Building Websites with e107: A step by step tutorial to getting your e107 website up and running fast

To function, e107 requires that your web server or your hosting company's server meets the following basic requirements:

The easiest way to ensure that you find a host that meets the requirements is to search for "e107 hosting" at search engines like http://www.google.com. The reason for this is that some web-hosting companies install PHP differently, which can stop e107 from working properly. The hosting companies are always upgrading software, so if any known issues list were provided...

The requirements for running e107 on both the operating systems—Windows and Unix/Linux—are the same. You must have Apache, PHP, and MySQL installed and running successfully. If you plan to use e107 on a web server that you do not own, you seriously will need to consider making a change to a web‑hosting service that uses Unix/Linux. However, if you wish to test e107 on your Windows computer at home, you will need to install Apache, MySQL, and PHP. You can install all three at once using:

This list is by no means exhaustive or an endorsement over any others. You can also download Apache, PHP, and MySQL from their individual sites (see Appendix A), and install and troubleshoot each program.

If you have a dedicated web server and you are planning to run e107 site on this server, then it is better to install Apache, MySQL, and PHP independently. If you are operating your own server then...

Even if you are new to Linux, installing e107 is very easy. Before we begin let me caution those of you who have web-hosting accounts that feature cPanel. cPanel is a control panel very widely used in Linux hosting. Most cPanel accounts also offer Fantastico DeLuxe (a plug-in with a script library that automates script installation). If your web-hosting company activates e107 as an option then you can install e107 and the database with a mouse click. I strongly recommend against this type of installation as it often installs older versions of e107 and once it has finished you will still have to go to the e107 site, download, and install the updated files, so you really gain nothing.

Now that you have a web space capable for handling e107 it is time to begin the installation process. First, you need to go to http://e107.org/ and download the latest version; at present it is version .0.7.7. Once you click on the Download link from the menu bar you will be presented with a page of download links (see the screenshot overleaf):

When expanded, e107 will add 8 folders and 40 files to your directory (see the screenshot overleaf). Keep in mind that this may change with updates.

Now we are going to set some directory permissions to enable us to configure and customize e107. You may not want to use all the features (plugins) of e107 so the following is broken down into core permissions and plug-in permissions. If you have never changed permissions before, start with using the Help menu on your FTP program and it should provide guidance. Whether you are using FileZilla or some other FTP program the screens will look similar to the screenshot below. Right-click the folder or file for which you wish to change the permission and look for either CHMOD (a UNIX Command...

Now that we have finished changing the core permissions close your FTP client, open up your web browser, and navigate to the URL where your files are located. In my case, that is http://www.cuddlecare.biz but if you have another domain name, just substitute your URL or browse http://www.yourdomain.com.

If you are using Windows with the Apache server then locate your installation where you specified your folder structure when you installed Apache. Usually this will begin with http://localhost/html/cuddlecare.

Now follow along with me as we finish our installation:

Stage 1

If, all the files were successfully uploaded you will see the first page of the install script. It will give you an option for the language you wish to use during the configuration.

Select Set Language to proceed to the next stage.

If you see the welcome screen as shown opposite then it is time to secure your installation. Connect to your site using your FTP client as we did earlier (see the screenshot under the section Setting File Permissions) and change the file permissions for file /e107_config.php to 644.

We have now completed a full installation of e107. However, before we move on to the next chapter let's look at updating an installation and some troubleshooting tips for when the install does not quite go as smoothly as above.

The e107 development team is dedicated to improving e107. In fact, the 0.7 version was almost a complete rewriting of code from 0.6. You should always keep your e107 up to date. Most version upgrades fix security problems or minor bugs in the code. Additionally e107 issues upgrades when updates to MySQL and PHP may affect functionality. Before you roll your eyes back into your head, updating is very easy.

Here is what you need to do:

I was going to call this section "when things go wrong" and have a little guy pulling his hair out but didn't want to confuse you into thinking I was advertising an old B horror film. Like everything in life, things do not always go according to plan, especially when it comes to loading programs or updating them. I am sure that you have experienced a problem or two in your computing lifetime.

If you are the victim of a stuck installation or the files are installed but you have a blank screen where the welcome screen should be, do not bang the keyboard or throw your computer on the floor. It is all right to swear if you want. However, once your face turns from red back to normal go to http://www.e107.org site and select forums. By using the search forum feature you can search for your specific problem. Chances are that with so many users, the problem and its respective solution will be available.

In this chapter we have learned where to obtain the latest version of e107 and gone through the installation process step by step. We learned the importance of backing up your database and finally we covered how to keep e107 in up-to-date form and provided you with a troubleshooting resource. Now go grab your favorite caffeinated beverage, stretch your legs, and we will proceed with creating our website.