Installing NetCloak

The introduction is not a demo version - your AppleShare IP Server bundle includes a fully licensed and registered copy of NetCloak! You only need to follow the instructions on this page to set up NetCloak for regular use on your server and join thousands of other NetCloak users. Once you are done, don't forget to check out the "Free Upgrade" section below, too!

But before you go on, visit our Web site to register your copy. If you aren't connected to the internet right now, you can register any time by visiting http://www.maxum.com/ASIP/.

Didn't I Install NetCloak Already?

You should have already set up the NetCloak Introduction before getting to this page, which included a copy of NetCloak. The Introduction is designed to have a simple and relatively fool-proof setup, making it as easy as possible to see NetCloak in action. The easiest way to install NetCloak isn't necessarily the best way to use it day to day, however.

These instructions will show you how to configure your server so that files you select are always processed by NetCloak, and the NetCloak commands in them will always work. You will set up a MIME mapping so that files of a specific suffix, such as ".html", will always be processed by NetCloak. Most NetCloak users configure their server this way.

You probably noticed that all of the URLs for the introduction pages contain "NetCloak.acgi$". By specifying NetCloak in the URL, the Introduction pages are processed by NetCloak without making configuration changes to your server. However, for real-world use, it is safer and simpler to configure your AppleShare IP Web server to simply send all pages ending with ".html" through NetCloak. The overhead in doing so is minimal, and you gain the ability to use NetCloak commands anywhere on your site you wish.

Choosing the CGI vs. the Plug-In Version

NetCloak includes two versions: a Common Gateway Interface (CGI) application, and a Plug-In. We strongly recommend that you use the NetCloak Plug-In for the best results with your AppleShare IP server.

NetCloak imposes almost zero overhead when running as a Plug-In, making sure you always get peak performance from your AppleShare IP server. With a correctly configured MIME mapping, NetCloak will process all of your pages automatically so you can use NetCloak commands in any of your pages.

The NetCloak CGI is not as fast as the plug-in, but is compatible with Web servers that do not support Plug-Ins interface. The CGI is also required for configuring and maintaining the NetCloak Plug-In. We recommend that you use the NetCloak CGI if you will be using NetCloak's EXEC_CGI command or processing the output of other CGIs with NetCloak.

Getting Started

To get started, install either the NetCloak Plug-In or CGI, as described below.

Try looking at the Introduction pages in your Web browser, by connecting to your AppleShare IP Web server with NetCloak installed. Then locate and open the same page directly on the server with a text editor such as BBEdit. Viewing the pages directly in a text editor will show you exactly how NetCloak commands are used, and seeing the results in your browser will give you an idea for how these commands are processed.

You'll also want to launch TagBuilder, which makes using NetCloak commands as easy as drag and drop. TagBuilder's Tag window lists NetCloak commands and allows you to drag and drop them right into your HTML pages, using your favorite editor. In addition to being a great way to create "Cloaked" HTML pages, TagBuilder will show you all the available NetCloak commands, including how they are formatted. Basic help on using each command is also provided.

The instructions below assume that your AppleShare IP server is already configured for Web service and that you have already installed the NetCloak Introduction files. Consult your AppleShare IP Admin Guide for instructions on how to configure AppleShare IP for Web service. Open the "READ ME!"file in the NetCloak 2.1.2 folder on your AppleShare IP CD-ROM for instructions on setting up the NetCloak Introduction.

Installing the NetCloak Plug-In

1. Copy the "NetCloak Plug-In" file from the NetCloak 2.1.2 folder into the "Plug-Ins" folder inside the Web Folder on your AppleShare IP server.
2. Copy the "NetCloak.acgi" application to the Web Folder. You will need the CGI to set configuration and other NetCloak settings.
3. Launch AppleShare IP Admin.
4. Open the "Web & FTP MIME Types..." window by selecting it in the Server menu.
5. Click on the line with the suffix ".html", then click the Edit button.
6. Click on the pop-up menu for Action: and select Execute...
7. After the file open dialog box appears, select the "Plug-Ins"folder in the list and click the open button, then select "NetCloak Plug-In" in the file list and click the Open button again to select the NetCloak plug-in.
8. Click the OK button in the "Edit MIME Type" dialog box, then click Save. Click the OK button in the alert that appears after you click the Save button.
9. Open the "Web & File Server Settings" window by selecting it in the Server menu.
10. Select the "Web Plug-Ins" pane by using the pop-up menu at the top of the window.
11. Check the "Enable Plug-Ins" checkbox.
12. Change the "Maximum Plug-In Memory Usage" setting to at least 1024k.
13. Click the Save button to save the changes, then close the window
14. Stop the AppleShare IP Web & File Server, then re-start it.

Installing the NetCloak CGI

1. Copy the "NetCloak.acgi" application from the NetCloak 2.1.2 folder to the Web Folder on your AppleShare IP server.
2. Start up the AppleShare IP server, then double-click the NetCloak.acgi application to launch it. Starting NetCloak by double-clicking on it is not required, as the Web server will automatically start it as needed. However, starting by hand is recommended to avoid possible start-up errors (like out of memory problems).
3. Launch AppleShare IP Admin.
4. Select "Web & FTP MIME Types..." from the Server menu.
5. Click on the line with the suffix ".html", then click the Edit button.
6. Click on the pop-up menu for Action: and select Execute...
7. After the file open dialog box appears, select "NetCloak.acgi"in the file list, then click the Open button.
8. Click the OK button in the Edit MIME Type window, then click Save. Click the OK button in the alert that appears after you click the Save button.
9. Stop the AppleShare IP Web & File Server, then re-start it.

Getting Started with NetCloak

Free Upgrade

Visit our Web site at www.maxum.com/ASIP/ for the latest information and to download a NetCloak 2.5 upgrade package. See the User's Guide section "Upgrading NetCloak"for instructions on how to use your NetCloak Key file to validate the software.

To be sure you receive information about the version 2.5 upgrade and future upgrade options, register NetCloak now.