Help a newbie install Concrete5 on a MySQL/Apache/PHP server

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Hello Concreters!


After weeks of researching for the best CMS for our small company, I have decided to give Concrete5 a go. The system seems nice for the users and the community helpfull.

Before, we used a CMS system which ran on the CMS developers server - so we had no access and no business on the serverside. We made the design and pages in the CMS.

Now the times are changing and we want to use this opensource system. We are learning CSS and the basic php knowledge to edit the pages in C5. (We are designers and writers - not developers).

However, we do not have any database knowledge, and find the installation guide provided in here difficult to understand.

What we have access to:

* Apache/1.3.41 (Unix) PHP/5.3.0
* MySQL clientversion: 5.1.39
* PHP extension: mysqli

We want to get some C5 pages up and running on this server. The fact that we would be able to run more C5 instances on 1 "core" installation, seems very interesting too - but that just seems even more overwhelming for non-coders like us.

Therefore I would like to ask if there is anyone who would be willing to help us out on the basic installation on that server?

Maybe I could give you access to the webhotel if needed to help out.

Any help will be GREATLY appreciated.

Hope to hear from you
Best regards
Mikas Emil

Mikas
 
MzRMassey replied on at Permalink Reply
MzRMassey
Hello there,

I wouldn't mind helping. As I am still learning how the Concrete5 works, although I'll be glad to try.

I've been learning all of this programing stuff by myself with a little guidance, from time to time.

Feel free to Message me through here or feel free to email me at massey@masterzradio.com


Have a good day/Night,

Ryan Massey
Masterz Radio Owner
http://www.MasterzRadio.com
Mikas replied on at Permalink Reply
Mikas
Hi again :-)

Thank you so much for getting back to me.

What would be the best approach to this? Should I communicate in this thread, so that others might find use of this thread - or should i contact you via email?

Best
Mikas
Mikas replied on at Permalink Reply 3 Attachments
Mikas
Below is my starting point.

First - my MySQL backend at my hoster. I have no experience in this whatsoever - but I can see that I have databases to the left, where I can choose my domain (websightdemo) - and in this I can create some kind of tables? (I can take a picture of that screen too if needed)

Second: Here I have connected to my host - Atm. there is a almost blank html page inside of the "www" folder.

Third: My C5 files.. ready to install. If I knew how.. :-)

Now; what to do if I want C5 up and running on this server - and if it is possible. Running more websites out of that instance of C5.. ?

Hope my post makes sense :-)

Best
Mikas

NOTE: I have attachted screendumps
MzRMassey replied on at Permalink Best Answer Reply
MzRMassey
Hello there! Do you have Skype, Msn, or yahoo IM By any chance? As that would be the easiest way to communicate.

Skype is free to get I think livetime communication will make it easier, and also, I would suggest also getting a program called TeamViewer - This program will let you watch my screen to where I can show you step by step how it works.
(http://www.teamviewer.com)

However, communicating through here would work as well.
Mikas replied on at Permalink Reply
Mikas
Hi again!

Yes I have skype. Teamviewer sounds really interesting too. I will download it now.. :-)

Thank you so far.. I will send you my skype mail!

Mikas
Mikas replied on at Permalink Reply
Mikas
Alright. Ryan helped me through some of the basics of C5. And I got 1 instance up and running.. Thanks for your time and help Ryan!

However, I would like to know if anyone could help me setting more sites up on 1 core of C5. I have read a little about it, but could really use a more basic explanation of this.

Also I would like to do more advanced permissions, where I can go in and set permissions on blocks - not just whole pages.

If anyone would be able to give me some basic insight into this, it would be just great.

- Also I feel I need quite a bit insight into my hosts phpMyAdmin (MySQL backend). What does a database in there do, and how does it route with C5?

Hoping to hear from you.

Best regards
Mikas
Mnkras replied on at Permalink Reply
Mnkras
all data (besides images, files, css, js etc) is stored in the DB
Mikas replied on at Permalink Reply
Mikas
And where is that database located? I cannot access that database can I? (and I probably should'nt ;))

What about all the C5 files (concrete5.4.1.1 dir) that I am uploading to my host? Are they only images, css etc.?
Mnkras replied on at Permalink Reply
Mnkras
the database is like the registry on windows,

its kinda behind the scenes, you don't have to worry about it,

the files you are uploading are php, image, css, js files, the php files do all the proccessing.
Mikas replied on at Permalink Reply
Mikas
Alright.. So the only thing I should worry about concerning the database is the name of it - so I can install Concrete5 on the server?

Do you know anything about centralized core - there is a page about it, but there are so many terms that I have no idea about.. So I am in over my head there.

Thank you so much for your explanations!
Mnkras replied on at Permalink Reply
Mnkras
you need the database server (usually localhost) database name, and the username and password for the database.
Mikas replied on at Permalink Reply
Mikas
Yeah. Ryan guided me through that part, just forgot to mention it here. I got both the name of the database aswell as user and password for it too :-)
Mnkras replied on at Permalink Reply
Mnkras
for the centralized core, if you don't understand what the database is then its way over your head, no offense
Mikas replied on at Permalink Reply
Mikas
No offense taken.
However I would like to hear if there is another way to have more concrete5 sites running on 1 server? Just several folders of the concrete5 files?

I am here to learn, so If anyone is up for it I still want to learn more about the centralized core. And if there are some steps I should learn first - i am ready. I am a pretty quick learner ;)
Mnkras replied on at Permalink Reply
Mnkras
The normal way is to have 1 core folder per install
On Mar 5, 2011 6:21 PM, "Concrete5 Community" <discussions@concretecms.com>
wrote:
Mikas replied on at Permalink Reply
Mikas
Alright. I guess I will start with that then.
ThemeGuru replied on at Permalink Reply
ThemeGuru
Having a centralized core is pretty simple as long as your comfortable with ssh... I've done it on a shared host (hostgator)
Mikas replied on at Permalink Reply
Mikas
SSH is a way to go in and control the host PC or am I mistaken? I don't know if I am allowed to do such.

However, they have good support and I can ask them set up anything I'd like. If I know how to ask, they could prob. set up the centralized core also.
Mnkras replied on at Permalink Reply
Mnkras
all it is is a sym link to the folder