WWWAdmin

Password-protected administration tool for WWWBoard that allows you to delete messages, remove threads, and maintain your discussion forum efficiently.

Perl v2.0 ALPHA 2.1 Included with WWWBoard
Download View Demo WWWBoard Main

Quick Info

  • Version: 2.0 ALPHA 2.1
  • Patched: January 07, 2000
  • Language: Perl 5+
  • License: Free for use
  • Security: Password protected
Overview Features Installation Password Setup Usage Download FAQ

Overview

WWWAdmin is the administration companion to WWWBoard. It provides a password-protected web interface for managing your message board, including deleting spam, removing inappropriate posts, and maintaining thread organization.

The program comes bundled with WWWBoard 2.0 ALPHA 2.1 and uses a simple password file for authentication. It's designed to be secure yet easy to use for board administrators.

Package Contents

File Description
wwwadmin.pl Main WWWAdmin Perl script
passwd.txt Password file for authentication
ADMIN_README Installation and usage documentation

Features

Administration Features

  • Password-protected access
  • Delete individual messages
  • Remove entire threads
  • View message list with details
  • Preview messages before deletion
  • Batch operations support

Security Features

  • Encrypted password storage
  • Session-based authentication
  • Configurable access restrictions
  • Activity logging (optional)
  • Secure file operations

Installation

Step 1: Upload Files

  • wwwadmin.pl → CGI-bin directory (same as wwwboard.pl)
  • passwd.txt → Secure location outside web root

Step 2: Set Permissions

# Script executable
chmod 755 wwwadmin.pl

# Password file readable by web server
chmod 644 passwd.txt

Step 3: Configure Variables

Edit wwwadmin.pl and set the following variables:

  • $basedir - Path to messages directory
  • $baseurl - URL to your board
  • $passwd_file - Path to passwd.txt
  • $cgi_url - URL to wwwadmin.pl script

Step 4: Create Admin Password

See the Password Setup section below for instructions.

Password Setup

WWWAdmin uses Perl's crypt() function for password encryption. You need to create an encrypted password and add it to passwd.txt.

Method 1: Using Perl Command Line

# Generate encrypted password
perl -e 'print crypt("yourpassword", "salt"), "\n"'

# Add to passwd.txt
echo "admin:encrypted_hash" > passwd.txt

Method 2: Using Online Tool

Use an online crypt() generator, then add the result to passwd.txt in this format:

username:encrypted_password

Example passwd.txt

admin:ab1Cd2Ef3Gh4I
moderator:xy9Wv8Ut7Sr6Q

Using WWWAdmin

Accessing WWWAdmin

Navigate to your WWWAdmin URL in a web browser:

http://yoursite.com/cgi-bin/wwwadmin.pl

Login

  1. Enter your username
  2. Enter your password
  3. Click "Login" to access the admin panel

Managing Messages

  • View Messages: The main page lists all messages with subject, author, and date
  • Delete Message: Click the delete link next to any message
  • Remove Thread: Delete the first message in a thread to remove the entire discussion
  • Preview: Click on message subjects to read content before deletion

Best Practices

  • Regularly check for spam and inappropriate content
  • Archive important threads before bulk deletions
  • Keep your password secure and change it periodically
  • Log out after each admin session
  • Backup your messages directory regularly

Download

WWWAdmin is included with the WWWBoard package. Download the complete package to get both the forum and admin tools:

wwwboard.tar.gz ~16 KB wwwboard.zip ~19 KB

View Individual Files

Working Demo

See WWWAdmin in action:

Note: Demo credentials are usually username: demo, password: demo

Frequently Asked Questions

Common troubleshooting steps:

  • Check file permissions on wwwadmin.pl (should be 755)
  • Verify the Perl path in the shebang line (#!/usr/bin/perl)
  • Ensure passwd.txt path is correctly set in the script
  • Check that passwd.txt is readable by the web server
  • Look at server error logs for specific error messages
  • Verify all required Perl modules are installed

Password issues and solutions:

  • Ensure passwd.txt uses correct format: username:encrypted_password
  • Verify the password was encrypted using Perl's crypt() function
  • Check file permissions on passwd.txt (should be 644 or 600)
  • Make sure there are no extra spaces or line breaks in passwd.txt
  • Try regenerating the password hash

Simply add multiple lines to passwd.txt, one for each administrator:

admin:ab1Cd2Ef3Gh4I
moderator:xy9Wv8Ut7Sr6Q
helpdesk:mn5Kl6Jh7Gf8D

Each administrator can use their own username and password to log in.

WWWAdmin permanently deletes messages. To prevent accidental data loss:

  • Regularly backup your messages directory
  • Archive important threads before cleanup
  • Preview messages before deleting
  • Consider implementing an archival system

WWWAdmin includes basic security features, but you should:

  • Store passwd.txt outside the web root
  • Use strong passwords
  • Restrict access by IP if possible
  • Use HTTPS for admin access
  • Change passwords regularly
  • Keep the script updated with security patches

For production sites with sensitive data, consider modern forum software with advanced security features.

Yes, you can add IP restrictions in wwwadmin.pl or use .htaccess:

# .htaccess example
<Files wwwadmin.pl>
    Order Deny,Allow
    Deny from all
    Allow from 192.168.1.0/24
</Files>

View All FAQs | WWWBoard FAQ Archive

Related Scripts

WWWBoard Perl

The main threaded discussion forum that WWWAdmin manages.

Guestbook Perl

Simpler visitor comment system for basic feedback.