Configuring CGI with AOLserver

You can control the behavior of AOLserver's CGI interface by setting parameters in a configuration file. For example, you can control which files and directories are treated as CGI programs, you can determine how to run various types of programs, and you can set a group of environment variables for each type of program you use.

Note that if you're defining multiple servers, you will need to configure the CGI interface for each server.

To enable and configure CGI:

1. Edit your AOLserver configuration file, usually named nsd.tcl.

2. Choose the server for which you want to enable CGI. Add the CGI module to that server. For example:

       ns_section "ns/server/Server1/modules"
       ns_param nscgi nscgi.so
   

3. Add a section for the server called ns/server/server-name/modules/nscgi. For example:

       ns_section "ns/server/Server1/modules/nscgi"
   

4. Add CGI mappings for the server to define the method, URL, and directory where the CGI programs reside. For example:

       ns_section "ns/server/Server1/modules/nscgi"
       ns_param Map "GET /cgi /usr/local/cgi"
       ns_param Map "POST /*.cgi"
   

5. Modify other CGI parameters as needed. See page 63 for descriptions of CGI parameters.

6. If you plan to use a program which requires an interpreter, e.g., Perl or a shell script, you will need to define an Interpreter in the Interps section. Follow these steps:
   • Add a definition for the Interps parameter to your CGI configuration section. For example:

       	ns_section "ns/server/Server1/modules/nscgi"
       	ns_param Map "GET /cgi /usr/local/cgi"
       	ns_param Map "POST /*.cgi"
       	ns_param Interps CGIinterps
   

   • Then add an interpreter section containing interpreter definitions. For example:

       	ns_section "ns/interps/CGIinterps"
       	ns_param .pl "c:\perl\bin\perl.exe"
       	ns_param .sh "c:\mks\mksnt\sh.exe(MKSenv)"
       
   

7. If the interpreter requires environment variables, you will need to define an Environment section. Follow these steps:
   • Add a definition for the Environment parameter to your CGI configuration section. For example:

       	ns_section "ns/server/Server1/modules/nscgi"
       	ns_param Map "GET /cgi /usr/local/cgi"
       	ns_param Map "POST /*.cgi"
       	ns_param Interps CGIinterps
       	ns_param Environment CGIenvironment
   

   • Then add an environment section containing variable definitions. For example:

       	ns_section "ns/interps/CGIenvironment"
       	ns_param var1 var1-definition
       	ns_param var2 var2-definition