the client/server environment. Knowledge of C++ is also helpful, especially when we discuss WAI and CORBA. In the CORBA and WAI section, we also discuss Java programming options, so an understanding of Java can be beneficial. Nevertheless, you do not need to know Java to develop CORBA or WAI applications. For CORBA, you can use C++ or Java. For WAI, you can use C, C++, or Java. Conventions

The default server used for this book is Enterprise Server 3.5.1 for NT, but we will also refer to other platforms of Netscape Server. The main Netscape UNIX server used for testing and development for this book is Solaris. We will also refer to the Netscape FastTrack Server and previous versions of the Netscape Servers when needed. The name of the server is foo. The various examples of an IP address in this book use the fictitious IP address 1.2.3.4. The default browser is the English version of Netscape Communicator 4.04 for NT. In general, references to Navigator 4.x also apply to Communicator 4.x, and vice versa. Navigator 4.x serves as the Navigator component of Communicator.

The default server path used for the Enterprise Server in this book is c:/netscape/server/. The forward slash (/) in the system path information is used to separate the components of the system path, however, at the Windows NT command prompt, you use a backslash (\) to specify a path. The following conventions are used for formatting:

Courier font is used for code, URL address, HTML tags, system paths, variables, data structures, file names, class names, syntax information, and information that may appear on your computer screen. Bold is used for functions, obj.conf and magnus.conf directives, and emphasis. For example, Courier bold is used to emphasize the main server configuration files: obj.conf, magnus.conf, and mime.types. Courier Italic is used for texts or descriptions of variables that you need to input or replace with actual data.

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From the Back Cover

Programming Applications for Netscape Servers fully explains Netscape Servers and provides examples of how to program applications for them. This book describes the inner workings of Netscape Servers 1.x through 3.5.1 (the latest version), including a review of server configuration options, file settings, and administration techniques. You will also find a review of API fundamentals, examples, walk-through tutorials for writing server applications, and a close examination of the most appropriate programming tools for extending Netscape Servers and creating leading-edge Internet and Intranet applications. This book offers:
* in-depth coverage of NSAPI (the Netscape Server API)
* the first comprehensive review of WAI (Web Application Interface)-the latest Netscape programming option
* a complete review of Netscape Server configuration settings
* comparisons of NSAPI, CORBA, WAI, CGI, and other server programming options
* a CD-ROM with code samples, utilities, and documentation for CGI, NSAPI, CORBA, and WAI-plus NSAPI extensions for Perl and Python and CGI libraries for C, C++, and Perl

In addition, this book surveys CORBA and first-generation Web programming interfaces--including CGI, Windows CGI, and Server-Side Includes--to ease the transition into advanced Netscape Server programming. Programming Applications for Netscape Servers quickly brings you up-to-speed on Netscape Servers, covering Netscape Enterprise, FastTrack, Commerce, and Communication server programming. 020141970XB04062001

Edition details

• Publisher: Addison-Wesley
• Publication date: 1998
• ISBN 10: 020141970X
• ISBN 13: 9780201419702
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 975