FAQ LAMP hosting | Terms of use for LAMP

What are the procedures for external web developers awaiting Third Party access?

An external web developer may request that ICTS create a website on the LAMP environment provided they have been given Third Party access by the sponsoring department (or department in which the third party is going to be based).

  1. Once you receive your third party number you can make a request that a website be created.
    1. Log an online call, providing the following important information:
      • Description of the website.
      • DNS name required (e.g. mysitename.uct.ac.za).
      • The name of the department you represent.
      • The name of the faculty you represent.
      • The username (staff number) of the site owner.
    2. ICTS will create a domain name (based on your DNS name) and your LAMP site based on details you have provided.
    3. Your WebDAV login details will then be sent to you.
    4. You will now be able to access the LAMP server site via WebDAV to upload and administer your site files.
  1. ICTS will upload your site files onto the newly created website, provided there is an agreement between the Site Owner and Developer that:
    • this is a once-off upload, and
    • ICTS is not responsible for maintenance.

  2. Once this agreement has been met you then need to do the following:
    1. Log an online call, providing the following information:
      • Site files that need to be uploaded onto the website.
      • The agreement between Site Owner and Developer for ICTS to upload the content.
    2. ICTS will then upload the site files.
How do I configure a WebDAV client for Windows ?

You need to install software that supports WebDAV in order to upload files to the server. Uploading files over FTP is not available because of the administrative and security overhead.

ICTS has identified BitKinex, a handy network client supporting multiple transfer protocols (FTP, FTP(S), SFTP, HTTP(S) and WebDAV), as suitable software to use to upload and manage your WebDAV files.

Windows 7 


Installing BitKinex

  1. Download BitKinex.
    • When the install window opens, click Next.
  2. Click the I accept the terms and in the license agreement option and then click Next.
  3. Keep clicking Next until it asks if you are Ready to Install.
    • Click Next again.
  4. When the completed box appears, click Finish.


Configuring your Web Dav folder

You are now ready to configure your WebDav folder:

  1. Open Windows File Explorer
  2. Right-click This PC, click Add a network location.
  3. In the Add Network Location Wizard
    • Click Next.
    • Click Choose a custom network location and click Next.
    • In the Internet or network address field, enter the address of your WebDAV folder, for example https://webdav002.uct.ac.za/misc/davtrain and click Next.
    • A Windows Security dialog will appear. Enter the following details and click OK:
      • User name: Your staff, student or third-party number
      • Password: Your network password
    • Enter a name for this network location or accept the default and click Next.
    • Click Finish
  4. A Windows File Explorer window will open showing your site contents.


Connect to your WebDav folder

  1. In the BitKinex 3.2.3 folder right-click Http/WebDav and select New > Http/WebDav.
  2. Enter a new name for the new folder and click Enter.
  3. A window with the name of your newly created folder opens. Enter the following details:
    • Server address: WebDAV002.uct.ac.za
    • Security dropdown box: SSL
    • User: your full context username e.g. user_its_main_uct.
    • Password: your network password.
  4. Click Data Source in the list on the left.
    • In the Default directory field, enter the name of your WebDAV folder. For example if your WebDav folder is https://webdav002.uct.ac.za/misc/davtrain then enter /misc/davtrain in the Default directory field.
    • Click OK.
  5. Double-click your newly created WebDav folder in the BitKinex 3.2.3 window.
  6. In the SSL verification BitKinex window clickAlways trust this server.
  7. You are now authenticated to your WebDav folder.

How do I upload or change files using WebDAV via BitKinex?

Launch the BitKinex client.

  1. Double-click on the WebDAV folder you have configured. 
  2. A window will open showing your WebDAV folder. If any files or directories are present you will see them listed here, otherwise the folder will be empty.
    • To open an existing directory/folder double-click it.
    • To create a new directory/folder right-click in the window and select New > Directory. A folder called New Directory will be created. Right-click the newly created folder and select Rename to rename it to something more useful.
    • To delete a file or directory/folder, right-click and select Delete.
    •  To copy files from your local machine onto the server, select the files in Windows Explorer and drag or copy them into the WebDAV window. You can also double-click My Computer > Web Folders and double-click the icon you created in the web folders.

How do I view my published files?

To view the content you have uploaded to the LAMP server, enter the URL provided to you by ICTS in a browser such as Firefox or Internet Explorer.

How do I remove a site from the LAMP server?

  • To remove a website from the LAMP server, log a call with the IT Helpdesk and provide the following information:
    • Description of the website.
    • DNS name of the website being removed (e.g. mysitename.uct.ac.za).
    • The name of the department you represent.
    • The name of the faculty you represent.
    • The usernames (staff IDs) of the site owner.

NOTE: Please refer to the Database backup and Restore procedure if you want to keep the information stored on the database. If a backup/dump of files or a database is required, contact the IT Helpdesk and a zip will be placed on the current site location.

  • Once the call containing all the relevant information is logged, a helpdesk consultant will forward your request to an ICTS Technician.
  • This technician will then remove the domain name and site files. You will be notified once this process is completed.

What kind of updates will take place and what do I need to do?

  • Where applicable, updates to the LAMP server core components (Linux, MySQL, Apache, PHP) will take place during the ICTS scheduled maintenance slots. 
  • You will be notified well in advance about any upgrades.
  • You will need to ensure that your content and code is supported by versions of Linux, MySQL, Apache, PHP.
  • After an upgrade you will need to check that your site is fully functional and make the necessary changes.

How do I request a backup/restore for LAMP?

  • The site owner can request a backup of their website data by logging a call with the IT Helpdesk.
  • ICTS will create a backup of the database in the form of a CSV, or MySQL SQl dump file and ZIP it.
  • The download link for the file will be sent to you. You have 72 hours to download the file, thereafter it will be deleted.

NOTE: Any information posted after backup could be lost when a restore is done.