Hi!
I have to create a web application to remotely configure a file and at the end reboot the related system on a remote machine..
the problem is, even if I'm not worried about learning something completely new for me (i've never done anything like that before) I'm currently finding difficulties in getting material from the net. The fact is that (as sometimes happen) I can't find a phrase to google!
So I thought you could help me!!

What I have to do is:
a web server (apache?) is running on computer A, where the service to be configured is -> I suppose here I don't have to do anything since web servers like apache are already there, right?
a web application on computer B (I mean, not to go "on internet", the network is only between computer A and B!!) with buttons and comboboxes and so on, where to "visually" decide what to change in the configuration of the service. Here a final button is the APPLY button, and when pressed everything flows from B to A to make the needed modifications to the service. Of course this is what I have to do but my questions are:
a)what should I google for?
b)what kind of language should I use? (any visual somehting or what?)
c)How the apply methid is accomplished?
d)where does the code to write is? on a html page in computer A, only accessed and modified in B, or what else??

I'm confused!! Since I don't know where to start... would you be so kind to help me please??

Thanx

Elise

Webservers are not always there. Although I have no experience with your 'problem'. I foresee some problems with regards to permissions, but I might be wrong.

I think I would turn it around. Write a dedicated webserver listening on a specific port; this will be the application. When a browser connects, the server will send the page with the buttons etc to the browser. When you submit the page to the application, the application will update the service configuration and restart the service or reboot the machine.

With regards to the reboot? Is it necessary to reboot a whole machine just to let the changes for one service be effective? In the Linux world it's usually suuficient to restart the service. Uou don't indicate for which OS this is.

I've once found an example on the internet for a dedicated webserver as part of a book. I will try to find it tonight.

PS The given approach is i.e. used by CUPS (which can be configured using port 631).

[edit]Think I found it
Advanced Linux Programming
[/edit]