Chapter3.Accessing the ColdFusion Administrator

Chapter 3. Accessing the ColdFusion Administrator

IN THIS CHAPTER

Logging Into (and Out of) the ColdFusion Administrator 74

Using the ColdFusion Administrator 76

The ColdFusion server is a piece of softwarean application. As explained in Chapter 1, "Introducing ColdFusion," the software usually runs on a computer running Web server software. Production servers (servers that run finished and deployed applications) usually are connected to the Internet with a high-speed always-on connection. Development machines (used during the application development phase) often are stand-alone computers or workstations on a network and usually run locally installed Web server software and ColdFusion.

The ColdFusion Application Server softwareI'll just call it ColdFusion for readability's sakehas all sorts of configuration and management options. Some must be configured before features will work (for example, connections to databases). Others are configured only if necessary (for example, the extensibility options). Still others are purely management and monitoring related (for example, log file analysis).

All these configuration options are managed via a special program, the ColdFusion Administrator. The Administrator is a Web-based application; you access it using any Web browser, from any computer with an Internet connection. This is important because:

• Local access to the computer running ColdFusion is often impossible (especially if hosting with an ISP or in an IT department).

• ColdFusion servers can be managed easily, without needing to install special client software.

• ColdFusion can be managed from any Web browser, even those running on platforms not directly supported by ColdFusion, and even on browsers not running on PCs.

Of course, such a powerful Web application needs to be secureotherwise, anyone would be able to reconfigure your ColdFusion server! At install time, you were prompted for a password with which to secure the ColdFusion Administrator. Without that password, you won't be able to access the program.

NOTE

In addition to the Web-based ColdFusion Administrator, developers and administrators can create their own Administration screens, consoles, and applications using a special Administrative API. This feature is beyond the scope of this book, and is covered in Advanced Macromedia ColdFusion MX 7 Application Development, ISBN 0-321-29269-3.

TIP

Many ColdFusion developers abbreviate ColdFusion Administrator to CF Admin. So if you hear people talking about "CF Admin," you'll know what they're referring to.