User manual

Chapter 3
34
Definition of a virtual site
Whereas industry uses the term “virtual host”, Cobalt Networks uses the
term “virtual site”.
In Cobalt’s definition, a virtual site consists of a Domain Name System
(DNS) domain with Web, FTP and email services. Each virtual site
contains its own list of site user accounts. Each site user account has its
own Web, email spool and any number of email aliases. The fully
qualified domain name of a virtual site is unique to that site, while its
IP address can be shared by many sites.
With the advent of name-based virtual hosting, it is no longer necessary
to dedicate an IP address to a virtual site. Apache can now differentiate
among target virtual sites according to the name requested. Many
virtual sites on the RaQ 3 can share one IP. Not all services are
compatible with name-based virtual hosting. SSL encryption for Web
data and an anonymous FTP account can only be enabled on one
name-based virtual site per IP address hosted by the RaQ 3.
The IP address of the RaQ 3 can be shared by many virtual sites or it can
be unique to one virtual site.
The RaQ 3 has one main site (which cannot be deleted) and virtual sites.
The main site uses the IP address assigned to the RaQ 3 using the LCD
console.
On the Server Management screen, the main site is listed in the Virtual
Sites List table; the trashcan icon in the fourth column for the main site
is grayed-out (disabled), as this site cannot be deleted from the list of
virtual sites. The options and features available on a virtual site can also
be configured for the main site.