Complete install packages

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From November 2005, complete install packages are available from Moodle Downloads.

These packages allow Moodle to be installed, along with the prerequisites i.e. PHP, a web server and database (Apache and MySQL in this case) on most recent computers using a Windows operating system. Using one of these packages is likely to be easier than using the EasyPHP method detailed below.

Versions are available which incorporate a recent STABLE build or a recent UNSTABLE development build. The instructions on the download page provide guidance on which version is likely to be most suitable.

Note: The latest versions included in these packages my not be backwardly compatible with earlier versions of Moodle. Always check version compatibility if you intend to develop materials on a later version of Moodle than the version installed on your "main" Moodle site.

The following are the Read-me instructions from the installation package and will be updated these shortly.

Note: Read Troubleshootingif you are running Skype.

 ApacheFriends XAMPP Lite version 1.5.1

 + Apache 2.2.0
 + MySQL 5.0.18
 + PHP 5.1.1 + PEAR (basis package)
 + eAccelerator 0.9.4-rc1
 + XAMPP Control Version 2.1 from www.nat32.com	
 + XAMPP Security 1.0	
 + SQLite 2.8.15
 + OpenSSL 0.9.8a
 + phpMyAdmin 2.7.0 pl1
 + Webalizer 2.01-10
 + Zend Optimizer 2.5.10a

• System Requirements:

 + 64 MB RAM (recommended)
 + 160 MB free Fixed Disk 
 + Windows 98, ME
 + Windows NT, 2000, XP (Recommended)

QUICK INSTALLATION:

[Step 1: Unpack the package to your usb stick or a partition of your choice. There it must be on the highest level like E:\ or W:\. It will build E:\xampplite or W:\xampplite or something like this. Please do not use the "setup_xampp.bat" for an USB stick installation!]

Step 1: Unpack the package into a directory of your choice. Please start the "setup_xampp.bat" and beginning the installation. Note: XAMPP makes no entries in the windows registry and no settings for the system variables.

Step 2: If installation ends successfully, start the Apache 2 with "apache_start".bat", MySQL with "mysql_start".bat". Stop the MySQL Server with "mysql_stop.bat". For shutdown the Apache HTTPD, only close the Apache Command (CMD).

Step 3: Start your browser and type http://127.0.0.1 or http://localhost in the location bar. You should see our pre-made start page with certain examples and test screens.

Step 4: PHP (with mod_php, as *.php, *.php4, *.php3, *.phtml), Perl by default with *.cgi, SSI with *.shtml are all located in => \xampplite\htdocs\. Beispiele (Examples): => \xampplite\htdocs\test.php => http://localhost/test.php => \xampplite\myhome\test.php => http://localhost/myhome/test.php

Step 5: XAMPP UNINSTALL? Simply remove the "xampp" Directory. But before please shutdown the apache and mysql.

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PASSWORDS

1) MySQL

user: root password: (means no password!)

2) WEBDAV:

user: wampp password: xampp

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ONLY FOR NT SYSTEMS (NT4 | windows 2000 | windows xp)

\xampplite\apache\apache_installservice.bat = ==> Install Apache 2 as service

\xampplite\apache\apache_uninstallservice.bat = ==> Uninstall Apache 2 as service

\xampplite\mysql\mysql_installservice.bat = ==> Install MySQL as service

\xampplite\mysql\mysql_uninstallservice.bat = ==> Uninstall MySQL as service

==> After all Service (un)installations, better restart system!

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A matter of security (A MUST READ!)

As mentioned before, XAMPP is not meant for production use but only for developers in a development environment. The way XAMPP is configured is to be open as possible and allowing the developer anything he/she wants. For development environments this is great but in a production environment it could be fatal. Here a list of missing security in XAMPP:

The MySQL administrator (root) has no password. The MySQL daemon is accessible via network. phpMyAdmin is accessible via network. Examples are accessible via network.

To fix most of the security weaknesses simply call the following URL:

http://localhost/security/

The root password for MySQL + phpMyAdmin and also a XAMPP directory protection can being established here.

Apache Notes:

(1) In contrast of apache 1.x, you can not stop the apache2 with the command "apache -k shutdown". These functions only for an installations as service by NT systems. So, simply close the Apache START command for shutdown.

(2) To use the experimental version of mod_auth_mysql remove the # in the httpd.conf. Detailed information about this topic can be found on the left menu of xampp, once you started it.

(3) To use Mod_Dav load the Modules mod_dav.so + mod_dav_fs.so in the httpd.conf by removing the # on the beginning of their lines. Then try http://127.0.0.1:81 (not for Frontpage, but for Dreamweaver)

MYSQL NOTES:

(1) The MySQL server can be started by double-clicking (executing)

   mysql_start.bat. This file can be found in the same folder you installed
   xampp in, most likely this will be C:\xampp\.
   The exact path to this file is X:\xampp\mysql_start.bat, where
   "X" indicates the letter of the drive you unpacked xampp into.
   This batch file starts the MySQL server in console mode. The first 
   intialization might take a few minutes.
   
   Do not close the DOS window or you'll crash the server!
   To stop the server, please use mysql_shutdown.bat, which is located in the same
   directory.

(2) To use the MySQL Daemon with "innodb" for better performance,

   please edit the "my" (or "my.cnf") file in the /xampplite/mysql/bin 
   directory or for services the c:\my.cnf for windows NT/2000/XP. 
   In there, activate the "innodb_data_file_path=ibdata1:30M"
   statement. Attention, "innodb" is not recommended for 95/98/ME.
   
   To use MySQL as Service for NT/2000/XP, simply copy the "my" 
   / "my.cnf" file to C:\my, or C:\my.cnf. Please note that this 
   file has to be placed in C:\ (root), other locations are not permitted. Then
   execute the "mysql_installservice.bat" in the mysql folder. 	
    	

(3) MySQL starts with standard values for the user id and the password. The preset

   user id is "root", the password is "" (= no password). To access MySQL via PHP
   with the preset values, you'll have to use the following syntax:
   mysql_connect("localhost","root","");
   If you want to set a password for MySQL access, please use of mysqladmin.
   To set the passwort "secret" for the user "root", type the following:
   \xampplite\mysql\bin\mysqladmin -u root password secret
   
   After changing the password you'll have to reconfigure phpMyAdmin to use the
   new password, otherwise it won't be able to access the databases. To do that,
   open the file config.inc.php in \xampplite\phpmyadmin\ and edit the
   following lines:    
   
   $cfg['Servers'][$i]['user']            = 'root';   // MySQL user
   $cfg['Servers'][$i]['auth_type']       = 'http';   // HTTP authentificate

   So first the 'root' password is queried by the MySQL server, before phpMyAdmin 
   may access.
 	    	

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Have a lot of fun! Viel Spaß! Bonne Chance!