Struggling with installation

[Middleman]

I am very excited by what I learned about The Uniform Server and hope it will help me set up my first website using Joomla. However I have made several attempts to get it working and failed. Part of my problem is I feel I do not understand all the instructions. It is only the past few months that I've started to learn what to do to set up a website and I know very little if anything about programming, etc. Being 75 I may also be a little slow at these new concepts. Maybe if we had a writer from Computers for Dummies rewrite the instructions it might help me.

 

Example of some items that caused me trouble in the "5.0-Nano:Install and Run" directions:

-two modes either as a standard program or service (I assume service means actually operating as a website and program means used in developing a website, but am not sure.)

-Under Download there is a reference to different version of PHP but I don't know if there is a preferred one and several other examples of where I am not sure of the meaning and what to do.

 

The Server Status reports that that Apache SSL Server is disabled but Apache is running and set up as a standard programme

 

Anyhow when I thought I had Uniform Server up and running ok. I installed Joomla by copying the download into www after removing all but file .htaccess then extracting it. I started the servers and then typed http://localhost in my browser as is and with /joomla/ after it, but just got "The webpage cannot be found". I have made several attempts to load Uniform Server and Joomla in slightly different ways but have not succeeded. I need a set of instructions that lead me by the hand and assume I know nothing.

 

I shall keep trying for a while. By the way I did get Joomla working by using Wamp but Uniform Server has some features I need. Sorry to be so long but needed to get this off my chest. I'd appreciate any advice.

[Ric]

This error message "The webpage cannot be found" indicates you have the servers running. However the cause of the error message “I installed Joomla by copying the download into www” you should have copied the file to folder UniServer and extracted from there.

 

Terminology:

“-two modes either as a standard program or service (I assume service means actually operating as a website and program means used in developing a website, but am not sure.)”

standard program - When you start your PC you must manually start the servers.

service - When you start your PC servers are automatically started.

 

If your servers are to be run 24/7 running as a service will allow the servers to automatically start after a power failure (assuming your PC does not die after such an event).

 

Installation Step-by-step guide

 

1] Create a new folder on C drive named server – can be any name, must not contain spaces.

2] Download UniServer5_5a.exe and save to the above folder C:\server

(Note this server version uses PHP 5.2.12 )

3] Double click on UniServer5_5a.exe this extracts the server.

4] A new folder UniServer is created containing the servers.

5] Open folder C:\server\UniServer double click on Start.exe this starts UniTray (A tray icon is created blue background white digit one)

6] Left mouse click on UniTray top two-menu items start and stop the servers.

7] Start servers (first menu item) if challenged by your firewall allow access.

8] Your browser will automatically open and display Uniform Server’s initial page.

9] Stop servers using UniTray (second menu item)

10] Close UniTray (last menu item Exit)

11] Download Joomla plugin file V55_Joomla_1_5_15a.exe save to folder C:\server\UniServer

12] Double click on V55_Joomla_1_5_15a.exe this extracts the Joomla application.

13] Confirm this folder has been created C:\server\UniServer\www\joomla

14] Start UniTray (5) start servers (6,7)

15] Type following into browser http://localhost/joomla/

16] Initial Joomla page displayed.

 

“Maybe if we had a writer from Computers for Dummies rewrite the instructions it might help me.”

 

I agree.

 

”-Under Download there is a reference to different version of PHP but I don't know if there is a preferred one”

 

UniServer5_5a.exe with PHP 5.2.12 is preferable, majority of older applications should run under this version of PHP. Some applications are still not PHP 5.3 compliant.

 

“The Server Status reports that that Apache SSL Server is disabled but Apache is running and set up as a standard programme”

 

Server status provides an overview of the server’s functionality. Apache SSL Server is disabled is referring to a feature of the server that uses a secure socket layer this encrypts data over the Internet. No need to worry about this.

 

Run as a service.

 

1] Open folder C:\server\UniServer double click on Start.exe this starts UniTray (A tray icon is created blue background white digit one)

2] Right mouse click on UniTray click top menu item install and run all services

3] If challenged by your firewall allow access.

4] Your browser will automatically open and display Uniform Server’s initial page.

5] Close UniTray: Either left or right mouse click to display menu click last menu item Exit.

 

Next time you start your PC the servers will automatically run (no need to start UniTray).

Your browser will not automatically open (browser is a standard program) hence you manually start this.

Type following into your browser http://localhost/joomla/ displays your Joomla site

 

Uninstall service.

If you want to remove the server or install a new version you must uninstall the services first.

 

1] Open folder C:\server\UniServer double click on Start.exe this starts UniTray (A tray icon is created blue background white digit one)

2] Right mouse click on UniTray click second menu item stop and remove all services

3] Close UniTray: Either left or right mouse click to display menu click last menu item Exit.

 

Remove/delete server

First stop servers or uninstall services.

Delete folder C:\server (or whatever you named it)

 

I hope the above helps, have a play, if you break the servers just delete the folder and start again.

 

All the best

Ric

[Middleman]

Ric,

 

Thanks you for the reply. That is the type of information I need. I appreciate your thoroughness. Over the Christmas Holidays I will continue to play with this until I get it right. I'm very excited by the possibilities it offers.

 

Merry Christmas.

 

Tom

 

 

 

This error message "The webpage cannot be found" indicates you have the servers running. However the cause of the error message “I installed Joomla by copying the download into www” you should have copied the file to folder UniServer and extracted from there.

 

Terminology:

“-two modes either as a standard program or service (I assume service means actually operating as a website and program means used in developing a website, but am not sure.)”

standard program - When you start your PC you must manually start the servers.

service - When you start your PC servers are automatically started.

 

If your servers are to be run 24/7 running as a service will allow the servers to automatically start after a power failure (assuming your PC does not die after such an event).

 

Installation Step-by-step guide

 

1] Create a new folder on C drive named server – can be any name, must not contain spaces.

2] Download UniServer5_5a.exe and save to the above folder C:\server

(Note this server version uses PHP 5.2.12 )

3] Double click on UniServer5_5a.exe this extracts the server.

4] A new folder UniServer is created containing the servers.

5] Open folder C:\server\UniServer double click on Start.exe this starts UniTray (A tray icon is created blue background white digit one)

6] Left mouse click on UniTray top two-menu items start and stop the servers.

7] Start servers (first menu item) if challenged by your firewall allow access.

8] Your browser will automatically open and display Uniform Server’s initial page.

9] Stop servers using UniTray (second menu item)

10] Close UniTray (last menu item Exit)

11] Download Joomla plugin file V55_Joomla_1_5_15a.exe save to folder C:\server\UniServer

12] Double click on V55_Joomla_1_5_15a.exe this extracts the Joomla application.

13] Confirm this folder has been created C:\server\UniServer\www\joomla

14] Start UniTray (5) start servers (6,7)

15] Type following into browser http://localhost/joomla/

16] Initial Joomla page displayed.

 

“Maybe if we had a writer from Computers for Dummies rewrite the instructions it might help me.”

 

I agree.

 

”-Under Download there is a reference to different version of PHP but I don't know if there is a preferred one”

 

UniServer5_5a.exe with PHP 5.2.12 is preferable, majority of older applications should run under this version of PHP. Some applications are still not PHP 5.3 compliant.

 

“The Server Status reports that that Apache SSL Server is disabled but Apache is running and set up as a standard programme”

 

Server status provides an overview of the server’s functionality. Apache SSL Server is disabled is referring to a feature of the server that uses a secure socket layer this encrypts data over the Internet. No need to worry about this.

 

Run as a service.

 

1] Open folder C:\server\UniServer double click on Start.exe this starts UniTray (A tray icon is created blue background white digit one)

2] Right mouse click on UniTray click top menu item install and run all services

3] If challenged by your firewall allow access.

4] Your browser will automatically open and display Uniform Server’s initial page.

5] Close UniTray: Either left or right mouse click to display menu click last menu item Exit.

 

Next time you start your PC the servers will automatically run (no need to start UniTray).

Your browser will not automatically open (browser is a standard program) hence you manually start this.

Type following into your browser http://localhost/joomla/ displays your Joomla site

 

Uninstall service.

If you want to remove the server or install a new version you must uninstall the services first.

 

1] Open folder C:\server\UniServer double click on Start.exe this starts UniTray (A tray icon is created blue background white digit one)

2] Right mouse click on UniTray click second menu item stop and remove all services

3] Close UniTray: Either left or right mouse click to display menu click last menu item Exit.

 

Remove/delete server

First stop servers or uninstall services.

Delete folder C:\server (or whatever you named it)

 

I hope the above helps, have a play, if you break the servers just delete the folder and start again.

 

All the best

Ric

[Middleman]

Ric,

 

I reinstalled Uniform Server and Joomla according to your instructions and I got the Frontpage and Administration page open fine. So I guess everything is working now.

 

Thanks again.

 

Tom

 

This error message "The webpage cannot be found" indicates you have the servers running. However the cause of the error message “I installed Joomla by copying the download into www” you should have copied the file to folder UniServer and extracted from there.

 

Terminology:

“-two modes either as a standard program or service (I assume service means actually operating as a website and program means used in developing a website, but am not sure.)”

standard program - When you start your PC you must manually start the servers.

service - When you start your PC servers are automatically started.

 

If your servers are to be run 24/7 running as a service will allow the servers to automatically start after a power failure (assuming your PC does not die after such an event).

 

Installation Step-by-step guide

 

1] Create a new folder on C drive named server – can be any name, must not contain spaces.

2] Download UniServer5_5a.exe and save to the above folder C:\server

(Note this server version uses PHP 5.2.12 )

3] Double click on UniServer5_5a.exe this extracts the server.

4] A new folder UniServer is created containing the servers.

5] Open folder C:\server\UniServer double click on Start.exe this starts UniTray (A tray icon is created blue background white digit one)

6] Left mouse click on UniTray top two-menu items start and stop the servers.

7] Start servers (first menu item) if challenged by your firewall allow access.

8] Your browser will automatically open and display Uniform Server’s initial page.

9] Stop servers using UniTray (second menu item)

10] Close UniTray (last menu item Exit)

11] Download Joomla plugin file V55_Joomla_1_5_15a.exe save to folder C:\server\UniServer

12] Double click on V55_Joomla_1_5_15a.exe this extracts the Joomla application.

13] Confirm this folder has been created C:\server\UniServer\www\joomla

14] Start UniTray (5) start servers (6,7)

15] Type following into browser http://localhost/joomla/

16] Initial Joomla page displayed.

 

“Maybe if we had a writer from Computers for Dummies rewrite the instructions it might help me.”

 

I agree.

 

”-Under Download there is a reference to different version of PHP but I don't know if there is a preferred one”

 

UniServer5_5a.exe with PHP 5.2.12 is preferable, majority of older applications should run under this version of PHP. Some applications are still not PHP 5.3 compliant.

 

“The Server Status reports that that Apache SSL Server is disabled but Apache is running and set up as a standard programme”

 

Server status provides an overview of the server’s functionality. Apache SSL Server is disabled is referring to a feature of the server that uses a secure socket layer this encrypts data over the Internet. No need to worry about this.

 

Run as a service.

 

1] Open folder C:\server\UniServer double click on Start.exe this starts UniTray (A tray icon is created blue background white digit one)

2] Right mouse click on UniTray click top menu item install and run all services

3] If challenged by your firewall allow access.

4] Your browser will automatically open and display Uniform Server’s initial page.

5] Close UniTray: Either left or right mouse click to display menu click last menu item Exit.

 

Next time you start your PC the servers will automatically run (no need to start UniTray).

Your browser will not automatically open (browser is a standard program) hence you manually start this.

Type following into your browser http://localhost/joomla/ displays your Joomla site

 

Uninstall service.

If you want to remove the server or install a new version you must uninstall the services first.

 

1] Open folder C:\server\UniServer double click on Start.exe this starts UniTray (A tray icon is created blue background white digit one)

2] Right mouse click on UniTray click second menu item stop and remove all services

3] Close UniTray: Either left or right mouse click to display menu click last menu item Exit.

 

Remove/delete server

First stop servers or uninstall services.

Delete folder C:\server (or whatever you named it)

 

I hope the above helps, have a play, if you break the servers just delete the folder and start again.

 

All the best

Ric