HTTP Commander common FAQ
Windows authentication related questions
I can't install the application. Is anybody can help me?
Answer: You can run diagnostics and look known problems. If you can't run the application or configure folders, we offer free installation assistance for both trial and commercial licenses. You can get help via email, instant messenger or via remote access to your server. You need few minutes to get online help.
How can I restart the application?
Answer: To restart application, you can make some changes in the Web.config file (e.g. add a spacer in any comment). The Application will restart automatically.
For full application restart (only if you have some system errors!):
- Stop all w3w.exe (aspnet_wp.exe in Windows 2000) processes;
- Delete C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\[.NET version]\Temporary ASP.NET Files\HTCOMNET folder.
How can I change logo or top header?
Answer: You can add logo to the toolbar or to the top header (at the bottom of toolbar).
1. To show logo at the toolbar you need to modify toolbarButtons parameter at web.config file: add "logo" to the toolbarButtons parameter value.
To modify logo (set your own image):
- Place logo image to HTCOMNET\Scripts\ folder.
- Open file HTCOMNET\Styles.css at Notepad and find ".x-logo-icon" style at the bottom. Set your image width and height at the width and height parameters. Save file.
- Open file HTCOMNET\Scripts\Main.js at Notepad. Find "var logoBtn" string at the top of file. Set the URL for logo button (set empty value if it is not link), tooltip and logo image file name. Save file.
2. To change logo or text at the top header check that showLogoHeader parameter at web.config set to true.
Also open file Scripts\Main.js in Notepad and modify HTML code for header (logoHeader var. at the begin of file)
How does HTTP Commander control user's count?
Answer: HTTP Commander controls user session count and unique users names. New session is created for every visitor. Each user can have few sessions if he don't clicked logout button. But after 1 hour sesion is closed automatically. To terminate existing sessions by yourself, you need to restart the application.
How can I use the HTTP Commander with SSL?
Answer: You can use SSL (HTTPS) for HTTP Commander. You should enable it at IIS like for any other website or application.
To make self signed SSL, you need:
- Download Microsoft IIS resource kit (supports IIS 5,6,7) at http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=56FC92EE-A71A-4C73-B628-ADE629C89499&displaylang=en.
- Install IIS resource kit on server.
- Run Start-> Programs-> IIS Resources-> Self SSL-> SelfSSL
- See the instructions how to run command to create your own SSL.
Run the command: selfssl.exe /N:CN=DOMAINNAME /K:1024 /V:7 /S:1 /P:443
- Now you can open https://localhost/HTCOMNET/ in a browser.
- To disabled non-SSL connections, open IIS manager, expand web site tree, right-click the HTCOMNET application, select "Properties", open Directory Security tab, click "Edit...", check "Require secure channel (SSL)".
Can the first loading process be faster?
Answer: The HTTP Commander has AJAX and 100% Java Script interface so it works rather quickly like a local application. When a visitor logons the HTTP Commander for the first time, it takes some time to load *.js and *.css files. Such files are stored in a browser cache within some months, so next logons will be much quicker.
You can make even the first loading process faster if you enable gzip compression in the IIS settings. With gzip enabled, the loading is 4-5 times faster. You need to enable gzip for static content only (*.js and *.css files). See article how to enable compression in IIS 7 (Win 2008) or for IIS 6 (Win 2003).
Download the trial HTTP Sniffer to test if the compression works successfully.
Can I make application faster?
Answer: Yes. There are few things that can help you to make application faster. You can make all or only some of them:
- It is recommended to enable gzip compression
- You can setup content expiration for Images\ folder so images will be loaded to user once and requests "if-modified" willn't be sent more while next logon. This can increase perfomance in some cases becouse application uses many images.
To setup content expiration:
For IIS 7: expand HTCOMNET\Images\ folder, then in the right panel open "HTTP Response Headers". Choose action "Set common Headers..." and set content expiration on 2020 year (for nearest 10 years).
For IIS 6: open HTCOMNET\Images\ folder settings at IIS, open "HTTP Headers" tab and set "Expire on" 2020 year (for nearest 10 years).>
- You can disable tree view or make it not auto collapsible. This makes application faster becouse no requests for tree updates needed. To disable tree set "isTreeVisible" parameter at web.config file to the "false" or set parameter "TreeView" value to "1" .
- Don't use many columnes for files grid at "displayedDefaultColumnsInList" parameter of Web.config. Rendering files grid needs some time at users side if many files at the folder.
- Note! Don't test application perfomance at Internet Explorer 8. This version works uneffective with java scripts and HTML objects. More popular browsers like FireFox, Chrome, IE 9 are few times faster.
If I map folder I got error "The folder you entered does not appear to be valid..." ?
Answer: First, try to map folder "http://demo.element-it.com/examples/demowindows/hcwebdav" (without quotes). If it don't show error and asks for credentials then it works. If maping demo folder works but not maps your application link then the problem with application or WebDav configuration. Check web folders mapping setup or contact with us.
You cannot map folders at Server OS like Windows 2003 or 2008 by default. So, please test maping from non-server PC.
If you want to map to Server OS then you need to do some actions:
- For Server 2008: Click Start->Administration Tools->ServerManager->Features->Add Features-> check 'Desktop Experience' and click 'Install' button
- For Server 2003: Start "WebClient" service at Administration Tools->Services
I got "Access to path '...' is denied" error.
Answer: The problem is related to the NTFS permissions. Check the NTFS permissions for HTCOMNET, data and your main content folders. See NTFS Permissions section of the Documentation.
I got "The page cannot be found" (error 404) error when I open http://localhost/HTCOMNET/default.aspx file
Answer: If you are sure that the path http://localhost/HTCOMNET/default.aspx exists but you are still getting such error, so it means that the IIS doesn't execute ASP.NET code.
You should allow ASP.NET 2.0 running in Web service extension list. See "Application Install" section of the Documentation.
I see the page with ASP.NET tags at the top e.g. "<%@ Page Language="C#" %>"
Answer: ASP.NET has not started on server and you have opened pages like clear HTML. See the "Application Install" section.
I got "Required permissions cannot be acquired" error
I got "Request for the permission of type 'System.Security.Permissions... error
Answer: Both errors can be related to "Full trust" level. Check if "Full trust" is enabled for HTCOMNET application. For windows 2008 see the "Application Install" section.
For windows 2003 open file C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\CONFIG\web.config and add code below, save file.
Check also permissions for "NETWORK SERVICE" or "IIS APPPOOL\DefaultAppPool" user to HTCOMNET folder as well. See the NTFS permissions section.
I got Request for the permission of type 'System.Web.AspNetHostingPermission... error
Answer: Problem related to latest Windows 2008 security. You need to unblock all *.dll files at HTTP Commander Bin\ and \App_Code folders becouse they came from another PC (Internet) and then Restart application (Close all w3w.exe procceses). See Installation section how to unblock files.
I got "Internet Explorer cannot download Download.ashx from [domainname]" error while a file was being downloaded.
Answer:
If you are using SSL, check Internet Explorer settings: Tools-> Internet Options-> Advanced-> Security-> uncheck "Do not save encrypted pages to disk". By defaut this option is unchecked.
If the option is checked, the files cannot be saved from any SSL website.
I got "Server Application Unavailable"
error.
Answer: There are two reasons for such error:
- The problem can appear because ASP.NET 2.0 and ASP.NET 1.1 applictions are being used at the same pool. Check all your applications in IIS and set one application pool for the applications running under ASP.NET 2.0 and another pool for applictions running under ASP.NET 1.1.
- There is not enough NTFS permissions to HTCOMNET folder. See NTFS permissions section of the Documentation.
There can also be some other reasons. You may try to restart the application
.
I open "Silverlight" file uploader tab but the window is empty.
Answer:
- If you are running IIS 6 (windows 2003), you need to check if MIME type is added for Silverlight .xap files in IIS. See Application install in IIS 6 section.
- If you see Silverlight installation button or a dialog window, and nothing is happening after Silverlight is installed, click F5 to refresh a browser.
Is HTTP Commander supports Web garden or Web farm?
Answer:
No. HTTP Commander running but don't works correctly if you have web garden or web farm enabled at IIS. Check if you have enabled web garden at application pool settings and disable it or create new pool for HTTP Commander. You shoud use only one worker process for application.
Is HTTP Commander supports DFS folders, UNC folders, ABE, NAS
Answer: Yes, it supports DFS, UNC, ABE, NAS and most other file related Windows Server technologies. Then you setup folder at admin panel then type path to DFS folder like \\domain\foldername or UNC like \\servername\share\folder.
If you setup UNC remote folder at remote server or your DFS folders stores folders at remote servers then check if Basic authentication is enabled in IIS settings, not Windows integrated! See why Basic authentication should be used.
How Can I configure documents management features like Google docs, MS Office and OpenOffice online edit?
Answer:
All info related to documents management features is described at web.config parameters section.
Can I pass default language and other settings in URL?
Answer:
Yes,
You can pass some setting in URL:
- Use "Default.aspx?Language=English" to pass default language.
- Use "Default.aspx?Mobile=" to show mobile interface(Smartphones) by default.
- Use "Default.aspx?Standard=" to show standard interface (non Mobile) by default.
Every time I insert my login and password in the authentication window I get "You are not authorized" error.
Answer:
- Check if logon user have read NTFS permissions to HTCOMNET folder. See NTFS permissions section of the Documentation.
- Try to insert domain name prefix e.g. "domainname\username".
- For Basic authentication check that you set correct default domain name at Basic authentication settings at IIS. See "Application install" section of the Documentation.
- For Windows 2003 server, you need to be sure that you have opened the full URL with Default.aspx page in a bowser i.e. http://localhost/HTCOMNET/Default.aspx. You can add "Default.aspx" page in default list is IIS.
Why I need to use Basic authentication instead of Windows?
Answer:
If you want to use Windows authentication, you will have some limitations:
- You can make access only to the local files stored on the same server.
- User groups detection willn't work if application installed at non domain controller.
- Mobile devices (iPhone, Android-based) browsers don't supports Windows authentication but works great with Basic. The same things with some WebDav clients for mobile devices.
This limitations are part of ASP.NET work and we can't fix this in code.
Wherefor we recommend to use Basic authentication!
If you worry about sending password as a clear text at Basic authentication, you can use SSL.
I can't create access for a group or to a home folder.
Answer: You need to check if the application reads groups correctly. You can see group list in Diagnostics.aspx page.
To login diagnostics, user's name should be inside administrators key of web.config.
If the group list is empty in the diagnostics page or some error happens:
- Check if Basic authentication is enabled in IIS settings, not Windows integrated.
- Check permissions for a user to read its own membership info. See how to grant permissions at readWindowsUsersGroupMembership key description.
Can I setup access only for single OU (Organisational Unit) of domain?
Answer: Yes, you can. Set UseUniversalWayToReadGroups parameter at web.config to the "false" and for LDAPContainer parameter value of LDAP path of needed OU (like "LDAP://OU=staff,DC=HOMEELEMENT-IT,DC=COM" ("staff" OU of "homeelement-it.com" domain). In such case for logon user groups will be detected only from this OU (you can run Diagnostics.aspx to see groups list of logon user.)
Can I use application in DMZ and what ports for firewall I should open?
Answer: Yes, you can. You can install application at the server in DMZ. Open HTTP(80) and HTTPS(443) ports. If you want to use Active Directory groups membership and home folder info then open LDAP port 389 and set UseUniversalWayToReadGroups parameter at web.config to the "false" and for LDAPContainer parameter value of LDAP path to your domain controller.
Loading of folders tree is very slow and needs 20 seconds
Answer: It can be becouse of reading user group membership info and AD home folder. This needs some time becouse code connects to AD. You can disable this feature by readWindowsUsersGroupMembership parameter or play with useUniversalWayToReadGroups and ldapContainer parameters at web.config file.
Can I use Forms authentication (Form at the web page) instead of standard browser popup authentication window?
Answer: We made this feature support but it is beta. Don't use this only becouse of design purpose! There is no quarantee that it will work like with standard Windows authentication.
To enable Forms authentication for AD users you should:
- Add to web.config new parameter: <add key="windowsUsersWithFormAuth" value="true" />
- Find in web.config the string <authentication mode="Windows"> and replace it with the <authentication mode="Forms">
- At the IIS for HTCOMNET application enable "Anonymous" authentication and disable "Basic" and "Windows" authentications.
Also some our customers which using MS ISA Server successfully replaced Basic authentication with Forms by ISA settings. Read more info at
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb794733.aspx