wn(1) 1.18.7-1 wn(1)
Debian GNU/Linux manual Debian GNU/Linux manual
Sat, 25 Apr 1998 00:34:33 -0400
NAME
wn - server for the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)
DESCRIPTION
wn is a server for the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP). Its
primary design goals are security and functionality usually available
only with complex CGI scripts without the necessity of writing or
using these scripts. This includes extensive security checks, full
text searching and conditionally served text.
Despite this extensive functionality the wn executable is
substantially smaller than the CERN or NCSA servers. Both a stand-
alone daemon wnswnd(8) and a version wnwnd(8) intended for use under
inetd(8) are provided. The inetd(8) version is designed to minimize
the use of system resources and it is appropriate for moderate or
lightly loaded servers which cannot be totally dedicated to Web
serving.
The wn security model is based on the use of a small flat database in
each directory with information about the files in that directory.
Fields associated with a file include its title, and may include
keywords, expiration date and any user defined fields like author or
document id. Unlike other servers, the default action for wn is to
deny access to a file. A file can only be served if explicit
permission to do so has been granted by entering it in this database.
There is extensive documentation on wn mainly in HTML format in
http://dochost/doc/wn/index.html page. There are also man(1) pages on
most components.
The wn package is organized into the following components:
DAEMONS
The actual HTTP servers.
SERVER UTILITIES
Programs to assist in the maintenance of a server.
HTML UTILITES
Programs to assist in the construction of HTML documents.
CGI PROGRAMS
Programs to provide additional capabilites to the basic server.
DAEMONS
wnwnd(8)
The inetd(8) based daemon.
wnswnd(8)
- 1 - Formatted: October 28, 2025
wn(1) 1.18.7-1 wn(1)
Debian GNU/Linux manual Debian GNU/Linux manual
Sat, 25 Apr 1998 00:34:33 -0400
The stand-alone daemon.
SERVER UTILITES
wnconfig(8)
Simple run-time configuration of wn HTTP server.
wndex(8)
Create access control file for wn HTTP server.
wnpasswd(8)
Create and manage password files for wn HTTP server.
wnuncache(8)
Decompile access control file for wn HTTP server.
wnupdate-www(8)
Enable access to standard directories through wn HTTP server.
wnv2c(8)
Convert logfile for wn HTTP server.
HTML UTILITES
wndigest(1)
Produce HTML links to document sections for wn HTTP server.
wnhtmlify(1)
Produce simple HTML document from text for wn HTTP server.
wnindexmaker(1)
Produce index to a set of HTML files for wn HTTP server.
wnpnuts(1)
Produce navigation links to a set of HTML files for wn HTTP
server.
CGI PROGRAMS
wnauth(3)
CGI program for Basic authorization for wn HTTP server.
wncat(3)
CGI program for listing (un)compressed files for wn HTTP server.
wnredir(3)
CGI program for redirecting to a new URL for wn HTTP server.
wnsectsearch(3)
CGI program for searching files for sections for wn HTTP server.
wnseven_m(3)
- 2 - Formatted: October 28, 2025
wn(1) 1.18.7-1 wn(1)
Debian GNU/Linux manual Debian GNU/Linux manual
Sat, 25 Apr 1998 00:34:33 -0400
CGI program for searching files for sections for wn HTTP server.
FILES
/etc/wn/wn.conf
Main configuration file for wn(1) package.
/etc/wn/wn.rc
sh(1) wrapper program to start wn(1) daemon with proper options.
/etc/init.d/wn
sh(1) program to start wnswnd stand-alone daemon from init(8)
process.
/etc/cron.daily/wn
sh(1) program to re-index standard documentation directories. It
is run daily by the cron(8) daemon.
SEE ALSO
wndigest(1), wnhtmlify(1), wnindexmaker(1), wnpnuts(1), wnauth(3),
wncat(3), wnredir(3), wnsectsearch(3), wnseven_m(3), wnconfig(8),
wndex(8), wnpasswd(8), wnuncache(8), wnupdate-www(8), wnv2c(8)
http://dochost/doc/wn/manual.html
http://hopf.math.nwu.edu/index.html
AUTHOR
wn is written by John Franks <john@math.nwu.edu>. Modified by Jean
Pierre LeJacq <jplejacq@quoininc.com> as part of packaging for the
Debian GNU/Linux distribution. Manual page also added by Jean Pierre
LeJacq.
- 3 - Formatted: October 28, 2025