Generate .class files: javac server/*.java
Run with default port (port 80): java server.Main
Run with given port 8080 (or any other): java server.Main 8080
The server will try to set itself up, by reading the vhosts.conf file, which specifies all the domains hosted on this server.
On success the server will start accepting and handling concurrent requests.
The requests need to follow the http standards. After opening the server with port 80 ( or any other ), we can send HTTP requests in different ways:
Netcat example:
printf "GET / HTTP/1.0\r\n\r\n" | nc 127.0.0.1 80In HTTP/1.0 the Host header is not mandatory, and in this case the first domain found in the vhosts.conf file will be used. Therefore this is a valid http request. With this version of http there is no support for keep-alive connections. More examples with http/1.1 later.
printf "NTW21INFO / HTTP/1.0\r\n\r\n" | nc 127.0.0.1 80This command will send a response with informations about the administrator of the domain. In this case, since the request is again a 1.0, if the host is not specified, the default one is used.
Postman example:
Writing the whole http request in the terminal can take time. Using Postman instead we can send request having a graphical interface.
GET http://localhost:80 /home.htmlThen, on the headers tab, look at the hidden ones and remove the default Host header, as it will be set to be localhost . Use instead the desired host, as for example michelecattaneo.ch. Note that postman will use HTTP/1.1 by default and if you want the connection to close after the reponse the Connection: close header should be set.
Postman is particularly useful to send PUT requests where the content is an image: In the body tab select 'binary' as a type and upload an image. Then keep the headers that are automatically set by Postman and add in the request line the path where you want the new file to be added.
Web Browser example:
Using a web browser you have no control over the headers sent by the client. You will then have to edit the hosts file of your operating system to map your 127.0.0.1 IP adress to your domains. For MacOS/Linux:
sudo vim /etc/hostsWill open the hosts file. Edit it to add the following lines for each domain you want:
127.0.0.1 'yourdomain'
After that you will be able to access your domain from your browser, which will map to the localhost IP adress. You might need to remove the dns caches for it to work.
Each domain has a dedicated folder. Requests to a specific host are limited in the access to files/objects that are inside that specific folder. For example:
GET /../martinogiorgi.ch/home.html HTTP/1.1
Host: michelecattaneo.ch
Connection: close
Would return a 403 FORBIDDEN as we would be trying to access a folder outside the scope of the Host folder.
- Contributions: Always worked together.
| Task | |
|---|---|
| Michele Cattaneo | A B C D E F G H I J , Optional A Optional B |
| Luca de Felice | A B C D E F G H I J , Optional A Optional B |
| Martino Giorgi | A B C D E F G H I J , Optional A Optional B |