Installing Dolphin

Dolphin is web-platform that must be installed to a web-server. This is a quick set of generic installation instructions. If, at any stage, you need more details use the Dolphin 7 Detailed Installation Guide.

Check Requirements

Before installation, make sure your have the following:

• Hosting web server, complying with ​Dolphin System Requirements.
• Registered domain name, or IP address.
• Web server access details to MySQL, cPanel and FTP (or shell).

Step 1. Download & Extract

Download the current version of Dolphin to your local computer or directly to your hosting server. Once you have downloaded, you should decompress (unzip) the Dolphin archive file.

• ​Download current version of Dolphin

Step 2. Create A Database

Create a database for Dolphin on your web server, as well as a MySQL user who has all privileges for accessing and modifying it.

Most hosts offer simple interface to create databases and database users. For example, if your web host has cPanel you probably can see phpMyAdmin in the main menu or a the section labeled Databases. Just create an empty database that the Dolphin installer will later fill with tables and data.

Step 3. Upload Dolphin Files

Upload all the Dolphin files to the desired location on your web server using FTP. If you've downloaded Dolphin to your server directly, move them using shell.

• If you want to install Dolphin into the root of your domain (e.g. ​http://example.com/), move or upload all contents of the unpacked Dolphin directory (but excluding the directory itself) into the root directory of your web server.

• If you want to have your Dolphin installation in its own subdirectory on your web site (e.g. ​http://example.com/community/), create the "community" directory on your server and upload Dolphin files to the directory via FTP.

Run Dolphin Installation Script

Run the Dolphin installation script by accessing install/index.php in a web browser.

• If you uploaded Dolphin files to the root directory, you should visit ​http://example.com/install/index.php .
• If you uploaded Dolphin files to a subdirectory "community", for example, you should visit ​http://example.com/community/install/index.php .

• Run the Dolphin installation script from yoursite/install/index.php in your browser.

• Follow the instructions on the installation screen (setting permissions, specifying necessary server info, setting cron jobs).

• Log into Dolphin's Admin Panel from /administration and enter your license number (Free or commercial) into the License field of the Registration box.

• When in your Dolphin Admin Panel, you need to install the necessary modules: navigate to Tools -> Modules, check all the required ones and click Install. Go to Modules -> Orca Forum and click on a two-letter language code (en by default) next to the Compile Langs wording. Refresh.

• Go to Modules -> Flash Apps and then click Settings. Here you will have to enter your Media Server settings. Learn more about Media Server Installation here.

• All done. Enjoy!