server change

[jhart@mail.lewiston.lib.me.us]

As a result of reliability problems with our web server software on 
our new iMac, we have finally decided that we must change it.  The 
software we have chosen is almost fully compatible with our old 
software.  To facilitate testing, we have added enough memory to the 
iMac so we can run two web servers at the same time.  The old server 
is still running on the default port, so it can still be addressed as:

   http://www.avcnet.org/

The new one is running on port 81 during the testing phase:

  http://www.avcnet.org:81/


WRITE THIS DOWN OR SAVE THIS MESSAGE, if you have web pages on our 
server.  Please test all of your pages and links.  Let me know of any 
problems you find.  I will wait to hear from you to confirm that your 
pages are ready to go.  Once everyone is ready, I'll make the change.  
It should only take 5 minutes or so.

The main area of difference which I know about is the "page counter".  
The format on the new server is different.  On the old server, a page 
counter looked like this:

  This page visited <!--#counter var="index_count"--> times since 
25-Aug-1998

Where the stuff in the HTML comment is the command to the server to 
manage the counter, and the "index_count" is any name you want it to 
be.  On the new server, the format is:

  This page visited <!--#echo var="PAGE_COUNT"--> times since 
25-Aug-1998

Where "PAGE_COUNT" must always be the same, and the server keeps track 
of the count by page somewhere hidden away.  This will mean that your 
counts will start over again at 1, I think.

If people want, I'll put the documentation for the new server online.  
It's in PDF format.  Drop me an email if you want to have it 
available.

We're sorry about any inconvenience this change may bring.  We just 
couldn't live with the web server lock ups of the old software.  
Please make it a priority, so we can improve AVCNet's reliability, for 
your users benefit.

On the plus side, this new server is supposed to be faster, and it 
supports WebStar plugins.

Have a safe and happy holiday season,

Jim Hart