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- This document will describe how to install OpenACS 4.6 from scratch, - using the source code. We will assume that you have an OS installed, - but we'll discuss this more in the next section. For most of this - guide, we will assume that you are using Linux on a PC, but we'll - also point you to excellent step-by-step guides for other operating - systems. + + This document will describe how to install, configure, and + maintain an installation of OpenACS 4.6.2 on a Unix-like + system, including all supporting software. All examples + in this chapter are part of the OpenACS 4.6.2-P or + OpenACS 4.6.2-O Reference Platform, which use Red + Hat 8.0. Differences between the Reference Platform + and common alternate platforms are noted where known.
You will need a PC (or equivalent) with at least these minimum requirements:
Pentium processor
128 MB RAM - (much more if you want Oracle)
4 GB hard drive
+ (much more if you want Oracle)
4 GB hard drive
You will need all of the required Chapter 2.
If you want to serve pages to people outside of your machine, you'll need a network connection of some type.
@@ -53,12 +55,12 @@
Adding users, groups, setting passwords
- Starting an X server and running an X program remotely + (For Oracle) Starting an X server and running an X program remotely
Basic file management using cp, rm, mv, and cd
- Compiling a program using a Makefile + Compiling a program using ./config and make.
If you've never done these things before, consider exploring UNIX in greater depth before installing OpenACS. Some useful resources for @@ -71,11 +73,25 @@
The basic steps to getting OpenACS up and running are:
Install an OS
Install a webserver (AOLServer)
Install a database (Oracle or - PostgreSQL)
Install a database - driver (allows the webserver to talk to the database) -
Configure the webserver and - database
Start the OpenACS - installer
This is text you will see on + screen, such as a or link + in a radio button list or menu.
This is text that you will type.
This is text from a program or file which you may need to +examine or edit:
if {$database == "oracle"} {
+ set db_password "mysitepassword"
+}This is text that you will +see and type in a command shell, including text you may have to +change. It is followed by a list of just the commands, +which you can copy and paste.
[root@localhost root]# su - nsadmin +[nsadmin@localhost aolserver]$ svc -d /service/server1 +[nsadmin@localhost aolserver]$ dropdb server1 +DROP DATABASE +[nsadmin@localhost aolserver]$ createdb server1 +CREATE DATABASE +su - nsadmin +svc -d /service/server1 +dropdb server1 +createdb server1
We'll do our best to assure that following our instructions will get you to the promised land. If something goes wrong, don't panic. There are plenty of ways to get help. Here are some tips: @@ -97,9 +113,13 @@ openacs.org - you'll often find many people who have struggled through the same spot that you're in.
+ The bottom of each page has a link to OpenACS.org, where you can post + comments and read other users comments about the + contents of the page. +
Ask questions at the irc channel on openprojects.net - (#openacs). They're knowledgeable and quite friendly if you can - keep them on topic. + (#openacs). They're knowledgeable and quite friendly + if you can keep them on topic.
Post a question on the bboards. Make sure you've done a search first. When you do post, be sure to include @@ -118,15 +138,16 @@ better way. Well, not quite. Jonathan Marsden has created RPMs (at http://www.xc.org) for OpenACS 4.5 but there are not yet any for version - 4.6. There has been talk about automating the install process, + 4.6.2. There has been talk about automating the install process, but that hasn't happened yet. Stay tuned!
This document was created by Vinod Kurup, but it's really just plagiarism from a number of documents that came before it. If I've used something that you've written without proper credit, let me know and I'll fix it right away. -
These are a few of my sources:
+
Version 4.6.x was edited by Joel Aufrecht. +
These are a few of my sources:
Please also see the Credits section for more acknowledgements. -
+ Here's a list of some helpful documentation for various OS's +
+ Painless Debian + GNU/Linux by Stephen van Egmond +
+ + Official + Debian Guide + +
+ + RedHat + +
+ + Mandrake + +
+ + SuSE + +
+ Once you get your OS installed, it's imperative that you secure your + installation. As Jon Griffin repeatedly warns us, "No distribution is + secure out of the box." The Reference Platform implements + some basic precautions, but security is a process, not a + condition. If you are responsible for a computer hooked to the + internet, you are responsible for learning some rudiments of + security, such as monitoring the state of a computer, + maintaining patch levels, and keeping backups. We recommend + these resources: +
Here are some resources that OpenACS users have found useful.