CGI On An Apple & NSF Files?

I've recently taken over as web designer/programmer of my school's website. Sadly, I'm severely limited by the server (it's an Apple server and therefore can't have PHP installed on it). The server admin allegedly install Perl/CGI "binaries" (is that the right term for an Apple?) however, I can't figure out how to use it. And Perl or CGI script I put in the CGI-bin folder acts as if it's just a normal HTML document. So my first question is, how do I use the CGI on the server? Any ideas?

My second question is this. My school system currently runs a web-based program called Learning Village , where teachers can go to post homework or other school news. Because of how it works, it obviously runs some sort of server-side processes. All the files seem to end in the extension .nsf and I have no idea what programming language that type of file corresponds to. When I make my own test.nsf file and include HTML in it, it reads the file as if it's a normal HTML file. Do any of you have any idea what language an NSF file corresponds to, and if so how I can program something in it/where I can find a tutorial on it?

Right now, to make a semi-dynamic website I have to "creatively" use JavaScript src files... it's not at all pleasant...

Well, thank you in advance for any help you can be.

EDIT: I forgot to mention earlier that the school system uses the AppleShare IP FTP Server, if that makes any difference.

First, what do you mean it's an Apple server? What is the actual hardware, what is the operating system running on it (please be specific with the version number), and what is the http server running on it (need the specific version also).

Finally, are you opposed to purchasing/installing any different software on that machine (if applicable)? Depending on what your actual hardware is, you may still end up being able to run PHP on it.

As Pieux said what kind of Apple is it?

If its a G3 or better you can put OSX on it and then you can have your NFS and CGI.

Else I know Python is ported to the older mac OS's but I'm not sure if it will do what you want.

E.

NSF means "Notes Storage File," which is the data format that Lotus Notes uses. It's binary, you can't program in it without the Lotus Domino Designer application.

NSF files are usually an amalgamation of data and logic along with presentation stuff. This also means your apple box is probably running Domino Server.

NFS means "Network File Storage" (I think. . .) and refers to a way that a *nix based computer can mount a remote drive so that the remote drives appears to be local.

My experience? Lotus Notes sucks, and don't bother to learn it. Programming with Domino Designer is like using the worst parts of Microsoft Access and javascript to put websites together. Not pleasant, trust me.

I'm sure someone has done an apache/PHP/perl port to older macs. Try doing a google.com search.

NFS actually means Network File System

I'm pretty sure that the web & FTP servers are running through a Power Macintosh (desktop version; monitor separate from the actual unit)... I haven't seen it in some time, though I'm 100% positive that it's a Mac. The admin at the school system doesn't know the type of web server we're running, so I've got to ask some more people around the central office.

Since I'm doing this through the school system (as a student), any recommendations to change the server by me essentially fall on deaf ears. It's absolutely ridiculous that we're using a Mac since the school has a good 20-30 brand new IBM Netfinitys lying around that could be converted to servers. The administrator is a devout Macintosh user and refuses to change it. So I'm out of luck with that.

I'm not sure of the operating system on the Mac, though I know it's not OSX. Our school system no longer supports newer Macs so chances are it's OS7.

I'll try to get the rest of the information. Thank you all for your help.

You need to determine what kind of Power Macintosh. Simply stating it is a Power Macintosh is the same as saying you drive a Mustang. Well, is it a 1984 Mustang or a 2001 Mustang, and is it a GT, Cobra, etc.?

I wasn't suggesting you change the computer, but the software that is installed on the computer. You'd be surprised how many robust solutions exist for Apple hardware. For instance, you could run LinuxPPC on it instead of MacOS. By doing this, you would have at your disposal, an entire suite of tools available to the Linux community. Further, depending on the size of the hard drive, you could make it a dual-boot system (allowing you to switch back to MacOS whenever you wanted).

However, I can't tell you what you can do until you are more specific about what you have.