What are Access Control Lists (ACLs)?
ACLs define who can access a directory and its files. By default, all folders created within a user’s personal web account are readable by any user on the Web, i.e., by the “anonymous” user. This means that people can view your web page but they cannot write or add files to your web directory. If you access your Web page via a Web browser and the browser returns a forbidden access message, then this means that the ACLs for your personal web directory are not set for read access. To change your ACLs, email the Client Services Help Desk or call x8552 to open a work order. Be sure to specify which URL is generating the error.
ACLs define who can access a directory and its files. Your www directory should be world readable and therefore have read ACLs. This means that people can view your page but they cannot write to your www directory. If you access your Web page via a Web browser and the browser returns a forbidden access message, then this means that the ACLs for your www directory are set for lookup rather than for read access. To change your ACLs, you need to do the following: For departmental and course pages: • Go to the ITS Secure Server at https://www.work.psu.edu/. • Click on the ACL Explorer link. • Enter your Penn State Access Account user ID and password (the same user ID and password that you use to check your Penn State e-mail) at the prompt. • This takes you to the ACL Explorer page for your directory. • On the line beginning “Specify a file or folder ,” enter the path to your departmental or course directory in the text box and click on the “Control” button on that line. • The path for COLA
