WebDAV Access

Last update: April 17, 2024

Topics:
Administering

CREATED FOR:

Admin

To connect to AEM via WebDAV with KDE:

AEM offers WebDAV support that lets you display and edit repository content. Connecting via WebDAV gives you direct access to the content repository through your desktop. Text and PDF files that are added to the repository through the WebDAV connection are automatically full-text indexed and can be searched with the standard search interfaces and through the standard Java™ APIs.

General

Detailed instructions per operating system are included in this document, but the essentially to connect to your repository using the WebDAV protocol, you point your WebDAV client to the following location:

http://localhost:4502

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This URL, when connected from the operating system level, provides WebDAV access to the default workspace ( crx.default). While being simpler for the user, it does not give them the additional flexibility of specifying workspace names, which can be accomplished using additional WebDAV URLs.

AEM displays the repository content as follows:

A node of the type nt:folder is displayed as a folder. Nodes below the nt:folder node are displayed as the folder content.
A node of the type nt:file is displayed as a file. Nodes below the nt:file node are not displayed, but form the content of the file.

When you use WebDAV to create and edit folders and files, AEM creates and edits the necessary nt:folder and nt:file nodes. If you plan to use WebDAV to import and export content, try to work with nt:file and nt:folder node types as much as possible.

NOTE

Before setting up WebDAV, check the Technical Requirements.

WebDAV URLs

The URL for the WebDAV server has the following structure:

`URL Component`	`https://<host>:<port>`	`/<crx-webapp-path>`	`/repository`	`/<workspace>`
`Example`	`http://localhost:4502`	`/crx`	`/repository`	`/crx.default`
Description	Host and port on which AEM runs	Path for the AEM repository webapp	Path to which WebDAV servlet is mapped	Name of the workspace

By changing the workspace element in the path, you can map workspaces other than the default ( crx.default). For example, to map a workspace named staging, use the following URL:

http://localhost:4502/crx/repository/staging

Connecting via WebDAV

As mentioned above, to connect to your repository using the WebDAV protocol, you point your WebDAV client to your repository location. However, depending on your OS, the steps involved connecting your client differ and there may be required configuration of the OS.

Instructions on how to connect the following operating systems are provided:

Windows

To successfully connect a Microsoft® Windows 7 (and greater) system to an AEM instance that is not secured with SSL, the option to establish basic authentication over an unsecured network must be explicitly enabled in Windows. This ability requires a change in the Windows Registry of the WebClient.

Once the registry is updated, then the AEM instance can be mapped as a drive.

Windows 7 and Greater Configuration

To update the registry to allow basic authentication over an unsecured network:

Locate the following registry subkey:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WebClient\Parameters

Set the BasicAuthLevel registry entry subkey to a value of 2 or greater.

If it is not present, add the subkey.
Restart the system for the registry change to take effect.

NOTE

Adobe recommends that you create a Windows user with the same credentials as the repository user, otherwise you may encounter permission conflicts.

Windows 8 Configuration

For Windows 8, change the registry entry as described for Windows 7 and greater. However, before you do this task, the Desktop Experience must be enabled to see the registry entry.

To enable the Desktop Experience, open Server Manager, then Features, then Add Features, then Desktop Experience.

After rebooting, the registry entry described for Windows 7 and greater is available. Modify it as described for Windows 7 and greater.

Connecting in Windows

To connect to AEM via WebDAV in a Windows environment:

Open Windows Explorer or File Explorer and click Computer or This PC.
To start the wizard, click Map network drive.
Enter the mapping details:
- Drive: Choose any available letter
- Folder: http://localhost:4502
- Check Connect using different credentials
Click Finish

NOTE
If AEM is on another port, use that port number instead of 4502. Also, if you are not running the content repository on your local machine, replace localhost with the respective server name or IP address.
Enter username admin and password admin. Adobe recommends that you use the pre-configured admin account for testing.
The wizard closes and the newly mapped drive is opened in a Windows Explorer or File Explorer window.

Windows has now mapped AEM as a drive via WebDAV and you can use it as any other drive.

macOS

There are no configuration steps required to connect by way of WebDAV on macOS. You can connect to the WebDAV server.

Navigate to any Finder window and click Go and Connect to Server, or press Command+k.
In the Connect to Server window, enter the AEM location:
- http://localhost:4502
NOTE
If AEM is on another port, use that port number instead of 4502. Also, if you are not running the content repository on your local machine, replace localhost with the respective server name or IP address.
When you are prompted for authentication, enter username admin and password admin. Adobe recommends that you use the pre-configured admin account for testing.

macOS has now connected to AEM via WebDAV and you can use it as any other folder on your Mac.

Linux®

Connecting via WebDAV on Linux® does not require any configuration, but does involve a few steps to make the connection which vary depending on your desktop environment.

GNOME

To connect to AEM via WebDAV with GNOME:

In Nautilus (file explorer), select Places and select Connect to Server.
In the Connect to Server window, select WebDAV (HTTP) in Service Type.
In Server, enter http://localhost:4502/crx/repository/crx.default

NOTE
If AEM is on another port, use that port number instead of 4502. Also, if you are not running the content repository on your local machine, replace localhost with the respective server name or IP address.
In Folder, enter /dav
Enter the username admin. Adobe recommends that you use the pre-configured admin account for testing.
Leave the port blank and enter any name for your connection.
Click Connect. AEM prompts you for your password.
Enter the password admin and click Connect.

GNOME has now mounted AEM as a volume and you can use it like any other volume.

KDE

Open the Network Folder wizard.
Select WebFolder(webdav) and click Next.
In Name, type a connection name.
In User, enter admin. Adobe recommends that you use the pre-configured admin account.
In Server, enter http://localhost:4502/crx/repository/crx.default

NOTE
If AEM is on another port, use that port number instead of 4502. Also, if you are not running the content repository on your local machine, replace localhost with the respective server name or IP address
In Folder, enter dav
Click Save and Connect.
When prompted for your password, enter the password admin and click Connect.

KDE has now mounted AEM as a volume and you can use it like any other volume.