Joomla Web Based Installation
Purpose
This guide will assist you to install the YOOtheme Full Installation Pack on your web server or localhost (WAMP,MAMP or similar). The YOOtheme Full Installation Pack contains Joomla, all the YOOtools extensions , YOOtheme demo content and demo images. Installing this package will give you a working example of what you see on the YOOtheme Demo site.
Please note that each template has it's own Installation package. This type of installation is called a Web Based Installation.
Your server needs to meet the following requirements in order for you to successfully install and run the Joomla CMS ( Content Management System ) and YOOtheme Demo Content. The following information is as specified on the Joomla official site and is included here to help understand the various concepts involved with a Joomla site.
Minimum System Requirements
To successfully install and use Joomla! you must have a fully operational web server (Apache is the optimum), a database (MySQL is the optimum) and the server side scripting language PHP together with specific modules that are activated within PHP for MySQL, XML, and Zlib functionality amongst others. Whilst the community will always do its best to help you resolve issues that you may experience, Joomla! is not a web server in its own right and depends on you having a fully functioning & compatible Web server.
Joomla! is developed and tested primarily on the Apache web server versions 1.3.x + and 2.x +.
Whilst there is every chance that it will work with other systems, such as Windows IIS, these are not necessarily supported as fully/at all within the technical support community.
The same has to be said unfortunately for the database where MySQL is the principle choice but other types of database may work with the necessary configuration but are less well supported at the present time. This is a situation that it is hoped will be turned around with time but for this to happen the community requires people with the appropriate skills to step forward and assist.
The minimum versions of the various constituent parts of these server components that are required are as follows:
| Software | Min Requirement | Recommended | Latest Options | Web Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHP | 4.3.10 | 4.4.7 | 5.x series | http//php.net |
| MySQL | 3.23.x or above | 5.x series | http://dev.mysql.com/downloads/mysql/5.0.html | |
| Apache | 1.3 or above | 2.2 series | http://httpd.apache.org | |
| mod_mysql | ||||
| mod_xml | ||||
| mod_zlib |
Joomla! has been successfully tested on many variants within the main three OS for Windows, Linux, Apple Mac OSX. It may well work on other platforms but this is less well documented.
Joomla! is also regularly used and tested through the main web browsers available such as IE6 +, Firefox 1.5 +, Safari, and Opera but it may also work with others.
Localhost or Remote Host Installations
You should take note of the following information,
A localhost is a Web server and associated database that is set up directly on your computer or that may be on a local network either within your home or business environment. You have direct easy access to the machine upon which the software is situated
A remote host is one that you access via the internet it may be owned by you or you may rent it from a dedicated hosting company. In this case there are different flavours such as managed, dedicated, virtual, or shared hosting. But in simple terms the computer that houses the software is remote from you. The scope and detailed explanation of each of these flavours is outside of the boundaries of this manual but whichever option you select you must ensure that they meet your expected requirements together with the minimum specifications detailed above.
In respect of the localhost option there are a number of ready made packages that put all the necessary software together (excluding Joomla!) in one easily installable package that generally allow you to have your own personal Web server and database without really knowing too much about how they work.
The following are the more readily available, and popular, varieties of these packages and the operating systems for which they are designed.
With the exception of the LAMP packages, none of the following packages should be used for live Web sites they are only intended for development/localhost servers. The LAMP packages when used in conjunction with the appropriate Linux security measures are generally the same for localhost and live site situations.
The AMP elements within the following package names stand for Apache, MySQL, and PHP.
| Package Name | Operating System | Web Site | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAMP | Windows | http://www.wampserver.com/en/ | http://www.wampserver.com/wamp5.chm |
| MAMP | Apple Mac OSX | http://www.mamp.info/en/mamp.html | http://www.mamp.info/en/help.html |
| LAMP | Linux (and other Unix) | Distribution Dependant | |
| XAMPP | Multi-platform – Windows, Linux, Solaris, Mac | http://apachefriends.org | http://www.apachefriends.org/en/faq-xampp.html |
In respect of Linux systems - most distributions these days come with the requisite components available within their own repositories, or even within the main distribution software download that you get. There will often be different ways of activating the functionality so you would need to check the documentation of your own particular distribution choice. The individual distributions compile the necessary dependencies, links, and changes as a part of the installation process, be it RPM, YUM, or one of the other bespoke installers.
Alternatively, on any OS platform you can download and configure the individual components from the various web sites listed (as you generally would need to do for a live Web site if your hosting provider did not cater for these) and create your own servers, but these packages do provide an easier, integrated solution.
Most of the packages will also usually contain some form of database administration program as well, for example, PHPMyAdmin or MySQLAdmin, to enable effective management of the database, if not, you will find it advantageous to install such a program if you intend doing any sort of database editing work.
It is strongly recommend testing Joomla! and its functionality on a localhost installation in the first instance to get a feel for the software and what it can offer you.
On remote, hosted or dedicated servers the configuration and availability of these applications will depend on the host provider or the operating system that is installed upon the server. It would be a wise move to determine their current versions as well as the host's policy regarding updating the software before signing any contracts. The variation that can occur between providers and OS can be significant and is outside the scope of this brief instruction. If you encounter a problem with your host provider and the use of Joomla! check the forums to see if other users have experienced the particular issue and what their solution was.
Joomla! can be used with alternative web servers such as Microsoft© Internet Information Service (IIS) as well as alternative database models (alternative database work is very much in its infancy though), but these are not paths we intend exploring in this manual as Joomla! Is primarily developed for use on the AMP combinations already stated.