Software tips for Windows users

Many webmasters are used to upload files through an FTP client, and in addition to that they might access the server of their ISPs via telnet. However, to do these things at SourceForge.net, you have to make use of SCP and SSH instead.

Below you find software that can be downloaded and installed to make it work. There are several documents about it at the SourceForge - Docs page, but most of them are written with Unix/Linux users in mind, and if you are a Windows user, you might find the tips below useful.

SSH access to the SourceForge.net shell server (instead of telnet)

One well-known terminal emulator that works fine is Tera Term Pro ver. 2.3, available at the Tera Term Home Page, together with the SSH extension TTSSH, available at the TTSSH home page.

The host name is "shell1.sourceforge.net" or "ringlink.sourceforge.net".

A tip for your convenience: When logging in, you start in your personal home directory on the shell server. To create a symbolic link, that points to the ringlink directory, run this command:

ln -s /home/groups/r/ri/ringlink ringlink

This creates a link named 'ringlink', which works like a
shortcut to the ringlink directory if you enter cd ringlink.

Upload files via SCP (instead of FTP)

WinSCP, which works much like an FTP client, serves its purpose very well. It lets you control the file transfer mode, and both the remote and local home directories can be saved. As regards updating previously uploaded scripts or HTML files, these options should typically be selected:

• Transfer mode: Text
• Filename modification: No change
• Attributes: Uncheck the 'Set permissions' and 'Preserve timestamp' options

You can save the settings by checking the 'Use same settings next time' option.

CVS access

CVS (Concurrent Versions System) is a version control system. The Ringlink CVS repository makes it possible for more than one developer to work with source code changes concurrently. When working with the same file, changes are detected by the program and "merged" into new file revisions. Conflicts may occur, but the CVS log makes it easy, or at least possible, to resolve them.

You are recommended to use WinCvs.

You need to download a matching SSH client, too. ssh-1.2.14-win32bin.zip has proved to work with WinCvs. Just create the directory C:\ssh and extract the files to that directory.

After the installation of WinCvs, select 'Admin -> Preferences'
from the menu and note the following:

• In the 'General' tab:
• Set the 'CVSROOT' to ":ext:USERNAME@cvs.sourceforge.net:/cvsroot/ringlink"
• Set the 'Authentication' to "SSH server"
• In the 'Globals' tab:
• Uncheck the 'Checkout read-only' option
• Check the 'Checkout text files with the Unix LF (0xa)' option
• In the 'Ports' tab:
• Set 'Check for an alternate rsh name' to "C:\ssh\ssh"
• In the 'WinCvs' tab:
• Set the 'HOME folder' to "C:\ssh"
  (This may not work, though, but you may need to add
  
  
  SET HOME=C:\ssh
  
  to the C:\autoexec.bat file instead. On W95 or W98 this can be done using a text editor.)

Now, whenever the program needs to talk to the CVS repository, an MS-DOS
window is opened and you are prompted to enter your SourceForge.net password.

Note: If you find that your home directory on the CVS server
hasn't been created, and you get an error message like this:

cvs checkout: cannot open CVS/Entries for reading: No such file or directory
cvs [server aborted]: can't chdir(/home/users/u/us/username): No such file or directory

To contribute to the Ringlink project with source code changes, or
updates to the Ringlink website using CVS, you should do the following:

1. Checkout the 2 Ringlink modules:
   1. Click "Create" on the top menu bar, then click "Checkout module".
   2. Type: "website" for the website module, and "Ringlink" for the Ringlink program module.
   3. Select the folder where you want to save your working copy of the module selected.
   4. Click "OK".
   5. An MS-DOS window should open. Switch to that window.
   6. You should then be prompted to enter your password.
      Type your SourceForge.net password, and then press "Enter".
2. Update your files and folders on a regular basis so as to be up to date on the latest Ringlink project developments whether that be with the Program files or the website files. To do so just right click on the file or folder you wish to update, and then select "Update selection".
3. Adding files:
   1. To add a new file click "Modify" on the top menu bar and select "Add selection" for text files, and "Add selection binary" for gif/jpg files.
4. Commit files.
   1. Once a file has been either added or updated by you, you would then right click on it, and select "Commit selection". Note: If you don't have the latest version of that file you won't be allowed to commit that file until it's been updated!
   2. If this is a website file you would then upload it to the Ringlink website using WinSCP after you had first successfully committed it.

If you haven't worked with CVS before, you are strongly recommended to download The CVS Book and study the chapter "An Overview of CVS" before you start to work with Ringlink. Another useful resource is the WinCvs -- Daily Use Guide.

And more...

If you (for some reason...) want to be able to run SSH, SCP, and CVS commands from an MS-DOS window, please note the following:

• Add these lines to your autoexec.bat file:
  
  
  SET HOME=C:\ssh
  SET PATH=C:\ssh;C:\Program\WinCvs;%PATH%
  SET CVSROOT=USERNAME@cvs.sourceforge.net:/cvsroot/ringlink
  SET CVS_RSH=ssh


• Create the directory C:\etc, and create a text file in this new directory called 'passwd'. The file should have one line in it with your SourceForge username.

Some John Fitzgibbon has written another document about SSH/SCP in a relatively intelligible language. It includes tips about e.g. secure keys and automatic login. puttygen.exe, available at the PuTTY Download Page, can be used to create the secure keys.