Sigweb-Fermilab Network Data Project

Description:

The purpose of this project is to create a web based interface to a database. This database holds network information about the computers at Fermilab and we will make this information available over the web. The catch is: we want to be able to change this information (add and delete entries) as well as view it. This makes the project more involved because it means we need a dynamic web page (one that can be changed by using the page itself). Thanks to the gracious prople in the Computer Informations Systems group at Fermilab's Technical Division, we have a great opportunity to learn CGI scripting and incorporate this knowledge with web design. In order to complete this project we will need to use a CGI scripting language (in this case PERL), a database (msql), and some other scripting languages (probably JavaScript). The information will be viewable in chart form which will include the port name (a unique name for each entry), the port's user name, the location of the port, the tupe of computer plugged into the port, and a few other fields.

Meeting Times:

The workshops for this project will be held every other Wednesday @ 7:30 (the weeks that normal Sigweb meetings are not held) and we could possibly meet after Sigweb on the rest of the weeks.

Project Information:

CGI diagram - This diagram shows how web pages, cgi-scripts, the database, and javascript are interrelated.
Database Structure - This link gives information on how the database is structured. As you write perl code, take a look at this page so you know where to validate, get, and insert data.
Msql quick reference page - This page has the syntax for msql statements as well as other info which you may find yourself looking up frequently.
Example 1 - This is a simple example which shows how to use msql and perl to access database data from a cgi script and display it on a web page.

Links:

Perl manual - Perl is a scripting language that we will call from the HTML source code. It would be a good idea for anyone working on this project to know at least a small amount of Perl so you know how the interfaces are going to work. If you want to know more about Perl visit their website @ http://www.perl.org.
JavaScript Manual - Javascript can be thought of as an extension to HTML which allows authors to incorporate some functionality in their web pages.
Msql manual - Msql is the database we will be using to store all the network information.

Questions/Comments:

Fermilab & U of I

Last modified on October 30,1998