Setting up TYPO3

We now have a web server running; so, we can install TYPO3.

How to do it...

1. 1. Download the latest stable release, and a dummy package from http://typo3.org.

2. 2. Read INSTALL.txt.

3. 3. Extract all files to /var/www.

   Note

   To ease upgrades in the future, or to run several TYPO3-driven sites from the same code base, you should extract the TYPO3 source package into a separate directory from the dummy package. For example, you could create a directory src under /var/www, and create a folder for each version of TYPO3 that you plan on using. Also, under /var/www, create a folder for each site you want to have on this server, and extract the dummy package into each folder. Next, create symbolic links for folders misc, t3lib, and typo3 in the site folders, linking to the source package.

   • misc:

     ln -s /var/www/src/typo3-4.3.0/misc /var/www/mysite/misc
     

   • t3lib:

     ln -s /var/www/src/typo3-4.3.0/t3lib /var/www/mysite/t3lib
     

   • typo3:

     ln -s /var/www/src/typo3-4.3.0/typo3 /var/www/mysite/typo3
     

   When a new version is released, simply create a new folder for it, and change the links. If you realize that the new version is incompatible, you can quickly restore links to the old version.

4. 4. Launch 1-2-3 installer. If you have a fresh new installation, simply go to http://example.com/typo3/index.php, and it will redirect you to the installer.

5. 5. Enter your database information in Step 1. If you installed the database on the same host as the web server, enter localhost under address.

   

6. 6. In Step 2, select an empty database where you would like the TYPO3 data to be stored, or create a new database. Make sure the database you choose to use is empty.

   

7. 7. In the final step, TYPO3 will import the default data schema and records it needs to operate. You should now be able to log in to the TYPO3 backend.

   Note

   If the backend user account has not been created, you can access the Install Tool, and go to Database Analyzer to create the new backend user account.

How it works...

There are several ways to download the latest version of TYPO3 source and the dummy package. The best way to access both is to go to http://typo3.org/ and click on Download. The source package contains all the TYPO3 core files needed for the system, while the dummy package helps create the needed directories and files specifically for your site.

Before you proceed with uploading the files to the web server, you must read the instructions in INSTALL.txt. Installation instructions change often and there may be components of the web server that are required in the future. Installation documentation covers all the nuances of installing the specific version you have just downloaded.

There's more...

After you have finished installing, explore the Install Tool fully, as it contains a full array of options you need to configure your system. Go to http://example.com/typo3/install to launch the Install Tool (replacing example.com with the domain name of your site).

• Basic Configuration runs a basic check of file permissions and server settings, and will report if there are any problems. Make sure to go through any issues, as they're likely to impact operations. You can also change database information here.

• Database Analyzer will check the integrity of your database schema. Click COMPARE under Update required tables to see if the database needs to be upgraded. Make sure that you do this after every TYPO3 source or extension upgrade. You can also delete all data, or import it again.

• Update Wizard should be used when you upgrade your TYPO3 source version—for example from 4.3 to 4.4.

• Image Processing will run a series of tests to check the ImageMagick, GD, or GraphicsMagick configuration.

• All Configuration gives an overview of all the system configuration variables available in the system. Go through all the options, and adjust the value to fit your system.

• typo3temp/ gives statistics and lets you perform operations on temporary files created by TYPO3.

• Clean up database lets you clear cached image sizes.

• phpinfo() gives a standard PHP status report.

• Edit files in typo3conf/ allows some basic edit operations on files in the typo3conf directory.

• About gives some general information about the use of the script, in greater detail than just described.

There is an excellent installation guide available from http://dmitry-dulepov.com/e-books/typo3-installation-and-upgrade.html. It covers setup instructions, as well as steps that need to be taken to optimize and secure the new installation.

See also

• Installing needed extensions

• Creating a template for a site