About the ColdFusion Administrator

Key features of the ColdFusion Administrator

• Server configuration: The Server area of the Administrator lets you set up and manage the functionality of ColdFusion. You can define caching preferences, connect to data sources for use in ColdFusion applications, select debugging options, manage variables, set up task automation, and register Java applets, settings, and custom tags.
• Security: The Security area of the Administrator lets you secure your development environment. You can enable password protection for the Administrator, enable password protection for remote access, and control access by using ColdFusion tags and functions to server resources.
• ColdFusion resources:The ColdFusion Administrator home page provides access to the following information and support:
  • Local resources - release notes, new features documentation, product documentation, and example applications
  • Technical support - installation, support, resources, and TechNotes
  • Online resources - product registration, developer information, white papers, training, enhancement requests, and security

What you can do in ColdFusion Administrator

• Set up and maintain your server
• Create and manage ColdFusion cluster
• Monitor system performance
• Secure your resources
• Manage and analyze log files
• Connect to ColdFusion data sources
• Schedule tasks
• Integrate Java applets and custom tags
• Download and install Server Manager
• Configure OpenOffice
• Manage undelivered mails
• Access online product documentation, release notes, product upgrades, and TechNotes
• Download and install product updates and hotfixes.

Optional configuration overview

• Determine the identity of a website visitor: ColdFusion lets you use client variables to determine the identity of a client visiting your site. By managing client variables, you can use this information to customize page content for your clients. Select Server Settings > Client Variables in the ColdFusion Administrator navigation pane to specify a default storage mechanism for client variables and to optionally specify the data source used to store client information.
• Create logical aliases for physical directories: You can create logical aliases for paths to directories on your server. Select Server Settings > Mappings in the ColdFusion Administrator navigation pane. By creating aliases for directories on your server, you can use them in your ColdFusion applications. These are referred to as mappings. You typically use two types of mappings:
• ColdFusion mappings: Equates a logical path (for example, /payroll) with a physical directory path (for example, C:\finance\payroll). ColdFusion uses these mappings for the cfinclude tag, the cfmodule tag, and when locating ColdFusion components.
• Web server mappings: Web server mappings also equate a logical path to a physical path, but at the web server level. Web server mappings are in effect for all requests made to a web server. In many cases, web server mappings render ColdFusion mappings unnecessary.
• Register Java applets and CFX tags: You can use Java applets and CFX tags in your ColdFusion applications. Register the applets on the appropriate Extensions pages by selecting Extensions > Java Applets or Extensions > CFX Tags in the ColdFusion Administrator navigation pane. After they are registered, you can incorporate the applets and tags in your applications.
• Configure standard debugging options: You can get useful debugging information about your application page requests from browsers by setting debugging preferences. Select Debugging & Logging > Debug Output Settings in the ColdFusion Administrator navigation pane to set up debugging.
• Perform advanced administration tasks: If you require granular security control over your ColdFusion resources, or need to decentralize ColdFusion administrative responsibilities, implement ColdFusion Security. In the ColdFusion Administrator navigation pane, select Security > Sandbox Security (Enterprise Edition) or Security > Resource Security (Standard Edition). To take advantage of additional capabilities that ColdFusion provides for controlling access by applications to resources on the server (such as data sources, files, directories, and IP addresses), consider configuring Sandbox Security. For details, see Administering ColdFusion Security.  

Services and processes

Installing the server configuration

ColdFusion services in Windows

ColdFusion processes in UNIX

1. Log in as root.
2. Enter the following command: cd cf_root/bin
3. Enter the appropriate command, as the following table describes:

Layout of the ColdFusion Administrator

Verify that the web server is running

1. Open a web browser.
2. In the address line, enter the URL for a web page or site. For example, if the file myindex.htm is in your web document root directory, load the page in your browser, using the localhost URL, as follows: http://127.0.0.1/myindex.htm}}or{{http://127.0.0.1:8500/myindex.htm (built-in web server)
3. Press Enter. If the web server is running, the page appears, otherwise, an error message appears.

System information

• Update or upgrade a Trial or Developer Edition of ColdFusion as follows:

1. On the System Information page, enter your product serial number in the New License field.
2. Click Submit Changes.

• See the expiration date of your Trial copy of ColdFusion Administrator.
• Identify values that correspond to several ColdFusion server variables.     To access the ColdFusion System Information page, click the System Information button in the top right of the ColdFusion Administrator.

Accessing the ColdFusion Administrator

Restricting access to ColdFusion Administrator

Logging Administrator actions

• Server Settings
• Request tuning
• CACHING
• Memory VARIABLES
• User login and logout
• Java and JVM The default log location is cfusion\logs\audit.log.

Changes to default settings

Session cookie settings