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RESULT: A LINUX EVENING SIG
 I asked last month about people who might consider attending an evening Linux SIG. Unfortunately I only received six positive replies so I'm not planing separate evening meetings. I continue to use Linux Mint as my preferred operating system, taking the place of Windows (Linux is free in freedom and free beer). We'll continue to highlight Linux at our monthly FOSS-SIG Meetings and look for candidates who might consider switching from a proprietary to open source operating system.
 FOSS stands for free and open source software. FOSS software is maintained worldwide by groups of volunteers committed to delivering quality products. There is never a charge for FOSS. You are invited to join the FOSS SIG on the last Thursday of each month from 1:00 to 3:00 PM in the TBCS Resource Center. We have an online website at http://fosssig.com
Several years ago I first began coding HTML websites using Windows Notepad. Later I was introduced to Microsoft Front Page and purchased several updates. I became an expert at using Front Page. But Microsoft pulled the plug on Front Page and I was stranded with old technology used on five or six online sites. Web hosts began withdrawing support for Microsoft extensions and I was forced to find a new tool for web design.
After considering options I wanted to move into content management as it offered customers a means to update their own sites with minimal technical support. But what package or portal should I choose? Could I find an open source solution I might easily learn to use?
OpensourceCMS is a website that currently lists and allows you to demo 112 different full CMS portals and 14 so-called Lite solutions (lite portals do not require a SQL database). I scoured these lists, read lots of reviews and tried several solutions over time using localhost servers on my own network. Eventually I narrowed the choice down to Joomla and Drupal the two most popular portals that offered the most flexibility and many add-on solutions. Joomla and Drupal are well documented and both have excellent user forums. I finally chose Joomla since it was recently released in a newer 1.5.x version. The above graphic is in honor of Joomla being downloaded more than ten-million times.
Remember before installing Joomla, Drupal and all full CMS portals you must first setup a SQL database on your server and make yourself an administrative user with all rights to write into that database. I explained how to do this on a localhost server in the July FOSS-Flap. Be sure to write down the database name, user name and password as you need to plug them in later.
The easiest way to install Joomla is to download the latest current software (currently at version 1.5.14) from the Joomla site. I download ZIP files since they are compatible with both Windows and Linux.
Next, uncompress the archive and upload all the directories and files in the uncompressed folder to the web server. If you are using the localhost setup this can be accomplished by merely copying and pasting all files into the \localhost\htdocs\ directory.
The procedure is slightly more complicated uploading to an online webhost. Uncompress the same as above but now FTP all directories and files into your webspace in either the root or a subdirectory under root. It takes several minutes to upload 5,000 files totaling 24Mb so take a break as the webserver and your computer communicate to verify all files have been properly uploaded.
Following the upload, you need to install Joomla. You do this in your web browser, using the Joomla install manual. On a localhost type http:/localhost/joomla Address online sites as http://mydomain.com/joomla
On the first screen choose language as English, verify tests pass on the pre-installation page, and click next on the license page.
 
 
Enter database data on the next page as follows:
Database type: select: mysql
Host name: localhost (even when installing to an online webserver
User name: MySql user name selected when setting up the SQL database
Password: MySql password selected
Database Name: Database name selected
Advanced settings are not needed to install, default values work okay.
 
FTP setup is not required on a localhost. Later you must enter an FTP address, user name, password and upload directory to your Joomla site.
On the main configuration screen add the name of your site and email address to have Joomla add these values to your website. Then add a password as the Joomla super administrator (the default Joomla administrator login is admin). On this page you must also select whether you want sample data added to the website. I suggest you add data the first time so you can see how Joomla constructs pages and later delete what is no longer needed.
 If everything was done correctly you finally come to the last install screen which states you must delete the installation directory used here.
Before going further bookmark both links at the upper right for the public address of the Joomla site and the administrator login.
Joomla refuses to work properly until the install directory is physically deleted. On localhost merely delete the installation directory under the \localhost\htdocs Online servers require you use FTP to delete the /installation directory.
Now use the bookmarks saved above and see your public site. In content management this is called the front-end. The back-end is the administrator link saved above where you may add and change content on your website.
From the back end you can now add or change themes, components and plugins listed on the Joomla site. Experiment some and learn how content management works. A very nice useful added component is JoomlaPack used to backup and restore your Joomla website all written in PHP code.
I hope the above wets your appetite for content management. Please drop me a note if something is not clear and try to make a FOSS-SIG meeting. Our next meeting is September 24th at 1:00pm in the resource center.
And I'll be back with something new next month inside FOSS Flap.
Stew Bottorf
© 2009 TBCS and Stew Bottorf
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