webserver.py

Simple python Stand Alone Local Network Web Server

Dynamically Reads folder and file entries into a right pane list. Selected folder opens in current browser tab

with back arrow for navigation back. File links selected in right pane display contents in left pane. Refresh button re-reads directory structure for right pane link display.

Quick Install

Log into destination computer using Putty SSH or open a computer terminal session on the destination computer. This can be a Raspberry Pi, Debian or similar unix system that supports apt-get.
Step 1 Highlight curl command in code box below using mouse left button. Right click mouse in highlighted area and Copy.
Step 2 On RPI putty SSH or terminal session right click, select paste then Enter to download and run script.

curl -L https://raw.github.com/pageauc/webserver/master/webserver-install.sh | bash

The command will download and execute the GitHub webserver-install.sh bash script. Alternatively you can git clone the repository to the local system

cd ~
git clone https://raw.github.com/pageauc/webserver

Screen shot of web interface

Description

This is a single file stand alone python webserver that needs minimal or no setup. This webserver can be used to remotely view images, video, documents, html, java, Etc. files from your (LAN) local area network connected computers using a web browser. Directory links to files and subfolders are dynamically created and displayed in a right side listing that can be arranged and sorted via variables. Variables are contained in the settings.py file and allow customization of webserver display and configuration settings.

I use webserver.py in my pi-timolo, speed-camera and other projects to allow easy browsing of image, video or other project files.

If a folder is selected on the right pane listing the folder contents will appear in the existing browser tab. Select < BACK link to navigate back through folder structure.
NOTE: < BACK link will not display in web root folder.

This web server can display other types of content like javascript, css Etc will run. A sample calculator program is include in the calculator folder of the www web root. If a folder has an index.html it will take over the browser tab. html files will be displayed full screen in browser tab.

This browser can only access local raspberry pi files. It cannot access internet web pages.

Please Note You will need at least two entries in a folder before the web server will display content.

Change Web Root Edit the settings.py to change the default www folder web root to another folder location of your choice.

cd ~/webserver
nano settings.py

Manual Install

From logged in RPI SSH session or console terminal perform the following. You can review the webserver-install.sh script code before executing.

cd ~
wget https://raw.github.com/pageauc/webserver/master/webserver-install.sh
chmod +x webserver-install.sh
./webserver-install.sh

How to Run webserver.py

Screen shot of menubox.sh whiptail Menu

Use menubox.sh for an easy way to manage the webserver

cd ~/webserver
./menubox.sh

or to manually start webserver.py in the foreground (ctl-c to stop) Note if you exit the terminal session the webserver will exit. See below for manually running webserver.py in background using webserver.sh

cd ~/webserver
./webserver.py

A message will be displayed indicating the ip address:port to enter in a browser url bar. This will access the webserver files in the server web root.

If you want to run the webserver.py as a background daemon then use webserver.sh If no parameter is specified it will display the PID or indicate webserver.py is not running.

To Start webserver.py as a background daemon

cd ~/webserver
./webserver.sh start

To Stop webserver.py

cd ~/webserver
./webserver.sh stop

Run webserver.py on Boot

To auto launch webserver.py on boot-up of raspberry pi perform the following

sudo nano /etc/rc.local

In nano add the following command to the rc.local file just before the exit 0 command. This will launch webserver and the webserver in the background running under the pi user (not root). Note the webserver startup is optional.

su pi -c "/home/pi/webserver/webserver.sh start > /dev/null"

ctrl-x y to save and exit nano editor

Reboot RPI and test operation by triggering motion and checking images are successfully saved to your motion or timelapse folder.

sudo reboot

use menubox.sh to verify that webserver.py is running after reboot

Customize Settings

The webserver.py variables are stored in the settings.py file. These can be edited using the nano editor to customize for your particular needs if required

Edit settings.py file using nano editor per the following commands

cd ~/webserver
nano settings.py

ctrl-x y to exit nano editor and save changes

You can also use menubox.sh to edit/view the webserver settings

cd ~/webserver
./menubox.sh

Reference Links

webserver wiki - https://github.com/pageauc/pi-timolo/wiki/Access-images-via-webserver
github webserver repo - https://github.com/pageauc/webserver

Good Luck Claude Pageau