Opax web space

Mac users

PC users

Everybody

OK here's a quick tute to show you how to set up and connect to your opax web space. Every Swinburne student automatically gets some space on the opax server - you just have to go through this process of allocating that space and setting up the default directory.

This tutorial is based on the information found here. This tutorial was made on a mac but I will try to make it applicable to PC users as well.

Please note that this tutorial assumes that you are setting up your web space using a computer that is within the Swinburne network.

OK let's get started.

The first thing you need to do is run an application called 'Terminal' - this is found in the 'Applications/Utilities' directory. This is the screen that opens



type 'telnet' (without the '') and hit enter.

Now I'm going to quickly show PC users how to get to this point (everything is the same for both users after this)

Open the 'Start' menu and choose 'Run'.



In the dialog the opens type 'telnet' and hit enter.



This is what should open

Now type 'open' and hit enter. Then type 'opax.swin.edu.au' and hit enter.



For mac users, it will then try to log you in as the current os x user and asks for the pin. Just hit enter without typing anything and you will be presented with a prompt for your login.



Type your student number and hit enter. You will be then asked for your pin. Type in your pin number (by default this is your date of birth in ddmmyy format) and hit enter. You won't see your password appearing as you type it but it's still there!! If you are having trouble logging in try just using the first 6 digits of your student number. If you still can't get in, contact the ITS helpdesk.

That should log you in to the main menu of the opax server. If you are presented with the 'Message of the day' type 'q' to get to the main menu. The main menu has 7 options, the last of which is 'More menu options' which is what we want so type '7' once (no need to hit enter). You are then presented with a new menu. Item 6 is 'Activate your www directory' which is what we want so type '6'. You should then receive a message saying that setup is complete. If you get a message saying that the directory already exists then your opax space has already been setup and you just wasted 10 minutes of your precious time.

Quit Terminal (or telnet for PC users).

OK so your web space is allocated but your still need to connect to your space to upload your awesome website. For that you will need an FTP application. On the macs you will find a program called 'Fetch'. For PCs, you will have 'WS_FTP'.



Open either Fetch of WS_FTP and you will be presented with a dialog that asks for (amongst other things) the host that you want to connect to, your login and your password. For those you should use:

Host=opax.swin.edu.au
Login=Your student number that you used within the telnet application
Password=The password that you used within the telnet application



Click 'OK' and you should connect to the root directory of your web space. That should be empty except for one folder - 'public_html'. It is this folder that you must upload your files to if you want them to be visible to the outside world. Double click on the public_html directory to go inside it. Now to upload your files, you simply drag and drop them on to FTP window (you can also click on the 'Put' button that will open a dialog where you can select your files).



After uploading files to your public_html directory they become visible (by anyone) using a browser at this URL - http://opax.swin.edu.au/~123456/yourfile.html

Obviously, 123456 should be changed to your student number and 'yourfile.html' should be changed to the name of the file you want to view. Note: the little ~ character is created by holding Shift and hitting the button next to the '1' key on your keyboard.

I hope you found this useful