Setting Webdav for Filesharing Between Computers

[raleighvon]

I have 3 Macs and I use 1 of them, my g4(running panther) as a local server. Since I tend to work in Dreamweaver more than any other program, I decided to use webdav to locally fileshare and synchronize files between all my computers. I got it to work except that I cannot move folders around on the server from one of the other computers. I can do everything else like put, delete, move files, I can do everything, except I cannot move folders. I am stumped and am not sure what to do. I have created "how to instructions" that shows what i did to "set up webdav on OS 10.3 to work with Dreamweaver". Once I figure out why I can't move files I would like to revise my "how to instructions" and post for all to use here is what i have so far. If you know the answer to this please let me know. Also, I am open to any security improvement suggestions, I realize my method is not the most secure way to this.

HOW TO BELOW and also attached as a word doc>>>>>>


Setting WebDav on OS 10.3 (X.3) Panther to work with Dreamweaver

Requirements:
This Specifically written for Mac OS 10.3 aka Panther with root enabled but it would be very similar for 10.2. You need to know a little vi and I recommend using sudo. make sure you make a backup of your httpd file just in case

So I wanted to set up WebDav on my server to work with Dreamweaver mainly so I can synchronize my work related files on my laptop with my work related files on my Desktop and have a backup on my server. There are a handful of tutorials on how to set up webdav for use with ical but i couldn't find one specifically for webdav, panther and Dreamweaver. Here is how I did it. This is surely not the most secure way to set this up and for me this in an enclosed network. I would recommend adding more powerful password protection. also if you see a flaw in my code or know any way I can enhance it, please let me know.


Preparation:

% cd /Library/WebServer/
% mkdir davlocks
% chown www:www davlocks
% cd Documents
% mkdir dav
% chown www:www dav


Apache configuration

To use dreamweaver with the bundled OS X Apache web server, you must edit Apache's configuration file in /etc/httpd. You must be root, and know vi and the workings of this file in general. As a precautionary measure and as a good habit, make a backup of the apache config file then open the httpd.conf file.

% cd /etc/httpd
% cp httpd.conf httpd.conf.bak
% sudo vi /etc/httpd/httpd.conf


In the Shared Library section of the httpd.conf, where modules are loaded, add these two lines in the same ordering in their repective sections:

[remove the #]

#LoadModule dav_module libexec/httpd/libdav.so

#AddModule mod_dav.c


Next we will need to insert the appropriate apache directives to identify our webDAV settings and preferences. Insert it before the code block containing:

<Directory "/Library/WebServer/Documents">


DAVLockDB /Library/WebServer/davlocks/DAVLockDB

<Directory /Library/WebServer/Documents/dav>
DAV On
#This next Line stops any server side script execution of a php file for example
#NOPE This line DOES NOT WORK
ForceType text/plain
AuthName 'webdav access'
AuthType Basic
AuthUserFile "/etc/httpd/.htpasswd"
<Limit GET PUT POST DELETE PROPFIND PROPPATCH MKCOL COPY MOVE LOCK UNLOCK>
require valid-user
</Limit>
</Directory>

Change this line (this is for the .htaccess file, we will discuss that next)

AllowOverride None

to

AllowOverride All


You are done editing the apache configuration file, save it, and exit your editor

Security

After setting up apache to be able to function with the webdav server, next we will secure the webserver so that ruffians will not attempt to also store their calendars and do various other malicious things to your beloved computer (like connect to it with goliath and screw with your files). to do this we will protect the DAVdocs directory with apache's built in access control. first let's create a the password file that apache will refer to for access control:

% htpasswd /etc/httpd/.htpasswd username
% New password: not_safe
% Re-type new password: not_safe
% Adding password for user username

Restart apache

sudo apachectl configtest
sudo apachectl graceful

Dreamweaver
I am not going to go into great detail about this, if you could do all the other steps this should a cinch. Basically set up a site and there is a page that allows you set up webdav it asks for a url add in the url of your server with the path to the folder /dav (http://yourserveraddress/dav) you created. use the username you set up and password.

Try to connect and it should work.

Setting WebDav on OS 10.3 (X.3) Panther to work with Dreamweaver

[zed]

As all the computers are local... and you have a fileserver, and they are all macs... why not use the filesharing functions of the Mac..

you can start us filesharing, share out this dir and you'll get proper file sharing which will work a lot fast and more reliably.

Cheers,
--Zed

[bluehz]

I have webdav setup on my LInux server here that feeds websites out of our LAN. I have NEVER been able to access the webdav using Dreamweaver from the Mac. All other tools work just fine - Finder, Golive, etc... everything else does webdav fine... just no Dreamweaver. I finally found out its easier to just mount the disks (via webdav or samba) and tell Dreamweaver to use "local" for remote location. Works perfectly.

I did a fair amount of research on this subject also and found others were having problems - but no solution. BTW - I built my webdav from the ground up to off AuthDigest (secure) support as well as Plain - thinking that may be the problem - it wasn't. I did find this one little snippet that poeple suggested putting into your Apache config file - but it did not work either - I am posting it simply for others info:

This is the line:

BrowserMatch "Dreamweaver-WebDAV*" redirect-carefully

and here it is in context:

<Directory /var/www/htdocs/> DAV On
AuthType Digest
AuthName "Bluehz's iDisk"
AuthDigestDomain idisk.domain_Name_here
AuthDigestFile /usr/local/apache/conf/users/domain_Name_here/.digest_pw
AllowOverride None
Options None
BrowserMatch "Dreamweaver-WebDAV*" redirect-carefully
<Limit GET HEAD OPTIONS PUT POST DELETE PROPFIND PROPPATCH MKCOL COPY MOVE LOCK UNLOCK>
Require user bluehz
</Limit>
<LimitExcept GET HEAD OPTIONS>>
Require user guest
</Limit>
</Directory>