Installing SMF a cry for help
Hello there golazz,
Welcome to the Forums.
Using the CCGI Platform is sometimes alittle over whelming for the first time user who has no knowledge of Scripting and the Basics of using the available tools.
I am assuming you have no previous knowledge of Tools required for this setup.
First of all, before you go jumping ahead with the steps here,
Make sure in the Members Centre you have enabled MySQL.
Once you have, continue with these steps:-
1. Software :: FTP, SSH and Text Editors
Make sure you have FTP / S-FTP (Secure FTP) Software-
Many here recommend Firefox's FireFTP for FTP.
I personally recommend WinSCP for both FTP and S-FTP.
Choose which ever is suitable for you,
in the long run WinSCP will save you time for certain things.
You will also need PuTTY.
This is so that you can Command the Server Remotely.
Download the Installation Version for Windows, as this will save hunting the Executable for WinSCP
Last but not least, we need a good editor for use with PHP Files.
Else you could encounter errors for very simple reasons, that colours can help solve in seconds.
I suggest Notepad 2
3. Connecting to the CCGI Server
Load up your FTP Client, and Login.
Enter in the follwing details:
> Hostname / IP: ccgi.provider (Which ever Provider you have registered with: plus.net, metronet.co.uk... etc)
> Username: Portal Username - Which ever username you use to access the Member Centre
> Password: Portal Username - Which ever password you use to access the Member Centre
4. Creating the Forum Direcotry
Once you are there you should see the "Fullpath" for your Document Root along the format of :-
/share/storage/0X/xx/username
First, create a directory on the Server and name it "forums"
Then upload your version of SMF in the ZIP file (smf_1-1-4_install.zip)
Once you have done this,
if you are using WinSCP and you have Installed PuTTY, you can click on the Icon of two Computers next to an Icon labled "HOM" on the Top Bar.
(Jump to next ruled section)
PuTTY :: Connecting Manually
Else, Open PuTTY from the Start Menu.
Enter in (as before) the Hostname (ccgi.provider - ccgi.plus.net)
Click the "Open" button.
PuTTY :: First Connection
1. It will ask you to Accept the RSA Encryption Key. Tell it to allow by entering "y/yes".
PuTTY :: Login
2. It will then prompt you to Login (once again). Use the same details as before for FTP.
PuTTY :: Terminal
3. You should be greeted with a cursor in your document root as a terminal.
username@cshellXX:~$
Type in
You should see the Directory you created.
Now, we need to move into the "forums" directory
Type in
now we can type lazily!
Type in
then press <TAB> to auto complete the filename.
give this process some time,
you may see it listing all extracted files.
Now, one important thing to do!
We have to allow the server permission to execute the script files to display your Forum in this case.
That will work on all files in your Web Root to all Subdirectories.
(This script saves alot of manual typing I tell you!)
Then, once this is finished you'll be returned to your Temrinal Cursor
username@cshellXX:~$
At which point you can exit for the time being. (Close the Box, should be ok)
SMF :: Web Instal or Editing the SMF 'Settings.php'?
Next part, You can do this the easy way (skip to next section), or the more educational way.
SMF :: Editing the SMF 'Settings.php'
We have to switch back to WinSCP/FireFTP to edit the "Settings.php" file in "/forums".
Navigate and Open this File, with a Text Editor (Preferable with Syntax Highlighting - Notepad 2)
With your MySQL Access Information; Fill in the appropriate values-
$db_server is either humbug or rumpus
$db_name is your MySQL Database Name (supplied by activation Email) - usually usernameISP initials (eg: pn)
$db_user is again your Protal Login Username (Main Account name)
$db_passwd is the MySQL Password (supplied by activation Email)
Some other settings, related to paths -
$mbname Title of your Forum in General.
$boardurl Presuming you have no Domain Name Registered, it is like so http://ccgi.username.extension/forums (example: http://ccgi.golazz.plus.com)
$webmaster_email for example admin@username.plus.com
You don;t have to change the Cookie Name, you can if you wish.
Once you have done all these changes, save (and Upload for FireFTP I assume, WinSCP is automatic usually)
Final leg! almost there! Hit in your web browser,
http://ccgi.username.extension/forums/
If the Forum now displays, great !
I taught it without even looking it up!
if not, run the provided Installation Script.
SMF :: Web Installation
Open your Web Browser and follow the simple steps in seconds!
http://ccgi.username.extension/forums/install.php
I can't think of much more to add other than,
good luck!
Hope this helps.
Jim,
Welcome to the Forums.
Using the CCGI Platform is sometimes alittle over whelming for the first time user who has no knowledge of Scripting and the Basics of using the available tools.
I am assuming you have no previous knowledge of Tools required for this setup.
First of all, before you go jumping ahead with the steps here,
Make sure in the Members Centre you have enabled MySQL.
Once you have, continue with these steps:-
1. Software :: FTP, SSH and Text Editors
Make sure you have FTP / S-FTP (Secure FTP) Software-
Many here recommend Firefox's FireFTP for FTP.
I personally recommend WinSCP for both FTP and S-FTP.
Choose which ever is suitable for you,
in the long run WinSCP will save you time for certain things.
You will also need PuTTY.
This is so that you can Command the Server Remotely.
Download the Installation Version for Windows, as this will save hunting the Executable for WinSCP
Last but not least, we need a good editor for use with PHP Files.
Else you could encounter errors for very simple reasons, that colours can help solve in seconds.
I suggest Notepad 2
3. Connecting to the CCGI Server
Load up your FTP Client, and Login.
Enter in the follwing details:
> Hostname / IP: ccgi.provider (Which ever Provider you have registered with: plus.net, metronet.co.uk... etc)
> Username: Portal Username - Which ever username you use to access the Member Centre
> Password: Portal Username - Which ever password you use to access the Member Centre
4. Creating the Forum Direcotry
Once you are there you should see the "Fullpath" for your Document Root along the format of :-
/share/storage/0X/xx/username
First, create a directory on the Server and name it "forums"
Then upload your version of SMF in the ZIP file (smf_1-1-4_install.zip)
Once you have done this,
if you are using WinSCP and you have Installed PuTTY, you can click on the Icon of two Computers next to an Icon labled "HOM" on the Top Bar.
(Jump to next ruled section)
PuTTY :: Connecting Manually
Else, Open PuTTY from the Start Menu.
Enter in (as before) the Hostname (ccgi.provider - ccgi.plus.net)
Click the "Open" button.
PuTTY :: First Connection
1. It will ask you to Accept the RSA Encryption Key. Tell it to allow by entering "y/yes".
PuTTY :: Login
2. It will then prompt you to Login (once again). Use the same details as before for FTP.
PuTTY :: Terminal
3. You should be greeted with a cursor in your document root as a terminal.
username@cshellXX:~$
Type in
username@cshellXX:~$ ls
You should see the Directory you created.
Now, we need to move into the "forums" directory
Type in
username@cshellXX:~$ cd forums
now we can type lazily!
Type in
username@cshellXX:~$ unzip smf
then press <TAB> to auto complete the filename.
give this process some time,
you may see it listing all extracted files.
Now, one important thing to do!
We have to allow the server permission to execute the script files to display your Forum in this case.
username@cshellXX:~$ fixphpperms.sh -c
That will work on all files in your Web Root to all Subdirectories.
(This script saves alot of manual typing I tell you!)
Then, once this is finished you'll be returned to your Temrinal Cursor
username@cshellXX:~$
At which point you can exit for the time being. (Close the Box, should be ok)
SMF :: Web Instal or Editing the SMF 'Settings.php'?
Next part, You can do this the easy way (skip to next section), or the more educational way.
SMF :: Editing the SMF 'Settings.php'
We have to switch back to WinSCP/FireFTP to edit the "Settings.php" file in "/forums".
Navigate and Open this File, with a Text Editor (Preferable with Syntax Highlighting - Notepad 2)
With your MySQL Access Information; Fill in the appropriate values-
<?php
//...
########## Database Info ##########
$db_server = 'localhost';
$db_name = 'smf';
$db_user = 'root';
$db_passwd = '';
$db_prefix = 'smf_';
$db_persist = 0;
$db_error_send = 1;
//...
?>
$db_server is either humbug or rumpus
$db_name is your MySQL Database Name (supplied by activation Email) - usually usernameISP initials (eg: pn)
$db_user is again your Protal Login Username (Main Account name)
$db_passwd is the MySQL Password (supplied by activation Email)
Some other settings, related to paths -
<?php
//...
########## Forum Info ##########
$mbname = 'My Community'; # The name of your forum.
$language = 'english'; # The default language file set for the forum.
$boardurl = 'http://127.0.0.1/smf'; # URL to your forum's folder. (without the trailing /!)
$webmaster_email = 'noreply@myserver.com'; # Email address to send emails from. (like noreply@yourdomain.com.)
$cookiename = 'SMFCookie11'; # Name of the cookie to set for authentication.
//...
?>
$mbname Title of your Forum in General.
$boardurl Presuming you have no Domain Name Registered, it is like so http://ccgi.username.extension/forums (example: http://ccgi.golazz.plus.com)
$webmaster_email for example admin@username.plus.com
You don;t have to change the Cookie Name, you can if you wish.
Once you have done all these changes, save (and Upload for FireFTP I assume, WinSCP is automatic usually)
Final leg! almost there! Hit in your web browser,
http://ccgi.username.extension/forums/
If the Forum now displays, great !
I taught it without even looking it up!
if not, run the provided Installation Script.
SMF :: Web Installation
Open your Web Browser and follow the simple steps in seconds!
http://ccgi.username.extension/forums/install.php
I can't think of much more to add other than,
good luck!
Hope this helps.
Jim,