dotCMS - Open Source Content Management System, Ondemand CMS, and Professional Support

Connect to the dotCMS Using webDAV

Web-based Distributed Authoring and Versioning, or WebDAV, is an extension of the HTTP protocol that allows users to create a connection between their local computer and a server.  After establishing a WebDAV connection it is almost as easy to use files on the dotCMS server as those stored in local directories.  The following instructions show how to set up a WebDAV connection on the following operating systems:

WebDAV on Windows

WebDAV on MacOS

WebDAV on Linux

To set up WebDAV on Windows

Special Notes (these issues are not with dotCMS but with Windows OS Software):

1. To set up webDAV for Windows Server 2003, Windows XP, or Vista, the Microsoft "Software Update for Web Folders" (KB907306) is needed.  This patch not only fixes various issues when using web folders, but includes security enhancements as well:
   
   http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=17C36612-632E-4C04-9382-987622ED1D64&displaylang=en


2. There is also an Windows limitation that times out individual requests after 20 seconds.  Copying a folder with a large amount of files is a single request and may time out. To avoid time-out errors on moving large amounts of files, simply move/copy/paste the desired files between folders instead of attempting to move folders.  By performing a "drag and drop" of files, each file will be considered an individual copy request (each with its own 20 second time limit), and you will have less likelyhood of time out errors when using webDAV with Windows.

1. Open My Network Places (steps to open will vary depending on Windows version)

2. Click Add a network place. The Add Network Place Wizard starts.
3. Click Next to continue.
4. Click on Choose another network location and click Next>
5. Type your complete dotCMS URL address including one of the following webDAV options:
   • http://dotcms.org/webdav/autopub (files are published as they are uploaded)
   • http://dotcms.org/webdav/nonpub (files uploaded as "working" copies)
6. Click Next>
7. You will be asked for the User Name and Password of your dotCMS user account
8. Name your dotCMS webDAV connection and click Next> and Finish

You should now be able to open folders on your dotCMS host and drag and drop files to and from those folders in the same way that you transfer files between local folders.

Setting up webDAV on a MacOS

There are two software options available for setting up webDAV on a MacOS. Finder or Cyberduck software can be used to set up webDAV.  Cyberduck is recommended for performance reasons although either of the setup options can now be used.

Option 1 - Setting up webDAV using Cyberduck

To set up WebDAV on MacOS, you must first download and install the Cyberduck open source software from either of the following websites:

http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/internet_utilities/cyberduck.html

or...

http://cyberduck.ch/

After installation, open the Cyberduck application and click the Open Connection icon in the upper left hand corner of the application window.  To establish the connection use the following steps as pictured in the screenshot below:

1. Click on the Protocol drop down list and select WebDAV (Web-based Distributed Authoring and Versioning)
2. In the Server field, type the domain of your website, ex: dotcms.org
3. In the Port field, type 80
4. Enter the Username and Password login information for your dotCMS user account.
5. Click on the More Options down arrow to expand advanced options and type:
   • /webdav/autopub (files are automatically published on upload)   or...
   • /webdav/nonpub (files are saved on upload as "working" copies)
6. Click the Connect button

You should now be able to open folders on your dotCMS host and drag and drop files to and from those folders in the same way that you transfer files between local folders.

Option 2 - Setting up webDAV using Finder

1. In Finder, click on "Go" and "Connect to Server"

2. Type your complete dotCMS URL address including one of the following webDAV options:
   • http://dotcms.org/webdav/autopub (files are published as they are uploaded)
   • http://dotcms.org/webdav/nonpub (files uploaded as "working" copies)

3. Click the Connect button
4. Enter the Username and Password login information for your dotCMS user account.

5. The connection should now be established.  Open the new connection with the name of your website domain, (login again if necessary), and you should now be able to drag and drop to folders on your dotCMS server.

Setting up WebDAV on a Linux

1. Download and install the latest davfs2
2. Create the mount point
   mkdir /dav
3. Once davfs2 is installed you can mount a share in the dav directory on your dotCMS server.  For example, to set up a webDAV connection to dotcms.org at the mount point /dav on the localhost using the command:


mount -t davfs http://dotcms.org/webdav/autopub/ /dav.

4. You will then be prompted for your dotCMS username and password which will give you access to the webfolders on your dotCMS server
5. Unmount when finished
   umount /dav