Information Technology
Websites
Any current student, faculty, or staff may request an account on the school Web server. The student Web server is separate from the faculty/staff Web server, and the process for uploading pages is different for each server. The instructions below walk you through the things you'll need to do to get your pages online.
Instructions for Students | Faculty / Staff
Step 1. Create your account: The student Web server is called Phoenix. The first step towards setting up a Website is creating an account on the Phoenix server. Fill out the student Web sign-up form and we will create an account for you. Once you fill out the form, your login and password will be available in the MMC 101 computer lab 24 to 48 hours later.
Step 2. Transfer your files to your www folder: When your account was created, a directory called "www" was created in your home directory. Any file that you want to make available on the Web needs to be placed in this directory. To move files to this directory, you will use an FTP (File Transfer Protocol) program.
FTP instructions for Windows | Macintosh
Windows FTP: Any Windows program that is capable of making secure FTP (SFTP) connections will work. Computers on campus have such a program called CoreFTP. If you cannot find this program in the labs, lab assistants will be happy to help you locate it. You may also download it for your own use. Launch CoreFTP and enter the following settings:
- Host: phoenix.vancouver.wsu.edu
- Username: (your username)
- Password: (your password)
- Uncheck "Anonymous" if it is checked
- Check "Don't save password" if you are on a shared computer
- Check "SSH/SFTP" if it is unchecked

After you click connect, you may see a warning saying "The server's host key is not cached..." -- click "Yes". You should then see something like this:

On the left are the files on your computer. On the right are the files on the server. You should see a "www" folder in your file list on the right. You must put all of your Web files inside this www folder for it to show up on the Web. To do so:
- double-click the www folder so that you're inside it
- find your files or folders in the left pane
- highlight them
- click the arrow pointing to the right to move them into your www folder
Your files are now on the Web!
HideMac FTP: Any Mac program that is capable of making secure FTP (SFTP) connections will work. Macs on campus have such a program called Fugu, which is available for free download. (Note: If you have an Intel Mac, be sure to download the Universal Binary version, which is linked at the bottom of the front page).
After you launch Fugu, enter phoenix.vancouver.wsu.edu in the "Connect to:" line and your Phoenix account username in the "Username:" blank, then hit "Connect". It will then ask you for your password. Enter the one you chose above and hit "Authenticate". You should then see something like this:
The left side is what is on your computer, while the right side is what is in your home directory on the server. You should see a "www" folder in the right pane. You must put all of your Web files inside this www folder for them to show up on the Web. To do so:
- double-click the www folder so that you're inside it
- find your files or folders in the left pane
- highlight them
- click and drag them over to the right pane (you may also right-click (or control-click) and choose "upload")
Your files are now on the Web!
HideStep 3. Find your files on the Web:Now that your files are on the server, you probably want to know where to find them on the Web. Let's assume your account name is "genericstudent" and you have a file in your www directory called "webpage.html". To bring up that page in a browser, type the following in the browser's address bar: http://phoenix.vancouver.wsu.edu/~genericstudent/webpage.html
HideStep 1. The first step toward setting up a Website is getting an account on the school Web server. If you do not already have an account, e-mail helplog and request one. Please include contact information, location, department, and what pages you will be working on if you'll be responsible for more than just your own pages. Your login information will be delivered to you or your faculty support person.
Step 2. Transfer your files to your directory: Now that your directory on the server has been created, it's time to transfer files to it so that they are visible on the Web. To do that, you will use an FTP (File Transfer Protocol) program.
FTP instructions for Windows | Macintosh
Windows FTP: Any Windows program that is capable of making secure FTP (SFTP) connections will work. Computers on campus have such a program called CoreFTP. If you cannot find this program on your computer, you may download it. Launch CoreFTP and enter the following settings:
- Host: www.vancouver.wsu.edu
- Username: (your username)
- Password: (your password)
- Uncheck "Anonymous" if it is checked
- Check "Don't save password" if you are on a shared computer
- Check "SSH/SFTP" if it is unchecked

After you click connect, you may see a warning saying "The server's host key is not cached..." -- click "Yes". You should then see something like this:

On the left are the files on your computer. On the right are the files on the server. To move files to the server:
- find your files or folders in the left pane
- highlight them
- click the arrow pointing to the right to move them into your www folder
Your files are now on the Web!
HideMac FTP: Any Mac program that is capable of making secure FTP (SFTP) connections will work. Some Macs on campus have such a program called Fugu. If yours does not,it is available for free download. (Note: If you have an Intel Mac, be sure to download the Universal Binary version, which is linked at the bottom of the front page).
After you launch Fugu, enter www.vancouver.wsu.edu in the "Connect to:" line and your Web account username in the "Username:" blank, then hit "Connect". It will then ask you for your password. Enter it and hit "Authenticate". You should then see something like this:
The left side is what is on your computer, while the right side is what is in your home directory on the server. To move your files to your Web directory:
- find your files or folders in the left pane
- highlight them
- click and drag them over to the right pane (you may also right-click (or control-click) and choose "upload")
Your files are now on the Web!
HideStep 3. Find your files on the Web: Now that your files are on the server, you probably want to know where to find them on the Web. Let's assume your account name is "genericstaff" and you have a file in your directory called "webpage.html". To bring up that page in a browser, type the following in the browser's address bar: http://www.vancouver.wsu.edu/staff/genericstaff/webpage.html (for a facutly page, replace "staff" with "fac").
Hide