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How to update your website with WebDAV (Technical Notes)

In order to access your web space* on our servers, you can use the WebDAV protocol ("Web Distributed Authoring and Versioning" -- an extension of the HTTP protocol). Until recently, the access was based on the FTP protocol, which then proved not to ensure at best our users' anonymity.

Our Webdav service, like al other A/I services, works on an SSL connection. Before using Webdav you should install the A/I SSL certificate available from our Certification Authority website.

The only information you need in order to connect to our website through WebDAV is the server name (https://www.autistici.org/dav/ the same name for all users), your user name, which you can find in the 'Websites' section of your User Panel, and the password we sent you when your website was activated.
The directory containing your website is called html-sitename, and it's the one you'll find as soon as you connect to your server via WebDAV.
If you want to change you WebDAV password, you can do it directly in your User Panel: log in with your mail user and password, click to enter the Websites section and look for the 'Change password' link.

In order to connect to a website through the WebDAV protocol, you need a client program, which will vary according to the operating system you use.

Linux - Nautilus (graphical interface)

To connect to your website with WebDAV, you can use your file browser Nautilus (the one you use when you explore your directories in your pc).

Open any directory in your pc.

After moving your mouse to the top left File menu, select Connect to Server. A box will appear: here you can enter the data to connect to the remote server.

In the drop-down menu, select "Secure WebDAV (HTTPS)" and fill in the following fields with the required data (your user name and password):

Click "Connect ".

In your file browser, you'll see the content of your folder on the server. Upload your website to the directory "html-sitename", and it will become visible online.
In the bottom left corner, you will notice a "Network" section, where you can find a link to your remote directory until you disconnect from the server.
To disconnect from the server, click on the small triangle highlighted by the blue circle in the picture. Enjoy!

Linux - Cadaver (command line interface)

With GNU/Linux systems, the most widely used client for connecting to a website through WebDAV is cadaver, which unfortunately only works from command line: download the package and install it.
To connect to a terminal, write the following command: 

$ cadaver https://www.autistici.org/dav/nomeaccountweb
Accept the certificate and enter your user name and password for the web access (you'll find these data in your user panel).

With cadaver, your interface is from command line. The commands that you will most likely need are the following:

MAC OSX

In the Finder menu, select 'Go/Connect to server' and you will see a window, where you should enter these data:

The Server address should be https://www.autistici.org/dav/FTPUSERNAME (replace 'FTPUSERNAME' with your user name).
Now click on the + sign so as to add this address to your favourites, then click 'Connect'.

Enter your user name and password (see above), and you will access a sort of disk where you can upload and download files. When you wish to disconnect from your space, do as you would do with any hard disk or USB pen: for instance, click the triangle-shaped icon beside the server name.

Windows / Mac

Besides using the dreadful Internet Explorer, you can download a specific WebDAV client such as CyberDuck.

Once you have installed the software, launch the program.

  1. Click on 'New Connection'
  2. Enter your data:
    • Server: www.autistici.org
    • Port: 443
    • User Name: your FTP user name
    • Password: your FTP password
    • More Options - Path: /dav/FTPUSERNAME
  3. Click on 'Connection'
  4. Enter your user name and password

Now you should see a window with the directories of your web space.

iPAD

You can connect with the 'WebDAV Nav' App (free or pro version), which you will find in the App Store.

  1. Launch the App.
  2. Click the + sign
  3. Enter the connection data:
    • Name: whatever you like -- its only use is to remember what it's all about.
    • ServerURL: https://www.autistici.org/dav/FTPUSERNAME (replace FTPUSERNAME with your user name, which you'll find in the user panel.
    • User Name: the name you found in your User Panel (yes, the same as before).
    • Password: enter your FTP access password.
  4. Click "Save".
  5. Now you can see a window with the name you've chosen: click on it, and if you visualize a window with light-blue folders, it means you are connected.

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