Site Stager

Some Web sites might really benefit from the explicit role separation and workflow features of Content Management Server, yet are unable to deploy Content Management Server in a production environment, such as when the hosting computers are not Windows-based. The Site Stager application that comes with Content Management Server provides a solution to this dilemma. Site Stager can be used to make a functional copy of a Content Management Server site for which the dynamic construction of pages has been done in advance, resulting in a static HTML Web site that can be hosted using a wide variety of Web servers.

Depending on the nature of the Content Management Server Web site, the Web site created by Site Stager might be pure static HTML or it might include some ASP script, or perhaps a combination of both. If the resulting Web site includes ASP script, it will obviously have to be hosted on a server that can process ASP.

Sites are staged according to characteristics established in a Site Stager profile. A Site Stager profile consists of a profile name and description, information about the source and destination of the staging, and the settings of several staging options. Staging source information includes the URL of the site to be staged and the user (called the "stage as user") from whose perspective the site will be examined. This user must have subscription rights to the site, and may not be entitled to see the entire Web site.

Staging destination information includes the destination directory (in which the staged site will be built) and the name of the default file for the site, such as index.htm. It is recommended that distinct profiles should always specify distinct destination directories, so that Site Stager jobs working at the same time will never overwrite one another.

Staging options include an indication of whether the staged site should use the same names as the source site, or whether auto-generated channel and posting names should be used. Staging options also include the ability to set non-incremental staging, or two different types of incremental staging (Synchronized or Passive), and a means through which a standardized file extension can be provided, such as ".htm".

Site Stager can be configured to run automatically, based on a schedule, or it can be run manually, initiated using a Stage Now button. In order for Site Stager to be executed automatically, the Windows Task Scheduler service must be installed and started. Site Stager produces log files that record exactly what has been done, which is especially important when Site Stager is configured to run late at night, when no one is around.

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