Clarification and New Instructions on Assignment 6

Due to some changes in the configuration of the department's unix servers, some students have experienced difficulties in deploying the Assignment 6 programs.  Briefly, 1) the Web server on turing had been turned off and 2) there is no JDK (i.e. Java VM) on students.cs.niu.edu, so you can't run the server on students.cs.niu.edu).

By the time you read this, the Web server on turing.cs.niu.edu will be operational again, so you should be able to successfully deploy your programs.  Some additional details are below.

The Client Applet

turing.cs.niu.edu will be the web server.  So your applet must be on turing.cs.niu.edu.  Unfortunately, most ftp clients cannot access the public_html folder on turing.cs.niu.edu, since it is just a link to the "real" one on students.cs.niu.edu.  To put your applet class files and html file so they will be served by turing.cs.niu.edu, do >>>  one <<< of the following:

1) ftp to students.cs.niu.edu and transfer your files to the public_html directory there.  Then, to run the applet in a web browser, enter turing.cs.niu.edu/~z1234567/webname.html (using your own z-id and html document name, of course).

or

2) ftp to turing.cs.niu.edu and transfer your files to your home directory there.  Then login to turing.cs.niu.edu and copy (cp command) your files into public_html.

The Server Application

The server must run on turing.cs.niu.edu also.  (Default applet security rules require that an applet can only create a Socket back to the machine (same IP address) that the web page containing the applet came from.)

So just ftp your server class files to turing.cs.niu.edu.  It can run in your home directory, or in any other directory you choose.

An Alternative

In the event that you encounter difficulties in deploying your applet successfully (despite the excellent advice above), you may implement the Client as a Java application.  If you do so, for your live test with your instructor, you must either

  1. Bring a laptop to the demonstration, with the client installed and ready to run, or
  2. Bring all the required class files on a USB drive, or
  3. Email all the required class files to your instructor before you come for the demonstration.