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This document lists various internet servers.

Introduction

In order to be an internet host, you must either have a machine connected to a LAN with internet access, or a dedicated serial connection to an internet provider.

If you are planning to support an FTP server, or an HTTP server with POST features, your host should also support some sort of file security. If you are using Windows, this means NT, using NTFS. Otherwise you may inadvertently let anonomous users overwrite material on your host, or allow them to execute potentially dangerous programs.

For example: some FTP servers do not restrict remote users to home directories; they are free to roam to other drives. If you have corporate databases network-mapped to your PC, the remote user will have whatever read/write permissions to those corporate databases that you do.

HTTP

HTML, via HTTP is fast becoming the standard mechanism for providing remote users information; information about you, your company, or anything else you'd care to share.

While HTML documents may be accessed via FTP, the best way to support a web site is to run an HTTP server.

Different HTTP servers provide various levels of HTML support. All support basic hypertext linking; most support "forms" via "GET"; not all support forms via "POST". Form support allows you to generate forms that users can fill out to send you information about themselves or to issue product requests.

HTTP servers that support POST provide the most flexible support for interactive form handling: users can fill out forms that you've generated, this triggers a utility on your host based on the information on the forms - like add an entry into a database or send off an email response, etc.

Note: supporting POST may add a certain amount of security risk to your host.

FTP

FTP servers provide a convenient way to make files available to the public. Distributing shareware through an FTP server provides you with a certain amount of tracking data - you can log when, from where, and how often someone acquires a copy of a given file.

Finger

Finger servers provide a convenient way to make frequently changing information available to remote users. You can supply a "what's new" paragraph in your default finger plan; you can also provide contact addresses, phone numbers, email addresses of employees/residents.

MUD

A number of mud servers are becoming available for Windows. A list will be added here shortly.

For more information on GraphComp's web site, email webmaster@graphcomp.com.