WebSite and GNNServer offer strong server tools (5/6/96)
by David Strom

Both WebSite and GNNServer come chock full of a series of server-based tools for assisting both web publishers and visitors alike, including link checkers, search engines, encrypted communications and running multiple domains. Here is a brief rundown:

-- search tools. Perhaps the most useful utility of any web server is to allow visitors to quickly search its treasure trove of documents. Both products do this in somewhat different ways.

WebSite's search tool is called WebFind and is basically a single executable program along with a form that calls it from a CGI script. It is simple to setup and use: you can allow visitors to search across all the text files on your site, or limit it to a particular portion. You accomplish this task by setting up the indices with a special WebIndex administrative tool that is fairly straightforward.

WebFind doesn't have many features, such as context searches or the ability to support complex boolean operations, but it is simple, obvious to use for both administrators and users, and quick.

GNNServer also has a search tool that works with the its bundled Illustra database engine from Illustra Information Technologies, Inc. of Oakland, Calif. This has more features but is also more difficult to setup than WebFind. It supports a limited version of context searching, whereby you can search for words with similar spellings such as finding the words "publish" and "publisher" upon looking for the word "publishing." It also can support search operations using "and" and "or" and "not" operations, so that you can look for all references of "web" and "Infoworld" across your site, for example.

-- database access. Besides searching, another useful feature is linking a web server with an active database server, so that visitors can query and find information using standard web forms.

WebSite 1.1 doesn't come with any database drivers, although the WebSite Pro version, currently in beta test, will include the Allaire Cold Fusion tools for this purpose.

GNNServer bundles a copy of the Illustra database engine along with the ODBC drivers (in its NT version only) for access to other databases. This includes several pre-designed forms for searching, entering, and updating data.

-- link checking and site mapping. WebSite also includes a useful utility called WebView that allows a webmaster to see on a single screen how each page is linked together and which links are currently valid or broken. However, sometimes this utility reported incorrect information. GNNServer has the ability to verify links, but you have to do it a single page at a time in the NaviPress publishing module.

-- multihosting support. One of the more valuable features is to support more than one domain running on a single server -- useful for both web hosting providers as well as corporate webs that have multiple identities. Both products offer this ability, although WebSite is somewhat more flexible than GNNServer.

-- encrypted communications. GNNServer supports Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) communications. WebSite supports SSL as well as Secure HTTP in its upcoming Pro version.

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