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To receive this newsletter via email subscribe here. To manage your exisitng subscription (for example change of email address) please use Subscription Management. In Issue 38: Editorial October 23, 2002 Q&A : Setting up a local development environment. The HotDog Family Special Shopping Carts and Product Catalogues Tip for Making Profitable Use of Your MOST Valuable Real Estate

Editorial October 23, 2002

G'Day Sizzlers!

Why is it that although I didn't break my leg, it seems like I am in need of some sort of recovery therapy. I am not belittling the pain or loss of independence that my wife Karissa has gone through in the past few weeks. I am just saying it has taken a lot out of me as well. For one I know it has been hard to fit in even an hour of uninterrupted work. That really frustrates me as we seem to be working up a head of steam and I want to make the most of it.

We are still moving ahead well. We are redesigning the site to reflect the new services we are offering (Hosting and Domains to start with), and I saw a very early alpha of the new HotDog (just for staff at the moment).

This issue is a little light on the content but what we have here is well worth the read.

Which leads me on to a new section I would like to start in the newsletter that highlights what our users like about HotDog Professional.

If you have a particular feature you like and can write a paragraph or two about why you like and how you use it, I will publish it in the newsletter.

Just add your suggestion to this thread:
http://www.sizzlerforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=995

You never know if you write a really good one we might even send you a little thank you in the mail.

Keep on sizzling!

Nathan Allan
Sausage Sizzler Editor
editor@sausage.com

Gear Grinders

Q&A : Setting up a local development environment.

This week Im answering a question asked by Kevin.

-----Original Message-----

From: Kevin Fredde
Sent: Thursday, October 17, 2002 12:12 PM
To: bram@sausage.com
Subject: Gear Grinders

I understand what you are saying about how you have your sub-domains set up in register.com to point to your dyndns URL, but then when that is in turn redirected to the ip address of your server how does it get redirected to your sub-domain instead of just going to your main domain? What I mean is, I assume your main domain and all your sub-domains are all pointed to your dyndns URL. So if they are all pointed to the same URL, then when the user gets transferred to your server wouldn't they all display the same page? What makes it go to the different sub-domain pages once it gets to your server?

Anyway, thanks for a great newsletter. I always get lots of great information from it.

Kevin Fredde
Microsoft Certified Professional


Hey Kevin,

Thanks for kissing such great butt! :) Seriously though, thank you VERY much for the kind words about the newsletter. It means the world to me and I'm sharing this with Nathan, the editor, as well.

Depending on the amount of questions I get, I'll incorporate some or all into next weeks GG. Since your router question is an interesting one, what I will do for next week is answer item by item with screen shots of my router's "control panel".

I have a 4 port Linksys. If you to the ADVANCED "tab", then click on FORWARDING, this is where you set what goes where. If you're in dire need to see what I have let me know and I'll take a quickie screen shot. If you can wait until next weeks GG, I'll go through in detail.

As for the server question, routing is done via Apache. The server is set up to use Name-based hosting. It turns out I've actually written part of next weeks GG in explaining this to you, so thanks for helping me get it done early, this half at least. =)

I'll give you an example though. I have one development server. It's "real" url is http://devel-todobebe.dyndns.org. That one server is "hosting" four (4) sub-domains, all controlled through Register.com. On the server there are four (4) web hosting folders and each has a sub-domain that arrives at each folder.

1. /webroot            (http://devel.todobebe.com)
2. /webroot_bram/clients (http://clients.bramscolnick.com)
3. /webroot_bram/devel (http://devel.bramscolnick.com)
4. /webroot_bram/portfolio http://portfolio.bramscolnick.com)

In the config file, httpd.conf, I have these entries. They can be anywhere, but since they were added later, they are the last things in the file.

<VirtualHost *>
    ServerAdmin bram@todobebe.com
    DocumentRoot /webroot
    ServerName devel.todobebe.com
</VirtualHost>

<VirtualHost *>
    ServerAdmin bscolnick@yahoo.com
    DocumentRoot /webroot_bram/devel
    ServerName devel.bramscolnick.com
</VirtualHost>

<VirtualHost *>
    ServerAdmin bscolnick@yahoo.com
    DocumentRoot /webroot_bram/clients
    ServerName clients.bramscolnick.com
</VirtualHost>

<VirtualHost *>
    ServerAdmin bscolnick@yahoo.com
    DocumentRoot /webroot_bram/portfolio
    ServerName portfolio.bramscolnick.com
</VirtualHost>

What this all says is if a referrer comes looking for one of the above domains, redirect to the noted physical locations and provide apache services in that area.

Next week Ill get into some detail about the physical layout of my network and how the router is set to allow things to go through.

http://www.sizzlerforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=992

Comments? Questions? Write to me. Bram

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Sizzler Spotlight

Shopping Carts and Product Catalogues

I am sure we have all at least thought about setting up some sort of online store, to sell anything from widgets to walnuts. However when it comes down to it there are so many things to take into consideration.

Personally I have a little experience with the administration side of SunShop from TurnKeyWebTools.com. Nothing is perfect for you unless you do it yourself, but this came pretty close:
http://www.turnkeywebtools.com/products.php?product=sunshop

In this thread Herbert offers a few solutions, before the thread turns into a discussion on getting a Linux box working on a cable modem. Which is another interesting topic of discussion!

Add your suggestions and comments, or just have a read at:
http://www.sizzlerforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=891

Review by Nathan

Marketing Tip

Tip for Making Profitable Use of Your MOST Valuable Real Estate

The first fold of your homepage (the first screen visible without scrolling) is literally the most valuable real estate on your web site because this is the screen that your visitors absorb during the first 10 seconds of their visit and use to make their "should I stay or should I go" decision. That's why you'll frequently hear me refer to "the 10-second rule."

The first fold of your web site needs to be strategically designed so that, in 10 seconds or less, it clearly communicates the biggest, most compelling benefit you have to offer your visitors.

That's why you need to side-step the tempting design errors like misplaced banners, distracting animation, wordy mission statements, and premature ordering information, and use this space to carefully:

1. Communicate the biggest benefit your web site has to offer,
2. Persuade your visitors to opt-in to your mailing list,
3. And convince them that your site will be a breeze to navigate.

This is how you'll not only dramatically increase the average length of a visitor's stay; it's how you'll also dramatically increase your overall sales!

http://www.marketingtips.com/

Tip by Corey Rudl

Becoming a Forum Member

To read the Sizzler Forums you do not need to be a member. However to take full advantage of this resource it will only take you a few seconds to sign up!

1. Go to: http://www.sizzlerforums.com
2. Read the information and click on the REGISTER button
3. Fill out the form
4. You will receive an email that you simply reply to
5. Hey presto! Your a fully fledged Sizzler Forums member!

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