Copyright© 1996 by Que® Corporation
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ISBN: 0-7897-0823-x
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USA
The Internet has been growing in popularity at a phenomenal rate. Many television ads now contain URLs (Uniform Resource Locators) such as CNN's http://www.cnn.com and surveys commonly ask for an e-mail address. An even faster growing phenomenon, though, is the use of the Intranet.
An Intranet is an IP network designed for internal use. The growth of Intranets has been silent but rapid, and is actually where most sales of Web servers are used.
Intranets are used in many types of companies from high-tech computer firms to real estate companies to oil refineries. Everyone can benefit from the technology available.
Intranet technology is used in many different ways. It can be used to set up a central document repository or workgroup server. It can be used to integrate with existing databases, either by writing custom software or using commercial applications. Most database vendors currently have or are working on WWW interfaces to their products.
Intranets can also be used as a client/server combination, allowing quick building of distributed applications. Use of the Web can also allow develop-ers to quickly build cross-platform tools. Because HTML is an open standard, almost any computer will have a browser that can be used as a graphical user interface, or GUI.
Intranet-based tools also allow groupware applications to be integrated. Groupware applications can be built using free software, or commercial applications such as Lotus can be purchased and integrated.
Part I "Introduction to the Intranet"
Chapter 1 "The WWW and the Intranet," introduces the World Wide Web and gives a good overview of the HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) and HyperText Markup Language (HTML). The first chapter also explains how WWW technology fits into an internal network and covers what some good uses for an Intranet are. Chapter 1 also introduces Web servers and discusses the HTTP, plus discusses the secure versions of HTTP, Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), and Secure HTTP (SHTTP).
Part II "Choosing Software and Setting Up"
Chapter 2 "Choosing a Server Platform," discusses choosing a server. It covers what is important when integrating into an existing network and what sort of features are useful. Servers for UNIX networks, Microsoft NT networks, Netware networks, and Lotus Notes networks are all covered.
Chapter 3 "Installing and Configuring HTTPD for UNIX," covers installation and configuration of Apache HTTPD for UNIX. Apache is a free Web server that is very popular for UNIX machines. This chapter covers downloading, building, and configuring Apache as well as a section on troubleshooting and testing.
Chapter 4 "Installing and Configuring IIS," covers Microsoft's Internet Information Server (IIS). This server adds WWW, plus, FTP (File Transfer Protocol) and Gopher are covered as well. Installation, configuration, and troubleshooting IIS is covered in this chapter.
Chapter 5 "Installing and Configuring Netscape Enterprise Server and LiveWire," covers installation and configuration of both Windows NT and UNIX platforms. This chapter also covers some Netscape specific options, such as searching and editing features.
Chapter 6 "Installing and Configuring Novell Netware Web Server," covers Novell's Netware Web Server. It covers hardware and software requirements, installation, and configuration.
Lotus InterNotes, WebPublisher, and HTTP server are explained and discussed in Chapter 7 "Installing and Configuring Lotus Notes Web Publishing Products." Installation, configuration, and troubleshooting of these packages are covered in detail. This chapter also covers some specific examples, such as querying Notes databases.
Chapter 8 "Installing and Configuring Browser Software," covers how browsers work and what to look for in a browser. This chapter also discusses IP (Internet Protocol) networking. A troubleshooting section is also included to help fix common browser problems.
Part III "Writing HTML for the Intranet"
Chapter 9 "Basic HTML and Simple Pages," covers basic HTML as well as HTML 2.0, 3.0, and the Netscape extensions. HTML editors such as HotDog, HotMetal, and FrontPage are covered and explained. HTML converters, which can be used to convert existing documents to be used on your Intranet, are discussed in this chapter.
Chapter 10, "Graphics, Imagemaps, and Tools," explains graphic formats used on an Intranet. It also covers imagemaps and gives some examples when to use them in an Intranet. Tools to help you create graphic files and imagemaps are also covered in this chapter.
Chapter 11, "HTML Forms," covers HTML forms. It explains how to create an easy-to-use form that can be used to replace paper-based forms. This chapter also discusses when to use forms and when not to use forms.
Chapter 12, "CGI and Perl," covers using the Perl language to create pages on the fly, process forms, and perform actions. It discusses CGI's uses as well as Server Side Includes (SSI).
Chapter 13, "Java and JavaScript" explains the Java language and how it relates to JavaScript. It also covers how to configure Netscape servers to use JavaScript and how to write an application using these tools.
Chapter 14, "VB Script and ActiveX Controls," covers scripting languages from Microsoft, VB Script, and ActiveX Controls. It explains what they are and how to use them to develop intranet applications. This chapter also discusses Object Linking and Embedding (OLE).
Chapter 15, "Search Engines and Annotation Systems," covers simple full text searches, search engines, annotation systems, and, covers how they can be used in an Intranet.
Chapter 16, "Database Access and Application Integration Using Scripts," covers accessing databases and integrating currently used applications into the Intranet using scripts. This chapter also discusses when you should rewrite an application and when you should integrate the application.
Chapter 17, "Commercial Applications," covers commercial options available to help integrate your Intranet with existing applications and databases. Microsoft BackOffice and Oracle Universal Server and Web System are covered in detail in this chapter.
Chapter 18, "Groupware Applications," covers groupware and the use of groupware in an Intranet. It covers Lotus Notes, Usenet, and mailing lists.
Part IV "Maintenance and Security"
Chapter 19, "Using Multimedia," focuses on multimedia applications and their uses. It covers the different multimedia formats, such as mpeg and RealAudio, and then goes on to discuss the viewers required to support them. This chapter also discusses how network bandwidth is affected and offers strategies on how to reduce network saturation. The chapter ends with some exciting real-life uses for multimedia.
Chapter 20, "Usage Statistics and Log Analysis," covers usage statistics and log file analysis and explains how to convince management of the benefits of using an Intranet. Usage statistic tools are covered and explained.
Chapter 21, "Maintaining the Server and Documents," covers maintaining the server and documents. It describes how to organize your file structure for ease of maintenance, as well as access control. It defines various tools, such as link checkers and HTML validators. The last section covers using Server Side Includes to make maintaining the documents easier.
Chapter 22, "Sharing the Intranet with the World," outlines how to safely allow remote users, customers, or everyone access to part of the Intranet server. This chapter also covers linking to outside servers.
Chapter 23, "Intranet Security," covers keeping intruders from abusing the Intranet. It covers such topics as defining a security policy, using obscurity to help hide the site, using software security, and firewalls. This chapter also covers limiting what employees can get to. It covers defining what is allowed via policy and discusses technical ways to enforce this policy.
This book is designed to help network or system managers deal with the myriad of issues involved in designing and running an internal Web site. Webmasters who are designing sites, or portions of sites, for internal use will also find this book valuable.
Because Intranets are IP-based, it is assumed that the network is running some sort of IP network. The reader should be familiar with basic IP network issues as well as the network design at the site.
This book covers many different scenarios and includes different operating systems. Familiarity with one of the following is required:
Various programming languages are covered and knowledge of one or more will be helpful but are not necessary. These languages include:
Any other programming experience will be helpful, especially when integrating databases or using CGI scripts.
Basic HTML is covered in Part II but at a very rapid pace. We are including on the CD-ROM the book Special Edition Using HTML, 2nd Edition from Que for additional HTML coverage.
After reading this book you should be able to understand what is required from an Intranet server, as well as configure a server that fits into your existing network topology. You will also be able to do the following:
This book will help you to develop and maintain a successful Intranet for your company. It will also help you to expand your knowledge and create more complex applications that match your company's needs.
As you read this book you will notice some sections of the text that stand out. New terms are in italics. Words that you should type and site addresses are in boldface. Screen displays and on-screen messages appear in a special monospace typeface.
| NOTE |
Notes contain additional information or "reminders" of important information you should know. |
| TIP |
Tips are bits of advice that help you solve a problem or learn the best way to do something. |
| CAUTION |
Cautions alert you to potentially dangerous consequences of a procedure or practice. |