A.4 HTTP

This option distributes files from one or more HTTP sources. Each source can contain one or more target entries.

The HTTP Distribution type enables the files to pass through your firewall as they are gathered into the Distribution.

If a target file is locked during extraction, the Subscriber throws an exception stating that the file could not be copied. The Distributor receives this information from the Subscriber and logs the failure in the reporting database.

Use the following fields and buttons to configure the Distribution:

A.4.1 Files To Be Distributed

An expandable tree structure showing target paths and the URLs to the HTTP files to be distributed.

Modify the Distribution’s content as needed, then either click Apply to save the updated Distribution contents list, or click OK to save the changes and exit the Distribution’s properties.

A.4.2 New Target

If you do not want to use the default variable %DEST_VOLUME%, replace it with a target location indicating where you want the HTTP files to be distributed; for example:

  • A volume on a NetWare server, such as data:\

  • A drive on a Windows server, such as D:\

  • A file system on a Linux or Solaris server, such as /

Otherwise, press Enter to accept the variable. You can also replace it with a different variable.

The target can also be a full or partial path, not just the root designation of volume, drive, or root. For example:

  • A volume on a NetWare server, such as data:\http_distribution\files

  • A drive on a Windows server, such as d:\http_distribution\files

  • A file system on a Linux or Solaris server, such as /user/http_distribution/files

You must press Enter to add the target location change to the Distribution contents list.

Any target entries that do not exist in the target location are automatically created by the Distribution.

A.4.3 Add Directory

This option builds the target path. If you did not provide the full path using the New Target option, replace New Directory with a directory name.

You can use this option to add multiple directories with this option to create the full path. You can also add sibling directories to create additional paths, as determined by the subdirectory you select before clicking Add Directory.

You must press Enter each time to add the target directory change to the path.

A.4.4 Add Files

Specify the URL where the files are available. You can specify a URL to a directory where multiple files exist, or include the filename in the URL to distribute a specific file.

To add files, you can select any directory in the path to assign the URL to it, including the root designation (such as data:\, D:\, or /).

If you added sibling directories using Add Directory, be sure to select those target paths and click Add Files to specify the URL for the files to be distributed to those path locations.

When you are finished adding files and target locations, either click Apply to save the updated Distribution contents list, or click OK to save the changes and exit the Distribution’s properties.

A.4.5 Delete

Deletes whatever you have selected:

  • Root Location: Removes all directories and files below it from the tree.

  • Directory: Removes the directory and any of its URLs and subdirectories from the tree.

  • File: Removes the URL from the tree, but not the files from the HTTP location.

Deleting any part of a target location, including a directory, means that the files designated by the URL that were in the Distribution are no longer sent to the deleted location.

However, deleting URLs from the Distribution means that the corresponding files are deleted from each Subscriber server when the Distribution is sent again and processed.

Click Apply to save your changes, or click OK to save the changes and exit the Distribution’s properties.