Personal tools
University Computing Service

Desktop Services

Overview of DS-Web

Personal pages

Any user with a Desktop Services account can set up and publish personal web pages from their DS-Filestore filespace. New users of Desktop Services have a default directory "public_html" installed for them, containing an index page and some simple style sheets. If you want a copy of the default directory, it is available from here for you to download and install.

Personal Web pages will be published at the address http://people.pwf.cam.ac.uk/CRSid/, where 'CRSid' is your username for Desktop Services. (Users should be aware that as this address contains your CRSid it could be used as a way to identify your email address.)

Group web pages

Any group can request DS-Web filespace by applying for or taking over management of group resource. After this has been successfully processed the group may publish pages on the Computing Service webserver http://groups.pwf.cam.ac.uk/groupid/ where 'groupid' is the group name agreed on set-up. Registered societies should see the information under Publishing onto www.societies.cam.ac.uk for more information.

The group filespace has at least one manager who can give other users the ability to update pages. This is done by assigning rights to directories for that user. A manager can also make another user a manager. Assigning rights is a separate process from creating directories and files and is detailed in the section Rights management.

Legal stuff: what you may and may not include in web pages

The Information Strategy and Services Syndicate (ISSS) has produced guidelines on the publication of web pages. This covers all pages published on any computer registered in the cam.ac.uk domain. There are also some additional restrictions on what may and may not be included on personal or group web pages published via DS-Web. All those publishing web pages must read the Guidelines for Personal Web pages on Computing Service systems.

  • The contents of personal or group web pages are subject to:
    • the rules of the ISSS
    • the Guidelines for acceptable use of Janet and the CUDN
    • all relevant UK laws including the laws on copyright, the Computer Misuse Act and the Data Protection Act.
    Information on the page must not bring the University into disrepute. (See http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/committee/isss/ for links.) The web space associated with a personal Desktop Services account may only be used for your personal or work-related pages. They may not be used to provide a College, Departmental or Society web presence, nor may they be used to provide web pages for any other person or organisation, no matter how good the cause. Group, club or society web pages may be provided through a Desktop Services filespace set up for the purpose, and should not include personal web pages.
  • Although they may be used on work-related pages, the University identifier and/or University web page templates should not be used on personal web pages as they are not official and should not present themselves as such. Registered University Societies and Clubs may be allowed to use official University templates but please email webmaster@cam.ac.uk for guidance first.
  • Personal and group web pages on DS-Web must show clear personal ownership by including an email address to which comments, complaints and administrative messages should be sent.