What is WEBDAV?

Question

I want to use WebDAv server to share files among systems and (iPod or iPhone) in my iphone project. To use it, do I have to use an individual webserver? Or is it a built in facility?

Answer 1

WebDAV is a way to share files through a web server, which includes functionality for file locking and versioning.

Presumably, you would run Apache or another WebDAV-savvy web server, enabling access to a folder and its contents through the setting of relevant permissions.

This service would be run on a server somewhere — such as a Mac OS X workstation, which has Apache installed by default — and which has files that you want to present to the outside world.

Your iPhone device would connect to the WebDAV server through a WebDAV client; for example, DAV-E. The client locates and displays a list of files and folders, allowing uploads and downloads.

Answer 2

It typically isn't a built-in facility, but can be enabled as an extension of existing webservers, e.g mod_dav for Apache, WebDAV publishing for IIS, etc.