ASP is a programming language invented by Microsoft to enable dynamic page content. ASP is similar to CGI in this way -- and on our platform ASP works as a runner using the ChiliSoft ASP engine from Sun Microsystems (although they have now renamed this Sun Java System Active Server Pages 4.0, the one installed on the platform was still called ChiliSoft at the time!).
ASP utilises ActiveX technology -- usually VB Script.
All files ending in .asp will be executed by ChiliSoft on the webspace service.
ChiliSoft version 3.6.2S.1032b runs on the webspace service.
What restrictions are there on asp?
Because ChiliSoft runs on a UNIX platform and not Windows based servers -- the platform for which ASP was originally written -- not all the ASP functionality you wish to use may work. This is a limited issue, however, as the vast majority will.
An example might be FileSystemObject Drive which relies on being able to access a drive letter to use its functionality. UNIX does not use drive letters, whereas Windows does.
ASP inherits the same security features on our platform that other launguages such as PERL have.
ASP is sandboxed and chrooted. Sandboxing is the restriction of CPU usage that any one script can utilise. If somebody writes a bad script, it can only get so big and then will stop growing. This is a protection measure to ensure the service is not affected by others. Chrooting is what the name suggests - Change Root. Scripts only have access to the necessary programs they have to on the server to be able to function as they cannot get to the system directories or files because as far as they are concerned the root of the server is your own personal webspace area.
You also cannot run or connect to databases at present. See the restrictions page for further information.
The only other restrictions on scripts are the standard acceptable usage restrictions as per the blueyonder Acceptable Use Policy.
Problems with getting scripts working
Like all other programming languages, ASP is not supported by blueyonder. This means that, while the languages should work fine, we don't assist you in your coding and will only be able to help you out if your site's config does not work [see below].
If you have any issues with getting your ASP script to work, you should do the following:
- Examine the CGI logs for your site. If you login via FTP and look in the logs/today directory [you will need to go "up" one directory when you login to see the "logs" subdirectory], you can access your error logs. You can also see them in a browser by logging into self care.
- Get onto the newsgroups. Rename your script to be a .txt file and put it in your site's root directory [/htdocs when you login via FTP]. Post a link to this file in blueyonder.discussion.pwp if you want help from fellow BY users.
