Question re 'CGI-BIN'
 

OK years ago, you got a server, it had a pre made folder called cgi-bin

Time pased, and as far as Im concened with modern tech advances the cgi-bin special folder became obsolte... Ie irts no longer there 'by default'

Now, setting up verotel billing for someone... They say I HAVE to have a cgi-bin folder / directory...

Am I correct in thinking I can just create a directory, in the root of the site, call it cgi-bin and use that?

Cheers !

So in other words, create a folder call it cgi-bin CHMOD to 755 and good to go? I am not using a universty of texas system though... So I can create files via normal ftp without troubles...

You´ll have to tell the server that it shall execute scripts in that folder. Usually you can do that with any folder today.

Here is a little help...

And I was afraid this thread is all about poo...:1orglaugh

you shouldn't have to call it cgi-bin

You need to setup apache so it knows that its allowed to execute scripts in that folder..

ussually done by setting the following in a virtual host

ScriptAlias /cgi-bin /pathtothedironserver

btw cgi-bin is not oldschool at all there's still many things where perl or c++ scripts are better for then for example php.. Take file uploads for example.

That tutorial is not specific to their servers.. it's just a good explanation of what you need to do to create a CGI-BIN directory..

Cool. Its not actually on my server, its for a client, and the only reason I need a 'cgi-bin' is because the verotel billing system, wants me to use one...

Therefore this sounds correct yes? Create a folder, call it cgi-bin and then get onto the hosting support and tell them to enable it as a 'cgi-bin' on the server?

The reason Im not going to be going in with ssh etc, is cause
1 Its NOT MY SERVER, & 2) Its a cheap virtual account...

But if I just make the folder and tell the server company about it, all should be OK yeah?

:thumbsup Dont confuse me ! I have to call it cgi-bin because Verotel WANT me to call it cgi-bin :)

Fuck creating the directory then also.

just tell them to hook you up a cgi-bin folder (which any vhost company should have done by default in my opinion)

OK fair play, but as its not my server and its only a cheap virtual account, I dont have shell accsess Only FTP :)

They have to give the folder permission to execute scripts like that:

<Directory "/data_hdd/work/httpd/htdocs/test_cgi/">
Options +ExecCGI
</Directory>

(from a Debian config file)

and if you want to use various filenames, they need to be named as well like that:

AddHandler cgi-script .cgi .pl .ph

Cool. I'll hit up his server people tomorrow then :) Its Dreamhost by the way...:error:error:error
:1orglaugh:1orglaugh:1orglaugh
DONT JUMP ON ME ! I am just supposed to be helping set up his billing... :)

I DIDNT CHOOSE HIS SERVER ! :helpme:helpme:helpme

:1orglaugh:1orglaugh:1orglaugh

So... After all that, I was actually right to begin with LOL

Ahh well... Back to posting I like poo everwhere...

:1orglaugh:1orglaugh:1orglaugh

Thanks guys :thumbsup:thumbsup:thumbsup

Nothing wrong with Dreamhost :1orglaugh

No, Dreamhost have their place...
Its just embarresing trying to ask serious questions, then having to admit that your going to be doing it on a dreamhost virtual account :)

Why not using dreamhost. I´ve got a virtual account there for some tgp submits and it works fine, unless it´s a hun listing...:winkwink:

That is one of the most intelligent post I've ever seen on GFY.

Do what verotel says and not something that somebody just posted on some board.

What you just did is so hard for some people to do.

If I got a server account that didn't have a cgi-bin already set up I would cancel
that account in 3 seconds flat.

:1orglaugh

Dude, that's a fucked up sign.

It's a clear sign that the hosting company is probably a piece of shit. :1orglaugh

Well, heres the bigger picture... The overall situation. I got approached by my client. He has over 8000 separate (Legal and fully licensed) 20 min video clips, (DVD Scenes) that he wants to sell online, using a 'pay per download' model...

He wants a main site built, featuring all of his clips, with categories and a search function etc, PLUS 8000 individual separate pages on 8000 separate URLs, each SEOd to the specific description of the individual clip itself, plus cross linking of ten other URLs from the group, on each page...

As you can see, its not a small project, and one that Im more than happy to get involved in... He asked me who he should host with, and I replied he should get a dedicated box at mojohost, as I have used them myself in the past, and know that there fully managed support system is second to none...

However, he didn't want to jump into paying $400+ a month from day one, before I even had a template designed for the other pages, the main site up and working, and the billing in its place etc...

So he decided to get a dreamhost virtual account for a year for $60, so I could 'play' with getting things set up... Then, once its underway, we can switch to mojohost, and have them 'suck' everything across...

Seems reasonable, but here the silly thing... If we were with Mojo now, Id think nothing of picking up the phone and just saying what I need, and it will be done... Likewise, if I was on a dedicated box from an unmanaged provider, Id have no trouble using ssh etc and giving commands in shell at root level...

But.. DREAMHOST ! :helpme

I mean, you get what you pay for, but Im not used to dealing with the 'budget' end of the scale, when it comes to doing things, like SETTING UP BILLING etc, that Id normally do on a DEDICATED BOX ! :1orglaugh

But anyway, Im sure all will be OK... Just gotta get this verotel in place, get the first ten vids going, the first ten pages up... Then we can just add a few here and there, and when hes happy, I can hit up brad, and send him a HHD with all the clips on it, for him to load DIRECTLY into the 'right' folder on our new server...

But until I have the billing working... I dont even know what 'The Right Folder' is !!! :1orglaugh

Still 'Baby Steps' LOL AT least I know now that I can just create the cgi-bin like I thought, (Thanks Klaze) and get busy with verotel tomorrow !

Thanks for your help anyway though... :thumbsup

He's smart, they only problem is that if the cheap host is not working with all the stuff
you need to make his site run then he get's stuck and starts blaming you when all he needs to do is get a decent server.

Understand you 100% man. Totally know what you mean :)

Thing is, I have the basic site up with 8 vids ready for download... Thats fine on dreamhost. Its working perfectly... Infact, with just 8 clips, it could stay on dreamhost... Forever ! No problem whatsoever...

Its just that now its time to get the billing going. We were going with another company, not verotel, but we had some issues with them. Not going to go into it on the boards, cause they wernt THAT sort of issues...

Actually, I will say what the problem is, so it doesn't cause any speculation. The guy has a legitimate, legal company that is set up for this project. However, the first billing company (When it came to the initial setup) *accused* him of having sent them false company details... But... He hadn't.

Their legal company had made a genuine mistake, but when he questioned this, (Which he had every right to do) and they discovered that he HAD sent legit info... They didn't apologize... (Billing for over individual 8000 videos? Didnt say 'Sorry' ? :error )

So he said to me, 'Screw them' Find someone else... As I know these 8000 vids are not the total vids ever, but just THE START OF THINGS... I simply said 'OK Boss' :)

So I 'found' Verotel'

Been speaking to other people who use them for pay-per-download per clip, they are doing fine with them... Have looked at the setup and all seems straight forward... EXCEPT They say I HAVE TO USE A CGI-BIN to make it work with THEIR SYSTEM...

Have since found out (Thanks to Klaze) that although dreamhost doesn't designate a cgi-bin by default, I can just create one... Simply enough, and all good...

But that's reason I made this thread :)

Verotel is good stuff!!!

When I go to the mail box and see a check form Verotel I then go inside to see one
new email that says "this is verotel, we just sent your check". :1orglaugh

As far as ease of setting up your program with verotel; they rank in the top 99.99%
in ease to set up.

Thats what I like to hear :)

buuuuuuuuuuuuuump

fix.t

Google actually works like you would want it to.

How did you set up Verotel for pay per download billing? AFAIK they only do fixed period memberships, and to a single members URL (which is annoying in some situations, since they refer to the site as its members URL)

Not 100% sure... YET... But I spoke to the guy who runs THIS site. Hes using them to do that with no problems at all...

Different url obviously:

You want to subscribe to:

http://www.pauls-spunksluts.co.uk/me...nica_paid.html

===========================================

You want to subscribe to:

http://www.pauls-spunksluts.co.uk/me...unni_paid.html

In this case I would have spent the $400 right from the beginning. And that project sound like a large and interesting one indeed. Much luck building it up!:thumbsup

Setting up 8,000 subaccounts sounds like fun.