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Aurora Maintainer's FAQ

CGI Scripts


How do I write a CGI script?

You'll want to write the CGI script in PERL and tweak it so that it uses the AuroraCGI SafePERL conventions (and is thereby allowed to run on the server). For information on programming in PERL, refer to the PERL Language Home Page. For information of all kinds on writing CGI programs, The CGI Resource Index offers fairly extensive documentation.

I don't have time to learn a lot of PERL--where can I find pre-written CGI scripts that I can use on my web pages?

There are a lot of places on the web that offer free and shareware CGI scripts that you can download and use on your web pages. While a complete list is impossible, here are some suggested starting points: Keep in mind that you'll probably need to make some alterations to any scripts you find floating around on the web so that they comply with AuroraCGI SafePERL requirements.

What do I need to know about AuroraCGI and SafePERL?

AuroraCGI is based on the SafePERL-CGI extension to PERL which allows web page maintaners to write CGI programs in Perl5 and to be run in a restricted, secure environment while protecting the integrity of the web server. It makes use of the Safe extension module for Perl5 -- any attempted unsafe operation in the CGI program is trapped and causes a fatal compile-time error. Wrappers and utility functions for useful but potentially unsafe operations (such as opening files and sending mail) are written in (unrestricted) PERL and then shared with the sanitised compartment. These wrappers are being written by DMS staff for AuroraCGI users.

Here is the AuroraCGI - SafePerl documentation

Can I use Server-Side Includes (SSIs) with my web pages on the Aurora sever?

Yes! For more information on server-side includes, please read this very nice documentation. You can ignore the information about the .htaccess file. Please note that, on Aurora, it is NOT necessary to use the file extension .shtml in order to get SSIs to work. They will work on any and all HTML files.

How do I install my CGI on the Aurora server?

Information on installing your CGI script can be found here, along with a step-by-step guide to installing your CGI.