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Web Installer for CS2008
Web Installation Wizard
The Web-based installer for Community Server allows you to configure Community Server remotely through a web browser. This is the recommended configuration option when installing to a web host where you do not have remote desktop access.
The web-based installation process assumes you have at least FTP access to your remote web server.
The Web Installation Wizard will:
- Create the Community Server database with Microsoft SQL Server
- Configure the ASP.NET web application settings in your Community Server web.config file
Watch a video walk-through of the Web Installation of Community Server
Step 1 - Download Community Server Web Install
Download the Community Server Web installation package from get.communityserver.org:
After downloading you will need to unzip the Community Server files and FTP them to your web directory on your host's web server using FTP.
Step 2 - Enable the Web Installer
In the Community Server root folder find the file \Installer\default.aspx and edit the line that has:
bool INSTALLER_ENABLED = false;
Change it to true:
bool INSTALLER_ENABLED = true;
This should be done before you upload the files to your web server so that the installer will be able to run.
When you are done using the web installer, the value should either be switched back to "false". It is recommended that you remove the 'Installer' directly entirely.
Step 3 - Copy files and assign privileges
Ensure all web files for Community Server have been copied to the proper directory on your web server. This directory should also be configured as a web application in IIS with the "Read" and "Run Scripts" checkboxes checked for permissions. For the "web" folder, give the ASPNET (or NETWORK SERVICE) account read privileges. Then, for that same user, do the following:
Give "Full Control" privileges on the following folders (found under "web"):
- filestorage/
- Utility/RankIcons/
- Utility/RoleIcons/
These settings should already be configured for you by your host (ISP). If they are not, you will need to contact your ISP to apply these settings or your Community Server installation may not function properly.
Step 4 - Create the database
Before you begin with the remote installation process you will need an empty database for the Web Installation to install to. You will also need to give 'public' and 'db_owner' role privileges to the login that the Community Server application will use when connecting to this database.
These database settings should already be configured for you by your host (ISP). If they are not, you will need to contact your ISP to apply these settings or your Community Server installation may not function properly.
Step 5 - Run Installer
Open a web browser and go to the installer folder for your server. For example, "http://www.example.com/cs/installer". This should display a screen similar to the one shown below:
Step 6 - License Agreement
Review and agree to the Community Server License terms:
Step 7 - Database Configuration
The SQL Server credentials given here will be used to create the Community Server database schema and also used to generate content to be copied to the web.config file and used by Community Server when it connects to your Community Server database:
Windows Authentication is recommended.
Step 8 - Choose the Database
Using the credentials provided in the previous step you will be shown a list of available databases. Choose the database you created (or that your host provided):
Step 9 - Installation Options
Choose which actions you would like the installation to perform. It is recommended to leave all selected:
Step 10 - Create new Community
As part of the installation process, a new community will be created for you. This step also allows you to choose a Username, Password, and email address for the system administrator account that you will use when you first access Community Server's administrative features such as the Control Panel:
Checking the "Create Sample Data" checkbox will cause the web installer to create a sample blog, sample forum post and other sample data for your site.
Step 11 - Installation Complete
Now that you have provided the installer with everything it needs, it will create the database schema, configure the connectionstrings.config file content and display it for you to copy. It will also provide a link (highlighted below) for you to follow to navigate to your new community site.
Step 12 - Updating connectionstrings.config
Per the instructions provided on the final web installer screen, copy the contents displayed to your connectionstrings.config file, found in the "Web" directory of your installation.
Copy the content:
Paste it in your web.config file found in the root of your Community Server installation:
Step 13 - Remove Web Installer
Delete the "Installer" directory from your file system!
