[Mapserver-users] MapServer on Windows XP and IIS

Jeff L. nf10 at hotmail.com
Thu Jul 31 13:44:09 PDT 2003 

Ed,

I got the demo finaly running. Pretty nice.
Thank you for your help and input much appreciated.

Jeff


>From: "Ed McNierney" <ed at topozone.com>
>To: "Jeff L." <nf10 at hotmail.com>,<mapserver-users at lists.gis.umn.edu>
>Subject: RE: [Mapserver-users] MapServer on Windows XP and IIS
>Date: Thu, 31 Jul 2003 15:26:58 -0400
>
>Jeff -
>
>You can start with http://httpd.apache.org/ and 
>http://httpd.apache.org/docs-2.1/
>
>There are a huge number of people on this list who are very generous with 
>their time and very willing to help.  To respect that generosity, I think 
>we all should take responsibility for understanding the tools we're using 
>that are NOT MapServer, and not expect the participants on this list to 
>respond to "how exactly do I install Red Hat?" or the like.  There are 
>other lists for Apache help, etc., and I'm simply suggesting you try to 
>maximize your benefit by focusing on MapServer questions on this list.
>
>I also think you should recognize that running Web servers means exposing 
>your computers and services to others.  There are security risks associated 
>with this, and you should take the time to understand just what it is 
>you're doing and what the security implications of it are.  I'm not 
>suggesting you spend many days learning Apache, but if you look at the docs 
>you can easily find sections like "Security Tips" and the like that only 
>take a few minutes to read through.  This is very much the "teach a man to 
>fish" issue - you'll be much better off in the long run if you understand 
>the tools you're using.  If you're going to run a Web site, you should have 
>a basic understanding of how to operate your Web server.
>
>I think you will find that MapServer questions will - with very few 
>exceptions - be replied to quickly and thoroughly on this list.  If someone 
>asks "what do I need to do to use raster data in State Plane coordinates in 
>a MAP file that serves lat/lon output?" I'll jump right in and start 
>typing.  If someone asks "how do I configure Apache to run CGI programs", I 
>groan and hope someone else picks up the ball <g>.
>
>	- Ed
>
>Ed McNierney
>President and Chief Mapmaker
>TopoZone.com / Maps a la carte, Inc.
>73 Princeton Street, Suite 305
>North Chelmsford, MA  01863
>ed at topozone.com
>(978) 251-4242
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Jeff L. [mailto:nf10 at hotmail.com]
>Sent: Thursday, July 31, 2003 3:16 PM
>To: Ed McNierney; mapserver-users at lists.gis.umn.edu
>Subject: RE: [Mapserver-users] MapServer on Windows XP and IIS
>
>
>Ed,
>
>I would use some links or tips to learn about Apache and file permissions.
>The reason i'm contacting this list to get some tips from other people
>experiences. Otherwise, i can spend many days to learn appache, but this
>could be overkilling for my very basic needs. All i want is to be able to
>run this demo as a start then may be go deeper.
>
>regards,
>
>Jeff
>
> >From: "Ed McNierney" <ed at topozone.com>
> >To: "Jeff L." <nf10 at hotmail.com>,<mapserver-users at lists.gis.umn.edu>
> >Subject: RE: [Mapserver-users] MapServer on Windows XP and IIS
> >Date: Thu, 31 Jul 2003 14:37:14 -0400
> >
> >Jeff -
> >
> >Well, you PROBABLY needed to check exactly one checkbox in IIS, which 
>might
> >have been a tad quicker than installing a new server <g>.  Please do take
> >the time to understand what's going on - Apache is more permissive in its
> >default install, which means (a) it's easier for you to do things and (b)
> >it's easier for other people to do things to you.
> >
> >Your problem is due to (a) not having demo.map in the expected place, or
> >(b) not having the file permissions set correctly.  Be sure you 
>understand
> >how Apache is setting and using user permissions.
> >
> >	- Ed
> >
> >Ed McNierney
> >President and Chief Mapmaker
> >TopoZone.com / Maps a la carte, Inc.
> >73 Princeton Street, Suite 305
> >North Chelmsford, MA  01863
> >ed at topozone.com
> >(978) 251-4242
> >
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: Jeff L. [mailto:nf10 at hotmail.com]
> >Sent: Thursday, July 31, 2003 2:16 PM
> >To: Ed McNierney; mapserver-users at lists.gis.umn.edu
> >Subject: RE: [Mapserver-users] MapServer on Windows XP and IIS
> >
> >
> >Ed,
> >
> >I agree that diging into the web server setup would help.
> >
> >For now, i uninstalled IIS, then installed Apache and MapServer: it's
> >working: i got the the expected error ("No query information ...").
> >
> >Now i started to run the demo, loaded the "demo_init.html" and after
> >pushing
> >the button, there was an error "msLoadMap(): Unable to access file ....
> >demo.map". the path of the file is correct. I guess that this would be a
> >permission file error, but not sure.
> >
> >Jeff Lacoste
> >
> >
> >
> > >From: "Ed McNierney" <ed at topozone.com>
> > >To: "Jeff L." <nf10 at hotmail.com>,<mapserver-users at lists.gis.umn.edu>
> > >Subject: RE: [Mapserver-users] MapServer on Windows XP and IIS
> > >Date: Thu, 31 Jul 2003 13:19:42 -0400
> > >
> > >Jeff -
> > >
> > >I would not claim Apache is "easier" than IIS in this regard.  In
> >general,
> > >I don't think either of them (we run both) is hard or easy - they're 
>just
> > >different, and you need to understand something about running Web 
>servers
> > >and running CGI services on Web servers in order to run MapServer.  
>Both
> > >IIS and Apache have a security model that lets you control which files
> >are
> > >available to which Web users, and what those users can do to those 
>files
> > >(run them, read them, write to them, etc.).
> > >
> > >Read the help on IIS - that's what it's for.  If you did a default
> > >install/config you installed all the administration help files, and
> >they're
> > >pretty reasonable.
> > >
> > >I'm not trying to be unhelpful, but if you don't understand the 
>security
> > >model and how it applies to Web services, you're going to keep bumping
> >into
> > >one problem after another.  Take the time to understand how to set up
> >your
> > >Web server, and THEN you'll be ready to set up MapServer.
> > >
> > >	- Ed
> > >
> > >Ed McNierney
> > >President and Chief Mapmaker
> > >TopoZone.com / Maps a la carte, Inc.
> > >73 Princeton Street, Suite 305
> > >North Chelmsford, MA  01863
> > >ed at topozone.com
> > >(978) 251-4242
> > >
> > >-----Original Message-----
> > >From: Jeff L. [mailto:nf10 at hotmail.com]
> > >Sent: Thursday, July 31, 2003 1:15 PM
> > >To: Ed McNierney; mapserver-users at lists.gis.umn.edu
> > >Subject: RE: [Mapserver-users] MapServer on Windows XP and IIS
> > >
> > >
> > >Ed,
> > >
> > >I'm new to web configuration. All i did is installing IIS on my windows
> >XP
> > >pro and then installed MapServ.
> > >I guess that the web server is not configured, i have no idea how to do
> >it.
> > >Any info is appreciated.
> > >
> > >I heard that Apache would work easier than IIS. Apache would need
> >specific
> > >configuration or just a sandard installation ?
> > >
> > >Thanks
> > >
> > >Jeff Lacoste
> > >
> > >
> > > >From: "Ed McNierney" <ed at topozone.com>
> > > >To: "Jeff L." <nf10 at hotmail.com>,<mapserver-users at lists.gis.umn.edu>
> > > >Subject: RE: [Mapserver-users] MapServer on Windows XP and IIS
> > > >Date: Thu, 31 Jul 2003 12:47:16 -0400
> > > >
> > > >Jeff -
> > > >
> > > >If your Web server is configured correctly, there will be NO command
> > >window
> > > >opening and closing.  You'll get that error text in a regular Web 
>page
> > >that
> > > >stays there.
> > > >
> > > >I suspect that the directory in which mapserv.exe is installed does 
>not
> > >let
> > > >users execute programs (like CGI programs) from it.
> > > >
> > > >	- Ed
> > > >
> > > >-----Original Message-----
> > > >From: Jeff L. [mailto:nf10 at hotmail.com]
> > > >Sent: Thursday, July 31, 2003 10:27 AM
> > > >To: Ed McNierney; mapserver-users at lists.gis.umn.edu
> > > >Subject: RE: [Mapserver-users] MapServer on Windows XP and IIS
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >Thanks Ed for your relpy.  MapServ is installed in the IIS of my
> >windows
> > >XP
> > > >machine. While trying to run it (localy from web browser pointing the
> > > >"mapser.exe", the command window is opened then closed pretty fast. I
> > >have
> > > >no idea about the content of the command window. I'm not sure what
> > >message
> > > >was displayed there. At least if i know that was "No query 
>information
> >to
> > > >decode. QUERY_STRING not set." It can get me going to the next steps
> > > >(running the demo).
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >Thanks again
> > > >
> > > >Jeff Lacoste
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > >From: "Ed McNierney" <ed at topozone.com>
> > > > >To: "Jeff L." 
><nf10 at hotmail.com>,<mapserver-users at lists.gis.umn.edu>
> > > > >Subject: RE: [Mapserver-users] MapServer on Windows XP and IIS
> > > > >Date: Thu, 31 Jul 2003 09:44:10 -0400
> > > > >
> > > > >Jeff -
> > > > >
> > > > >There's no problem - that's the way it's supposed to work!
> > > > >
> > > > >You can run MapServer from the command line with the "-v" switch, 
>and
> > > > >you'll get text output.  Normally CGI programs are not meant to be
> >run
> > > >from
> > > > >the command line, and MapServer is no exception.
> > > > >
> > > > >If you properly configure your Web site to allow users to execute 
>CGI
> > > > >programs, you should be able to type the following in your browser:
> > > > >
> > > > >http://server.yourdomain.com/mapserv
> > > > >
> > > > >(replace the server and domain names with your names)
> > > > >
> > > > >and get the error message:
> > > > >
> > > > >"No query information to decode. QUERY_STRING not set."
> > > > >
> > > > >in your browser window.
> > > > >
> > > > >Until you get to that point, you haven't managed to get a basic CGI
> > > >program
> > > > >running, so there's no point in doing anything else yet!
> > > > >
> > > > >	- Ed
> > > > >
> > > > >Ed McNierney
> > > > >President and Chief Mapmaker
> > > > >TopoZone.com / Maps a la carte, Inc.
> > > > >73 Princeton Street, Suite 305
> > > > >North Chelmsford, MA  01863
> > > > >ed at topozone.com
> > > > >(978) 251-4242
> > > > >
> > > > >-----Original Message-----
> > > > >From: Jeff L. [mailto:nf10 at hotmail.com]
> > > > >Sent: Thursday, July 31, 2003 7:29 AM
> > > > >To: mapserver-users at lists.gis.umn.edu
> > > > >Subject: [Mapserver-users] MapServer on Windows XP and IIS
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >Hi,
> > > > >
> > > > >I installed MapServer on Windows XO and IIS. When i try to execute
> >the
> > > > >mapserv from the command window (C:\Inetpub\Scripts\MapServ), i 
>have
> >an
> > > > >error: "This script can only be used to decode form results and
> >should
> > >be
> > > > >initiated as a CGI process via a httpd server ". I tried also to
> > >execute
> > > > >the
> > > > >script from Internet Explorer. The result is a command window
> >displayed
> > > > >then
> > > > >closed fast.
> > > > >
> > > > >Any idea about the possible problem ?
> > > > >
> > > > >Thanks,
> > > > >
> > > > >Jeff Lacoste
> > > > >
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