Using "CGI" with your Website
Note: This feature is NOT compatible with the student web server!
CGI is the abbreviation of Common Gateway Interface. CGI programs are still a common way for Web servers to interact dynamically with users. Many HTML pages that contain forms, for example, use a CGI program to process the form's data once it's submitted.
At UWG, you can take advantage of a pre-installed CGI script known as Form Mail. Make forms and get results emailed to you with ease. An on-Line tutorial explains the tags required, and provides an example. A basic knowledge of HTML is required for setup.
Users are also free to use other CGI scripts by creating your own CGI-BIN. Instructions for creating and using your own CGI-BIN are listed below.
Before you attempt to install your own CGI scripts or use Form Mail, it's required that you have a web page already set up, or that you at least already have a public_html directory.
Creating your own cgi-bin directory
This tutorial will walk you through the process of creating your own cgi-bin at UWG.
- Log on via SSH to sun.westga.edu.
- Move to your public_html directory by typing: cd public_html.
- List all files and directories in the directory you're currently in by typing: ls -a.
- If cgi-bin is not listed, type: mkdir cgi-bin.
- Make sure file permissions for your cgi-bin directory are set correctly by typing: chmod 755 cgi-bin.
Congratulations: you have successfully created your own cgi-bin. Below are a few tips for using cgi at UWG.
- The scripts you use will need to be placed inside your cgi-bin.
- If you use FTP to transfer these files, you will need to transfer them in ASCII mode rather than binary.
- Also, you will need to log in via SSH to set the permissions for your scripts. We do not currently support permission modifications via FTP clients.