how do I do this? (2)

Hello All,

I am a basic computer user and would very much like to build a social network site with Dolphin (a community builder tool). I was wondering if there's a way I can install and test Dolphin on the laptop I am using (window vista). I do not have my own website and thus hosing provider or web server. So is it possible or feasible for me to do that? Do I need to install another operating system like window server or unix on my laptop? I have no clue. Please advice me. Currently I just downloaded and installed php 5.3, and mysql following your installation instructions. But many things in those steps sound irrelevant to me (especially when creating a database and user). So I can't install dolphin successfully yet.

parpo,

the first thing we need to help you out on is how to properly title a post in a forum. because this is a support forum, and everybody on here is a volunteer, we do like to have a descriptive of the issue as the title. therefore, something along the lines of "homeserver setup", "hosting a site from home", would have been a better approach. however, understanding you are a basic computer user, wishing to encroach on the realm of hosting from home and no real knowledge of what needs to be done, i would say this could be a ton of work for you but not impossible.

xamp or wamp is what you are referring to here

XAMPP

WAMP

A General How-To

Ok my experience with this is from quite a few years ago, when i finally gave up somewhere around 2004 trying to do this from home. There are many limitations to running a home server, and you need to know some networking to setup your router for incoming requests on port 80 and 8080, also you need to know the limitations from your ISP, not many will allow much bandwidth incoming and outgoing on those ports. also there is the ordeal with setting up a mail server, setting up an ftp server and client.

this is a great method for learning and development locally, but this is not the solution to actually hosting a site. its fun, frustrating, exciting, annoying and all of this at the same time. if you dont smoke cuss or drink a ton of coffee, i would recommend getting a host that can host your site for you, because this road where its not paved, you will find there are many rocks to stumble on. good luck and let us know how its working out for you.

Regards,

DosDawg

You can install it on your own computer,

but if you shall build a social network site you need to remember what DosDawg said, I agree with his recommendation

'this is a great method for learning and development locally, but this is not the solution to actually hosting a site'

Installing Dolphin On Windows Running WampServer

Well, to answer the question that this Original Post has asked, let me first say:

Welcome to the Boonex.com/Unity/Forums forum area.  We are happy to have you here and will be scheduling a welcooming party in the near future for all new members of Unity/Forums to give you the chance to get to know each of us on a much more PERSONAL level.

Now, for your question:

To set up Dolphin on a home laptop, you will need to do the following:

1.  Install a server operating system.  In order to do this you will need to partition the hard drive on the laptop or grab a 2nd laptop/desktop and rewrite the OS on that with either Windos Server or Linux.  I personally prefer the Linux system, however you can do this in Windows Server also.  Please be aware that the majority of hosting companies utilize the Linux system, so it will be better for you to learn on that.

2.  You will need to familiarize yourself with php, apache, mysql and other parts of the server.  I would recommend installing a WHM Panel to assist you with this.

3.  If this is just a test server, then you will be fine setting it up at home, however if you plan to go public you will need to discuss this with your Internet Service Provider (ISP) as you will need a dedicated IP, much better bandwidth/service than they currently provide you, open ports not normally open and so many other little tricks.  I am not a hosting individual right now and am only studying up on it, so you will need to ask many more questions.  For this, you may want to seek out a help forum that deals specifically with servers so you can get with those who know them even better than us.  Not trying to defer you from this forum, only hoping you get the best possible answers you can get.

As you can see, there is much to do if your considering setting up a home server and it is going to take you time.  The good news is, if you learn how to do it, it will put you ions ahead of the majority who do not take the time to learn this part of running a site.

****Note:  This post has been made by the kinder/gentler Mydatery.  I hope you have found it to be informative and helpful and should you have any further questions, please feel free to continue to ask and we will do our best to answer in a clear, concise, polite, non-abusive, dry, uninteresting manner. 

thx guys! yes I would start with a testing thing to see if dolphin is what I really need. If great, I would get a much capable hosting provider and eventually go public. I'm not sure I'm up to learning Linux and install a new OS due to my time limit. So I am gonna see installing dolphin on windows with wamp server. easy for me to follow steps in videos as well. I'll let you all know my progress. Thanks alot again. cheers.

my progress:

1. Installing dolphin on wamp server...  succeeded

2. Changing Dolphin template:

Why is not there a drop down list for template (even for original template tmpl_ui) under Settings>Advanced Settings>Template

Do I need license to change the templates?

 If your system is working correctly, there is a drop down menu for the template, it's near the bottom of Settings => Advanced Settings, couple lines above the first save button and watermark section.