Online Writing Guide

First, to create a Web site on the mason server, go to this Web address to activate your mason computer account OR get a new password:
http://itusupport.gmu.edu/facstaff.asp#mason
[This account is NOT the same as your MEMO mail account.]

Second, set up your Web directory which will contain your Web site content. Follow these directions:

Log on to your MASON account by using SSH Secure Shell.
(Remember this account is not the same as your MEMO e-mail account.)

To create a public_html directory and set permissions:

a.	At the mason.gmu.edu> prompt, type cd Press "Enter"
b.	Type: mkdir public_html Press "Enter"
	[The initial prompt (mason.gmu.edu> or osf1.gmu.edu) will reappear each time you press Enter. Then go on to each new instruction.]
c.	To set permissions (so that everyone can see your pages), type: chmod 755 public_html
	Then, to make your mason account accessible:
d.	Type cd Press ENTER
e	Type chmod 711 . (Don't forget the space and period after 711) Press ENTER
[You will probably never need to set these permissions again for your mason account.]

Congratulations. You have created your directory and set it up so that people can read your Web material.

Create your Web page content by following these instructions.

To reenter your Web space to edit or create files, telnet into your mason account. At the osf1/mason> prompt, type: cd public_html
[Leave a space between "cd" and "public_html".]

Type ls to see the list of your files. Type pico filename (substitute "filename" with the name of your file) to edit a file or create a new file. Web page files must have the .html extension. Your "home" page must always be called index.html. After you edit your file or create a new one, press CTRL X, and then Y, when prompted, to save the changes.

There are many Web publishing programs to create html (hypertext) files. Html files and graphic/image files (.gif, .jpg) files can also be sent to your Web space using a file transfer protocol.These files, unlike those created in your public_html directory, are then sent to your public_html directory by using a file transfer protocol software program (ftp) like SSH Secure Shell or WSftp.

Resources: