Safari access to web server located on LAN

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Level 1

8 points

Safari access to web server located on LAN

I setup a web server on my LAN specifically so both a PC and a .MAC could use HTTP protocol and store and retrieve files. The servername is called UBUNTU. On any PC in the house I can type http://ubuntu/ and the directory listing appears. On the .MAC, Safari can not find it.

This is the first time I've used a .MAC and so far I find it to be way overrated. I mean, how many computers can not access a web server out of the box? Safari has no trouble accessing the Internet but my "intranet" seems to baffle Safari. I would expect a problem if using SMB were a requirement. It is not - I simply want to use HTTP. How do I need to change the .MAC configuration so that it works?

I think my son said G5 whatever that is, Other OS

Posted on Jan 18, 2008 6:17 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Ted Harper

Level 2

325 points

Jan 20, 2008 11:49 AM in response to magnetsa

To be clear, your issue is with DNS (ie resolving a hostname to an IP address), not with HTTP.

Apple implements a standard called mDNS (multicast DNS) for small/local name lookups. If you have a mDNS responder (eg Apple's Bonjour - which is available to install on Windows - or an implementation on Unox) running, it will work fine.

If not, you could follow the instructions at http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=107800 and tell the Mac to search the local domain (via a normal query to the DNS) - follow the part for 10.4 and later assuming it is a fairly up-to-date Mac.

So try adding local to the search domains field as per that technote (or start up the mDNS responder on the server box) then try http://ubuntu.local/ again and see if you get a better result.

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Answer 2

Jan 18, 2008 10:46 PM in response to magnetsa

Does it work if you access it as http://ubuntu.local/ - See http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=107174 for some information.

Failing that, putting the IP address of your web server machine in the URL should work; did you try that already?

ted.h.

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Answer 3

magnetsa Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 20, 2008 8:52 AM in response to Ted Harper

Thanks for your response.

No, ubuntu.local does not work. I tried that before I read it in your response. I've been searching Google and reading bunches information. Nothing works.

I guess I simply can not believe http://ubuntu/ does not work. How long has Apple been in the business of operating in the IP-network world? I can not believe a .MAC can not access a Linux box using the HTTP protocol just like every other Linux, Unix and Windows box.

I simply believe that my .MAC configuration must be incorrect. Of course, my son claims that it is an out-of-the-box configuration. So, I would expect it should work.

What configuration parameters do I need to change?

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Answer 4

magnetsa Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 20, 2008 9:27 AM in response to Ted Harper

I forgot to report. Use of the IP address by the Safari browser was a success, however, for my needs that is pretty much useless. I'll tell you what my eventual application is intended to provide.

I want to be able to define a web server that can be used by any browser on my Intranet to FTP files. And, once that is achieved, I want to create and schedule a job/task/whateveryouwanttocallit to upload newly created music files for backup purposes.

Today, this works for all browsers on Linux and Windows boxes using various operating systems. The lone .MAC in-house is the only failure. Too bad the music producers love the .MAC or I would trash it.

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Answer 5

iBod

Level 7

29,351 points

Jan 20, 2008 9:44 AM in response to magnetsa

Hi,

Does [Firefox|www.mozilla.com] work as expected? If not, then you might want to post in the [OS X Networking area|http://discussions.apple.com/forum.jspa?forumID=755]. If Mozilla does work, and you still wish to use Safari instead, post in the Safari for Mac forum rather than the Safari for Windows forum so that more people see your questions.

(PS. It's a Mac, not .Mac which is the email/web hosting service Apple offers.)

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Answer 6

magnetsa Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 20, 2008 10:01 AM in response to iBod

Thanks for your response. I will see if Firefox is installed.

Your comment on .Mac versus Mac is interesting. The only reason I started using .Mac is because I saw it on a few Mac websites and because MAC is a standard industry term dealing with hardware in general rather than Apple specific. It is kind of confusing.

And, in Google searches, .mac seems to always get a Mac response rather than a MAC response. I was just guessing it might be important. I doubt there will ever come a day when Apple decides that Mac versus MAC confusion must come to an end.

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