Mhttpd
Links
Purpose
The mhttpd utility runs the MIDAS Web Server which allows the user to communicate with an experiment using any web browser. It is used primarily for run control.
Web security
The MIDAS Web Server mhttpd is now (May 2015) explicitly linked with OpenSSL to provide secure HTTPS connections via the Mongoose web server. To connect to an experiment using mhttpd, a username and password are required. By default, users can connect from anywhere, providing they know the correct username and password. However, Web access to mhttpd can be restricted by using the Mongoose Access Control List.
The opton of building mhttpd without OpenSSL is supported (see [1]).
Arguments
If using an old version (before May 2015), see old server argument list.
-h connect to midas server mserver on given host -e experiment to connect to -v display verbose HTTP communication -D become a daemon -E only display ELog system -H only display history plots -a only allow access for specific host(s), several [-a Hostname] statements might be given (old server only) -help display usage information --mg [port,port,port,...] use the mongoose web server (default) on specified ports (defaults are taken from ODB). See usage. --nomg use the old mhttpd web server --oldserver [port] - use the old mhttpd web server on given port --nooldserver - do not use the old mhttpd web server
Usage
To start the webserver :
- mhttpd
which is equivalent to
- mhttpd --mg 8443s,8080r
Starting mhttpd like this will redirect the default HTTP port of 8080 to the secure HTTPS port 8443. If the ports are not supplied, the default ports will be read from the ODB key Mongoose listening_port. If ports are supplied, their values will overwrite the default values stored in the ODB. When mhttpd is started with a secure port for the first time, a SSL certificate and password need to be created. See mhttpd HTTPS/SSL server for more information.
If mhttpd is started on IP host machine "myhost" using the default ports, the Midas status page can be accessed by pointing a web browser to
https://myhost.mydomain:8443
or to
http://myhost.mydomain:8080 which will be redirected automatically to https://myhost.mydomain:8443
The automatic redirect may be convenient for users who are used to using mhttpd with a particular HTTP port (e.g. 8080) for their experiment.
- Note
If multiple experiments run on the same host, a web server for each experiment must be started on a different port, e.g.
mhttpd -e expt1 --mg 8443s,8080r -D
mhttpd -e expt2 --mg 8444s,8081r -D
Features
The Midas web server mhttpd provides a means for run control including monitoring of the run parameters. Its main feature is a web page invoked through any web browser accessing the Midas experimental URL at a defined port (see Usage).
The contents of this Midas status page is composed with minimal information relative to the experiment. It contains a collection of buttons and links to other pages to further describe and control the configuration of the experiment.
- Minimal display on the main Status Page
- Experiment name, time & date, page refresh rate
- Standard Menu Buttons (see below)
- User defined buttons (e.g. alias links, run scripts, custom pages etc.)
- run comments and condition display section (if enabled)
- Equipment list with current running condition, number of event received, event rate, data rate for each equipment.
- Data logging statistics (number of event recorded, data size recorder, compression factor, usage storage level) if enabled.
- Secondary Data logging (data mover) with statistics if enabled.
- Single line of the most recent Midas message.
- Table of the current applications connected to this experiment.
- Standard Menu Buttons
- Transition the state of the run (stopped/running/paused), allows user running condition parameters to be entered at the start state (see Edit-on-start Parameters).
- Access to the full Online Database for data display and/or data content modification.
- Display the Message Page, which shows messages generated by the MIDAS [Message System]] as well as the user using cm_msg() functions.
- Access to ELOG Page switches to the predefined "electronic logbook".
- Access to the Alarms Page for monitoring the different type of alarms (evaluated, programs, internals, periodic).
- Access to the Programs Page for a status or interaction with the current running applications part of the Midas experiment.
- Access to the History Page for graphical data representation of any ODB variables and acquired data.
- Access to the Midas Slow Control Bus devices MSCB Page connected to this experiment.
- Access to the Sequencer Page control/monitoring page for Sequencer i.e. interactive loading/saving/running of a run sequence based on any ODB parameters.
- Access to the Chat Page for communication between users on the same experiment.
- Access to the Help Page with short-cut to the Midas Help documentation resource and other information.
- Links
- links to all the listed equipments invoking a dedicated page for the display and possible control of the equipment parameters.
- link to the logger configuration (if present) for the data recording.
- link to the possible secondary logging configuration parameters (if present).
Other features include a JSON interface and Javascript library used for implementing interactive custom pages for MIDAS experiments.
HTTPS/SSL server (Mongoose)
The HTTPS/SSL (Mongoose) server is activated using "mhttpd --mg" and by default it listens on port 8443.
The example SSL certificate provided in midas git is self-signed, and it should be replaced with your own certificate. For instructions on generating your own signed certificate, remove it and run "mhttpd --mg" - it will print the correct instructions.
[user@dasdevpc2 test]$ rm /home/user/packages/midas/ssl_cert.pem [user@dasdevpc2 test]$ mhttpd Web server will listen on ports "8080r,8443s" [mhttpd,ERROR] [mhttpd.cxx:17086:mongoose,ERROR] cannot find SSL certificate file "/home/user/online/test/ssl_cert.pem" [mhttpd,ERROR] [mhttpd.cxx:17087:mongoose,ERROR] please create SSL certificate file: openssl req -new -nodes -newkey rsa:2048 -sha256 -out ssl_cert.csr -keyout ssl_cert.key; openssl x509 -req -days 365 -sha256 -in ssl_cert.csr -signkey ssl_cert.key -out ssl_cert.pem; cat ssl_cert.key >> ssl_cert.pem could not start the mongoose web server, see messages and midas.log, bye!
Once a valid certificate is generated (or if using the example certificate as below) when mhttpd is restarted, you will need to create a password file
[user@dasdevpc2 test]$ mhttpd Web server will listen on ports "8080r,8443s" Web server will use SSL certificate file "/home/user/packages/midas/ssl_cert.pem" [mhttpd,ERROR] [mhttpd.cxx:17137:mongoose,ERROR] mongoose web server cannot find password file "/home/user/online/test/htpasswd.txt" [mhttpd,ERROR] [mhttpd.cxx:17138:mongoose,ERROR] please create password file: htdigest -c /home/user/online/test/htpasswd.txt test midas could not start the mongoose web server, see messages and midas.log, bye!
[user@dasdevpc2 test]$ htdigest -c /home/user/online/test/htpasswd.txt test midas Adding password for midas in realm test. New password: Re-type new password: [user@dasdevpc2 test]$ mhttpd Web server will listen on ports "8080r,8443s" Web server will use SSL certificate file "/home/user/packages/midas/ssl_cert.pem" Web server will use authentication realm "test", password file "./htpasswd.txt"
Access to the Midas status page can be obtained by pointing a web browser to
https://myhost.mydomain:8443
The first time you connect you will be asked for a username and password. Enter "midas" and the password you created.
Documentation for the version of mongoose included with MIDAS can be found at Mongoose documentation.
For more information see Elog note 1062
Access Control List
By default, web access to the Midas web server mhttpd is not restricted. The Mongoose Access Control List (ACL) can be used to restrict access to the web server. The ACL used by Mongoose is contained in the ODB key Mongoose access_control_list. The format of the ACL is described under access_control_list Mongoose Configuration Options.
HTTP only (pre-May 2015) versions
- Note
- If Web Security is an issue, update to the latest version of mhttpd which uses HTTPS/OpenSSL.
- HTTP-only (pre-May2015) versions of mhttpd should only be used behind a firewall
Arguments (old version)
-p port : port number e.g. 8080 (no default). See usage. [-h hostname ] : see Common Parameters to MIDAS Utilities [-e experiment] : see Common Parameters to MIDAS Utilities [-v] : display verbose HTTP communication [-D] : starts program as a daemon [-E] : only display ELog system [-H] : only display history plots [-a hostname] : only allow access for specific host(s). Several [-a Hostname] statements might be given [-help]
Usage (old version)
The command mhttpd -p port can be used to start the web server (http version). In this case, the TCP/IP port number is required as an argument in order to listen to the web-based request.
e.g. if mhttpd is started on IP host machine "myhost" on port 8081 as follows
- mhttpd -p 8081 -D
access to the Midas status page can be obtained by pointing a web browser to
http://myhost.mydomain:8081
- Note
If multiple experiments run on the same host, a web server for each experiment must be started on a different port, e.g.
mhttpd -e expt1 -p 8081 -D
mhttpd -e expt2 -p 8082 -D
Improve Security with SSL Proxy
Improved security for HTTP is gained by using an SSL (https) proxy. See Setting up an SSL proxy.