Websites

In SMC, you can create web sites and web applications on the Server, Client or FEP installations. Using the web application, you can browse the web application URL, launch the Desigo CC web page, and work with the Desigo CC project on Windows App clients on the Server or on a remote web server (IIS) computer.

NOTE:
The Websites root node is available in the SMC tree only when you install and configure Internet Information Services (IIS). It is recommended to install and configure IIS before installing Desigo CC. However, if you install IIS after installing Desigo CC, you must rerun the Gms.InstallerSetup.exe file available with the software distribution.

When you click the Websites node in the SMC tree, it lists all the configured websites, along with the certificate that was configured with the website.

Using the toolbar icon Create Website, you can create a new website using the Details expander.

Websites Toolbar

This toolbar displays in the Management tab when you select a website from the Websites node in the SMC tree. It contains the following icons.

Websites Toolbar

Icon

Name

Description

Create Web application

This icon is enabled by default when you select a Website node from the Console tree. It allows you to create a new web application.

Start Website

Starts the current website. This icon is enabled only when the selected website is not started.

Stop Website

Stops the current website. This icon is enabled only when the selected website is started.

Edit

Modifies the current website parameters:
— Http and Https port numbers
— Browse for existing one
— Host name
— User
— Password
This icon is enabled only when the selected website is stopped.

Save

Saves the website configuration. It creates a new website, which will display in the Console tree under the Websites node.
When modifying an existing site, it saves the changes made to its parameters.
This icon is enabled only when the selected website configuration details are not saved.

Upgrade Website

This icon is enabled only for a selected website when its status is Outdated (indicated in red). It allows you to upgrade an outdated website (generally a restored website during a Desigo CC version upgrade process) having an older Data version than the current Data version that is set up.

Delete

Deletes the current website. This icon is enabled only when the selected website is stopped.

Details Expander

The Details expander allows you to create and configure a website. It also allows you to create a self-signed certificate for securing communication between the Windows App client and the web server (IIS).

Item

Description

Name

Allows you to add the name of the website you are creating. The name also appears in the tree of the IIS Manager.
The website name must be a unique name. All names (identifiers) are case sensitive and do not use blank.
NOTE: You cannot have sites in IIS with the same name.
Following special characters are not permitted in the website name:
‘\\', '/', '?', ';', ':', '@', '&', '=', '+', '$', ',', '|', ' " ', '<', '>'.

Path

Displays the default path for creating the website on the disk: [installation drive:]\[installation folder]\Websites. You can change this path using Browse.
Following special characters are not permitted in the website path:
'ä', 'ö', 'ü', '$', '@', '&', '<', '>', '{', '}', '[', ']', '(', ')', ';', ':', '=', '^', '|', '*', '!',
'/', '%', '?', ',', '\'', '"', '\t', ‘\\', '+' .

Host name

Full computer name, DNS name, or IP address of the Web Server (Host) system. The host name must be available from the Windows App client.

Certificate issued to

Displays the certificate (self-signed/host) used for securing communication between the Windows App client and the Web Server. By default, it displays the default self-signed certificate.
There are two ways to select a self-signed certificate:

  • Click Create to create a self-signed certificate. Create is enabled either when the self-signed certificate is not already set as default or when you have not selected a certificate in the Certificate issued to field.
    The self-signed certificate that you create is always created in the format [Full computer name of the host machine].
    For example, ABCXY022PC.dom01.company.net.
    Once created, it is set as the default and displays in the Certificate issued to field.
  • Click Browse to select an existing self-signed/host certificate using the Select Certificate dialog box.

NOTE 1: This certificate is used by the https port.
NOTE 2: Ensure that the self-signed certificate you select is available in the Personal, as well as the Trusted Root Certification Authorities store of the Local machine certificates. Otherwise, a chain validity message displays. This message always displays if you use a host certificate. In this case, you should ignore it.
NOTE 3: The certificate selected in this field must be the same as the host name in the Host name field.
Example 1: If the host name is ABCXY022PC.dom01.company.net, and you want to use a wildcard certificate in the Issued to field of the certificate, it must be in the format *.dom01.company.net.
Example 2: If you use a multi-host certificate, the certificate name can be anything, but its subject alternative names (SAN) must contain the host name provided in the Host name field.
Example 3: If you use an SMC-created host or self-signed certificate, the certificate Subject name (issued to) should be the same as the host name provided in the Host name field.

User

Browse for the website user from Current station or from Other Domain. It could be the local/domain user and a member of the IIS_IUSRS group. If you select a user that is not a member of the IIS_IUSRS group, the SMC prompts you to add that user to the IIS_IUSRS group.
The user must also have Allow log on locally as Service right set. For more information, refer Cannot Create or Save Website in Troubleshooting Websites and Web Applications
NOTE: The website user, by default, displays as web application user.

Password

Type the password of the website user.

HTTPs port

This is the port number that is used for secure communication with the Web server (for example, as file transfer). The configuration range is 443 through 65535; 443 is the default value.
On a website, the HTTPs port displays in blue indicating that it is secured and must be opened in the Windows firewall.

Tip for Working with Third-Party Websites/Web Applications
  • The websites created outside the SMC are listed under the Websites node in the SMC tree. However, you cannot delete them using the SMC.
  • You can create a web application from a third-party website that has no user configured. However, if you edit the third-party website using the SMC, you are prompted to select a website user.
  • If WebDAV Settings and ARR proxy are not enabled for a third-party website under which you want to create a web application, you must click Edit and then Save . However, if any other website parameter is missing, you must modify the third-party website parameters.
  • Before creating a web application from a third-party website, you must ensure the following configuration details of the third-party website. Otherwise, a Parent Website validation failed message displays and you cannot proceed with the Web application creation.
    - HTTP and HTTPs ports
    - Host name
    - Physical path on the disk
    - Valid certificate
  • Only the web applications created using the SMC are listed under Websites in the SMC tree. Third-party web applications are not listed in the SMC.
  • For a third-party website created on a root drive, do not use SMC to create a web application under the website on the (same or a different) root drive. Otherwise, you cannot launch the Desigo CC web page and an HTTP 404 error message displays.

 

Naming Rules for Websites, Web Applications, Web Server, and Projects

Rules for

Special Characters and Delimiters

Notes

Websites, Web services and Web application names

For Names:

  • Do not use characters such as blank space \\ / ? ; : @ & = + $ , | " < >.

For Paths:

  • Do not use umlauts and characters such as ä ö ü $ @ & < > { } [ ] ( ) ; : = ^ | * ! / % ? , \ " \t \\ +.
  • The website, web services, and web application names must be unique.
  • All names are case sensitive.

 

Web Server

  • The Windows Web Server IIS defines reserved characters and delimiters such as , . ; / ? @ & = + $ < > # % /
  • Do not use characters such as { } │ \ ^ [ ] ‘

 

Project Name

  • Do not use characters such as blank space \ / " ? < > * | : ; '