XF 1.0 Installation Walk-Through (Alpha Build)

Please note this is an early build, and things might still change between now and 'gold' release.
And that the steps of uploading the files and downloading the config.php has been skipped.

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[Finder]

nice, good lock!

 

[erich37]

For the installation process or something like a documentation? Of course I can only speak for myself but the process looks incredibly easy and well-instructed from the start

for the installation.....

 

[Paul B]

can we have a step-by-step instruction for XF for dummies ?

Many thanks !

This is how to create a database and a user using cPanel.

• Log in to your CPanel using your username and password
• Click on MySQL Databases
  • Create a new database
    • Database name - myxfdatabase
    • Assign a table prefix if the option is available and if you want to do so, e.g. xen_
  • Create a new user for the database
    • Username dbadmin
    • Password dbpassword
  • Add the user to the database
    • Set user permissions to full

You will then use the database and user created above in your config.php file (or eqivalent).
For example:

$dbms = 'mysqli';
$dbhost = 'localhost';
$dbport = '';
$dbname = 'myxfdatabase';
$dbuser = 'dbadmin';
$dbpasswd = 'dbpassword';
$table_prefix = 'xen_';

To install the XF software you will have to create a directory on your domain server and upload the files.
Then enter the install/index.php url in your browser's address bar.

That's where Floris' video starts from.

 

[Floris]

can we have a step-by-step instruction for XF for dummies (including the database-stuff) ?

Many thanks !

There will be, either here on XF or on xf.

 

[Neutral Singh]

By any chance, is there going to be an option to upgrade XF automatically like wordpress does with a single click of a button?

 

[RickM]

By an chance, is there going to be an option to upgrade XF automatically like wordpress does with a single click of a button?

One can hope! I still want a plugin system that does the same

 

[Peggy]

You will then use the database and user created above in your config.php file (or eqivalent).

$dbms = 'mysqli';
$dbhost = 'localhost';
$dbport = '';
$dbname = 'myxfdatabase';
$dbuser = 'dbadmin';
$dbpasswd = 'dbpassword';
$table_prefix = 'xen_';

To install the XF software you will have to create a directory on your domain server and upload the files.
Then enter the install/index.php url in your browser's address bar.

That's where Floris' video starts from.

You will not have to fill in the config file (unless something drastic happens).
Trust me, this installation is very, very easy.

 

[Paul B]

You will not have to fill in the config file (unless something drastic happens).

How does the config file get populated with the database information?

 

[Floris]

This is how to create a database and a user using cPanel.

• Log in to your CPanel using your username and password
• Click on MySQL Databases
  • Create a new database
    • Database name - myxfdatabase
    • Assign a table prefix if the option is available and if you want to do so, e.g. _xen
  • Create a new user for the database
    • Username dbadmin
    • Password dbpassword
  • Add the user to the database
    • Set user permissions to full

You will then use the database and user created above in your config.php file (or eqivalent).
For example:

$dbms = 'mysqli';
$dbhost = 'localhost';
$dbport = '';
$dbname = 'myxfdatabase';
$dbuser = 'dbadmin';
$dbpasswd = 'dbpassword';
$table_prefix = 'xen_';

To install the XF software you will have to create a directory on your domain server and upload the files.
Then enter the install/index.php url in your browser's address bar.

That's where Floris' video starts from.

You can't set a prefix, it's set to xf_
It's expected (i guess) each xenforo instances uses it's own database.

 

[James]

How does the config file get populated with the database information?

*wonders about a simple approach* fwrite()?

 

[Paul B]

You can't set a prefix, it's set to xf_
It's expected (i guess) each xenforo instances uses it's own database.

Fair enough, that was more of a generic guide on how to create a database and then link it to the installation, etc.

Contrary to what people think, it really is very easy to configure a database, upload the installation files and install a forum.
If the steps are written down then it's almost impossible to go wrong.

I say almost...

 

[Peggy]

How does the config file get populated with the database information?

The install script does it for you.

 

[anotheralias]

I'm sure you'd be able to install this yourself it is that easy

Thanks for the reply. I might give it a shot, then.

 

[James]

Thanks for the reply. I might give it a shot, then.

Just install it on localhost and see if you can do it. As Peggy mentioned, the config.php file is made automatically so all you need to do is create the database via your control panel of choice and input credentials.

 

[Paul B]

The install script does it for you.

And if you have more than 1 database configured?
How does the script know which one to choose?

I'm not trying to be difficult , just trying to understand how it knows which db to use.

 

[Peggy]

And if you have more than 1 database configured?
How does the script know which one to choose?

More than one db configured for your XF installation?
That would be where the "unless something drastic happens" part that I mentioned comes into play.

 

[Paul B]

More than one db configured for your XF installation?
That would be where the "unless something drastic happens" part that I mentioned comes into play.

Aha.

It's just that for a lot of people, there will be 2 databases configured - 1 for their existing forum and the new database for the XF install.

So in those cases the automatic script won't work?

 

[Dean]

In the movie it shows confirming the database to use. You mean that screen? To specify a different target database?

I just looked at the video again. At about 40-50 seconds into it, there is a way to specify a different database.

 

[Paul B]

In the movie it shows confirming the database to use. You mean that screen? To specify a different target database?

Hmmm, I must have missed the "Edit Configuration" button when I watched the video.
So that's how the config.php file is populated.

 

[Mike]

Aha.

It's just that for a lot of people, there will be 2 databases configured - 1 for their existing forum and the new database for the XF install.

So in those cases the automatic script won't work?

It sounds like you're talking about importing, which is a separate system (and it asks you for the source DB info before it starts).

Before installation there is also some chmod'ing that needs to be done so that some files can be written out. It's easy to do, though it could be a stumbling block for some people. This is checked as part of the requirements step.

And the config file will probably need to be re-uploaded separately, as it's generally something that shouldn't be writable by the web server. Also quite easy if you uploaded the files in the first place.