2.5.4 Access a Remote File Using WebDAV

  • Article

Context of Use: When a User wants to access a particular file within the WebDAV context.

Use case diagram for Access a remote file using WebDAV

Figure 8: Use case diagram for Access a remote file using WebDAV

Goal: This use case demonstrates a typical User interaction with WebDAV to access a file on a file server by means of a command line or graphical Application.

Actors

  • Application

The Application is the primary actor that triggers this use case. The Application is a program that is used to create, open, read, write, and/or delete files on the WebDAV server. It interacts with the File Access Services System through the File Client.

  • WebDAV Service

The WebDAV Service is a supporting actor that is internal to the File Access Services System. It implements protocol components as specified in [RFC4918], [MS-WDV], [MS-WDVME], and [MS-WDVSE] and the file services that are consumed by the File Client.

  • Back–end Database

The Back–end Database (BED) is a supporting actor that stores the data which is accessed using WebDAV protocol.

  • Authentication Services

The Authentication Services is a supporting actor that is used for authentication.

  • File Client

The File Client is a supporting actor that is internal to the File Access Services System. It implements client-side protocol components and consumes the file services that are offered by the WebDAV server.

Stakeholders

  • User

The User is the person who requires remote file access in order to read, create or modify files on another computer. The User interacts with the File Access Services System through the Application.

Precondition

  • User has a URL path to a WebDAV file server that supports the SEARCH option.

Main Success Scenario

Trigger: The User opens an Application to access a file in the web server.

  1. The Application directs the file client to display a list of files and directories at the URL by using the GET method of a WebDAV http request ([RFC4918] section 8.4) in order to enumerate the files and directories, and their attributes that are known to the web server. In response to User's selecting one of the displayed directories, Application displays a list of files as returned by the WebDAV service by using List Files in a Web Directory use case (section 2.5.5.9).

  2. In response to the User selecting one of the displayed files, the Application directs the file client to initiate operations on the User-selected file using the Perform File Operation Using WebDAV use case (section 2.5.5.10).

Post Condition

The User is able to interact with WebDAV to access a file on a web server.

Extensions

None.