Setting Up a Sign-up Server

An Internet Sign-up Server (ISS) is a Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) server that automates the task of adding new customers to an Internet service providerÆs (ISP) customer database. The ISS collects information from each new customer, adds the information to the ISPÆs customer database, and then passes a configuration packet back to the customerÆs desktop computer. The configuration packet contains information that is used to configure the customerÆs Internet browser for subsequent connection to the ISPÆs services.

This document provides information that an experienced Internet server administrator can use to implement an ISS. It assumes that you are already familiar with HTTP, Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), and Common Gateway Interface (CGI) processing. If you are not familiar with these components, see W3C to read about official HTTP specifications and Common Gateway Interface (CGI) specifications.

The ISS adds a new customer to the ISPÆs database in three steps:

  1. Establish an HTTP connection with a customerÆs desktop computer.

  2. Collect sign-up information from the customer.

  3. Handle the customerÆs acceptance or refusal of the ISPÆs services.