Virtual folders do not appear

[Nelson4422]

(First, to this brand new user, Abyss Web Server seems like unusually high quality software.)

Problem: Cannot see virtual folders. Abyss X1 v2.6 properly displays the contents (both subfolders and files) placed in the root folder. This works well in HTTP and in HTTPS mode. But all virtual folders are absent from the generated listings.

Environment: Windows XP SP2, Linksys RVL200 router (yes, port forwarding, etc. seem correct), ZoneAlarm firewall (yes, Windows firewall, etc. disabled), Cable modem (not relevant, since problem exists via localhost and via a networked local computer), ISP port blocking unknown (but nonstandard ports are selected, also the problem exists locally without going through the Internet). Yes, the problem exists with all firewalls disabled.

Some of the virtual paths are for subfolders on the same drive as the server root, but others are for whole drives with real paths like F:\ or G:\, and others are for whole drives on other computers with real paths mapped to a network letter like R:\ or S:\ (mentioned in case that makes Abyss unhappy). None of the virtual folders appear.

I have spent the better part of three days on this, re-reading the manual and many posts on this forum and trying every combination of settings I could think of within Abyss Web Server. These include the obvious -- Directory Scope, Aliases, Users and Groups, Access Control, and more. Examples of virtual folder entries in Aliases:
Virtual Path - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Real Path
/101 - Newest Arrivals - - - - - - - F:\Newest
/500 - Early Period 1960-1970 - - R:\

Most advanced features other than HTTPS are not used (yet). No scripting, asp.net, XSSI. No customization.

I have tried many thing outside of the server, such as loosening permissions for the folders to be virtualized and enabling generally unneeded Windows services in case there are obscure dependencies. FTP servers work fine on this computer.

Obviously I'm doing something wrong. What am I missing?

Thanks in advance for any clues.

[roganty]

[aprelium-support]

[Nelson4422]

Thank you for the replies.

[aprelium-support]

Nelson4422,

The standard directory listing doesn't list virtual paths by default but you can use scripts that works also with virtual directories like this one:

http://www.aprelium.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=13795
_________________
Support Team
Aprelium - http://www.aprelium.com

[Nelson4422]

I installed the script as instructed. No go. Now, when trying to view the site, it just shows an error message: "Error 405, Method Not Allowed." I am not a php user, so perhaps something else is needed.



I still find it hard to understand why virtual folders linked to physical folders, as entered into the Aliases table, are not visible when viewing the site.

[aprelium-support]

[Nelson4422]

I installed php and the script and adjusted the server settings as you indicated. It still doesn't work.

Your help is appreciated, but even with your help, I haven't been able to get this system working.

My application is quite simple, even if the number of files is large. All that's needed is HTTPS, virtual folders, and access control. There is no need for cURL, GD2, PDO, ODBC, SQLite, MySQL, or MySQLi extensions which the preconfigured PHP 5 package for Windows has enabled by default.

The FTP servers I've used for years have built-in handling of virtual folders, and I think the web servers and file servers glanced at recently have built-in virtual folder support as well. There is no noticeable slow-down in these servers even with very extensive virtual file systems (as long as the listings still come from physical paths linked to the virtual folders). The links themselves are tiny and are either read into memory upon startup or they are cached. The complexity of rules should be no greater for virtual than for physical folders, as in other server products. Indeed, the determination of what listings may or may not be sent to the remote user should not be concerned with whether their origin is virtual or physical.

Here, the lack of built-in support for virtual folders is confusing to me, especially because everything else about this software is so well done. Do all users of this software really have all their accessible folders and files located within the server root on a single hard drive?

Am I trying to use this software in ways that go beyond its intended purpose?

Or am I missing some simple but critical point?

[pkSML]

I once made a script that lists a simple directory listing with virtual folders.
I can try to dig it out of the closet tomorrow for you.

Glancing at your posts, you're trying to use Abyss as a simple file server?
_________________
Stephen
Need a LitlURL?

http://CodeBin.yi.org

[Nelson4422]

Thanks, pkSML.

[pkSML]

http://code-bin.homedns.org/269

Save the code as dir.php in your htdocs folder or a subfolder.
Go into the Abyss console and find 'Directory Listing'.
Set the type to 'From Script'.
Set the script to the web path to dir.php.

Enjoy!

Example:


PS I plan on releasing a version that pretties things up and uses javascript to allow table sorting.
_________________
Stephen
Need a LitlURL?

http://CodeBin.yi.org

[Nelson4422]

Thank You!

We have some progress! Using your code and following your instructions, the virtual folders now appear in the displayed listings. To get that far, it was necessary to adjust the code for the abyss.conf path from the usual C:/program files/abyss/ to my D:/abyss/ location. No problem.

I still can't access the contents of any of the virtual folders now visible. Clicking any virtual folder just gets a 404 Error (not found) message.

Tinkering with the Scope, Aliases, and Access Control settings has not fixed this so far. Yes the corresponding physical folders have appropriate permissions and shares.

Later (after I do a what I'm supposed to do instead of playing with this), I'll try further setting experiments and report back.

Thank you for the script and instructions. It's nice to see some progress.

[Nelson4422]

Further observation:

A virtual folder will be seen only if its physical location is within the server root.

Of course such folders are already seen. They would not need an alias unless you want to adjust the displayed name of the already visible folder.

All other cases fail. A virtual folder will not be seen if the physical folder is outside of the server root. A Virtual folder will not be seen if its physical folder is another whole drive, a folder on another drive, or even a folder on the same drive as the server root but not within the server root.

There does not seem to be a place to add physical paths except under Aliases, and even then the real paths seem to be disregarded. Aliases are specified as Virtual Path = "/1960s Music", and Real Path = "P:\60s". "P:" may be a mapped network drive on another computer, another whole drive on the same computer, a folder on another drive on the same computer, or another folder on the same drive as the server root.). Any path outside the server root doesn't work.

[pkSML]

On my test server on the computer I'm on, I have J:, K:, L: all set up as aliases and they're accessible just like they should be. Abyss even handles Z:, which is a mapped network drive on a different computer. Abyss handles them flawlessly.
There must be something goofy with your installation. I recommend you uninstall and reinstall.
_________________
Stephen
Need a LitlURL?

http://CodeBin.yi.org

[pkSML]

[Nelson4422]

It works! Following your example, I moved an alias (a whole drive on another computer, mapped to P:) from the server root to a folder beneath the server root. Then it worked.

It seems that aliases must not be located in the server root. They can be in any folder under the root.

Examples: F:\root\alias does not work. F:\root\anyfolder\alias does work....at least in some cases. Now I'll tinker with it to figure out which combinations work and which don't.

Many thanks!