Subject: From: Date:

Re: WWW access Mark Gilmore Sat, 06 May 2000 13:27:10 -0400

Sat, 06 May 2000 13:27:10 -0400

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Well, that explains a lot :-).
Section is attached.
Sorry about that.
-- 
Mark Gilmore
Omnipotence (ECS home automation software)
http://www.usit.com/omnip
423-745-0026
Hours: Mon-Sat, 9AM-8PM/EST


Bruce Prager wrote:
> 
> Mark, my ecs.htm doesn't have anything on your web setup.  The latest beta I
> downloaded didn't have a Ecs.htm in it. Is there a later help file I can get
> that contains your web stuff?
> 
> Thanks

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Accessing ECS via the Internet/WWW
ECS supports WWW (world-wibe web) access, whereby ECS Groups and the Message Log may be accessed via web browsers (locally and remotely).

NOTE: If you wish to access Windows on your ECS PC (versus just ECS), then refer to Accessing your PC via the Internet (RADMIN).

Browser limitations
HotJava and Opera do not support "absolute positioning" HTML, and so does not display Item-windows in same locations as you see in the Group Screen.

Please notify us of any problems you encounter with other browsers.

Setup

1. Start your web browser and assure that the following options are enabled:

   JAVA
   JAVAScript
   Style sheets (N/A for IE)
   

2. For remote connections with Internet Explorer (IE):
   1. Click TOOLS.
   2. Click INTERNET OPTIONS.
   3. Click SECURITY.
   4. Click INTERNET.
   5. Click CUSTOM LEVEL.
   6. Under "Microsoft VM / JAVA Permissions / Custom", click CUSTOM.
   7. Click JAVA CUSTOM SETTINGS (at bottom).
   8. Click EDIT PERMISSIONS.
   9. Under "Unsigned content / Run unsigned content / Additional unsigned permissions", enable ACCESS TO ALL NETWORK ADDRESSES.
   10. Click OK.
   11. Click OK.
   12. Click OK.

   NOTE: This setup change required in order to address an apparent bug in IE: It is supposed to allow applets to establish connections with the web server from which they originate (e.g. ECS). But without this change, it issues an erroneous "security exception". A thorough internet search for this setting showed this procedure to be a common practice, and no mention was made of any security risk in doing so.

3. To enable local www/browser access, create a Password Item(s) whose session is one of the following:

   WWW/Local:1
   WWW/Local:2
   . . .
   WWW/Local:5

   We recommend that you define a separate Password Item for each user, whereas each user is assigned a specific session. Otherwise, a conflict will result if two users try to login to the same session.

   If you define an empty password, access will be immediately granted when you select the ECS home page (no password prompt will appear).

4. To enable remote www/browser access, create a Password Item(s) whose session is one of the following:

   WWW/Remote:1
   WWW/Remote:2
   . . .
   WWW/Remote:5

   We recommend that you define a separate Password Item for each user, whereas each user is assigned a specific session. Otherwise, a conflict will result if two users try to login to the same session.

   If you define an empty password, access will be immediately granted when you select the ECS home page (no password prompt will appear).

Usage

1. Start ECS.

2. If you do NOT have a permanent Internet connection on your ECS PC, and wish to access ECS from a remote location, then you will need to first initiate an ISP dial-up on your ECS/PC. Two possibilities are:

   To establish a connection from a remote location (via ECS/ECS.CFG)
   Note: Prior to attempting a remote connection, you must first modify the POSTIE command in ECS_WWW.BAT (on the ECS PC), such that it will email to an account which is accessible from your remote PC.

   On the "Client" (remote) PC:

   1. Call ECS and enter the macro "50". ECS will then hangup and execute ECS_WWW.BAT, which will:
      1. Dial/connect to your ISP.
      2. Determine the IP address assigned to this ISP connection.
      3. Create an HTML file (ECS_WWW.HTM) which holds a "link" to this IP address.
      4. Email ECS_WWW.HTM to your remote PC.
   2. Connect to your ISP and check your email until you receive the message from ECS.
   3. Click the link in the message (the ECS entry page will then be displayed).
   4. When you are done, disconnect as normal. ECS will then detect this and reset Phone-Interface-C.

   To establish a connection manually
   On the "Server" (ECS) PC:

   1. Connect to your ISP.
   2. Run \WINDOWS\WINIPCFG to get the IP address assigned to this ISP connection (a new address is assigned for every connection).

   On the "Client" (remote) PC:

   Run your web browser and enter the IP address appended by ":3000/home.htm" (e.g. "x.x.x.x:3000/home.htm"). The ECS entry page will then be displayed.

3. At your browser's URL prompt, enter "http://{host}:3000/home.htm", where {host} may be "localhost" or "127.0.0.1" for local access (i.e. http://localhost:3000/home.htm), or an IP address for remote access. This will display a web page listing "links" for all Groups and the Message Log.

   Note: For possible testing purposes, ECS creates ECSIPS.HTM at startup, which contains links to all IP addresses that may be used to access ECS. ECS re-creates this file if a new connection or disconnection is detected.

To create customized pages, use the ECS-generated web-page as examples:

GRP0.HTM (frame definitions for GRP1.HTM/GRP2.HTM)
GRP1.HTM (Group frame)
GRP2.HTM (State/Item-selection frame)
MLG.HTM (Message Log)

Note: ECS deletes these files on exit, so you should copy them when ECS is active.

Foreign Language Support/WWW
ECS supports the ability to translate all web-page text to any language (in any character-set) prior to display. In order to do so, we require a table listing select phrases and their translations. We can provide the initial table of English phrases, and can also assist with the translations as required (note that there are numerous commericial programs that perform such tasks). Contact us for further details.

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