1. Part 2 Setting up a web server the easy way
Psychological Science on the Internet: Designing Web-Based Experiments From the Ground Up R. Chris Fraley | AMASS 2006

2. How the Net Works web user types a URL into the browser web server
locates requested HTML file and sends it to user’s computer
web user
the browser renders the HTML file as a web page

3. Web servers
There are a number of ways to obtain access to a web server
Your university or business
Set up your own using a spare computer
Use a professional web hosting company

4. Web servers
For the purposes of this workshop, I’m going to show you how to set up a free account with Netfirms—a professional web hosting company.
Why Netfirms?
They provide free server access with CGI capabilities
The “free” part means that they place ads at the top of your pages, but those ads are not obtrusive like some other companies (i.e., no pop-ups, not flashy).
Upgrading is simple and low-cost
Great tech support
Easy to transfer files to-and-from the server

5. Let’s begin . . .
Go to

6. Click the “Free Web Hosting” link.

7. Click the signup now button to continue

8. Enter the domain that you desire.
Click the for a free Netfirms sub domain

9. Uncheck all default “pay more” options and click next.

10. Enter your information (and password).
Be sure to enter a valid address because Netfirms will send you the information you need to use your account (e.g., passwords) to that address.
Click the “check out” button at the bottom of the page (not shown here)

11. Here is your info. Be sure to store it in a safe place, along with your password.

12. Your default page will look something like this.
Notice that the URL is

13. Enter your member name and password then click the “login” button.

14. File manager, under “site tools,” can be used to transfer the web pages you create to your account.

15. Things to know about your Netfirms account
There are two major directories
www – this directory will hold all the files that end with *.htm, *.html, or *.txt. In other words, this directory will hold web pages or other documents you want people to be able to see.
cgi-bin – this directory will hold all CGI/Perl scripts you write (or borrow) to process data (i.e., to perform dynamic web functions). These files will typically end with the *.pl extension.

16. Netfirms’ File Manager
The “cgi-bin” folder will hold any Perl/CGI scripts that you write.
The “www” folder will hold any HTML files that you write.

17. File manager
You can transfer files from your computer to the Netfirms server by using Netfirms’ “File manager” application.
This application provides an interface that allows you to upload files from your computer to the server.
Click on directories to see their contents; click the “Up” button to move backwards through a directory. Click “upload” to upload a file to the server.

18. Create a new directory
Later we’re going to write programs that save data to a text file on the server.
To keep everything organized, we’ll save data files to a directory called “data”
This directory does not exist by default in your Netfirms account; you must create it.

19. To create a new directory:
1. Chose the “directory” option
2.Enter “data” in the textbox
3. Press the “create button”

20. This shows you which directory you are currently navigating.
The new directory is now listed.

21. Click here to change permissions