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Installation instructions for ILIAS 3 on Windows 2000/2003 Server with or without permanent Internet-Connection
Version 1.0
From: Jörg Butterwegge Date: 01-09-2006

1. Introduction
The installation of ILIAS on a Win2000/2003 server isn’t a problem normally. The following instruction describes step by step the server installation.

2. Installation with X(W)AMPP-Package
2.1. Useful
ILIAS 3 is best running on WinServers with the XAMPP Server-package. XAMPP is an easy way to install ILIAS 3 on your server. X(W)AMPP contains the latest versions of Apache, MySQL, PHP und Perl and installs them all in one step on your server.

2.2. How to get the Software
You can find the latest version of XAMPP (for Windows) here : „http://www.apachefriends.org/de/“ (current Version 1.4.16). The winfile for download : xampp-win32-1.4.6-installer.exe

2.3. Installation XAMPP
After download you run the installation guide and choose the language. Than check the license and after that you have to choose the folder for installation. (e.g. C:\XAMPP )
(XAMPP creates an own folder XAMPP. So you have now C:\XAMPP\XAMPP). After running the installation guide you get a finale message and now you are able to configure the server.

2.4. Server configuration
For our ILIAS 3 installation it’s needed to switch down the PHP version from 5 to 4. ILIAS 3 is not running stable with PHP 5.

2.4.1. PHP Version
To switch down from PHP5 to PHP 4 you have to do the followings steps :
- first start the control panel of XAMPP and stop the apache service (It’s better to use the administrative tools of services)
- go now to the folder, where XAMPP is installed. (e.g. C:\xampp\xampp)
- start the file php-switch.bat and enter a 4 following the enter key.
- start now again the apache service from the XAMPP control panel. PHP is now running with version 4.

2.4.2. DOMXML
ILIAS 3 needs for PHP the extension DOMXML.
You had to proof, if this extension is active.
- go to the folder of XAMPP (e.g. C:\XAMPP\XAMPP\)
- go now to folder apache\bin (e.g. C:\XAMPP\XAMPP\apache\bin)
- open file php.ini
- search in „Dynamic Extensions“ for :
;extension=php_domxml.dll
- uncomment this line so that DOMXML will start after reloading PHP
- save file php.ini


Short Annex for php.ini. After installation you find in the folder XAMPP about three files php.ini, one file php5.ini and one file php4.ini. The “activeâ€

Installation instructions for ILIAS 3 on
Windows 2000/2003 Server with or without permanent Internet-Connection
Version 1.1
From: Jörg Butterwegge Date: 4/27/2006

1. Introduction
The installation of ILIAS on a Win2000/2003 server isn’t a problem normally. The following instructions describes step by step the server installation. Also available and must seen is the forum of ILIAS3 open source with help options for all. (see http://www.ilias.de)

2. Installation with X(W)AMPP-Package
2.1. Useful
ILIAS 3 is best running on WinServers with the XAMPP Server-package. XAMPP is an easy way to install ILIAS 3 on your server. X(W)AMPP contains the latest versions of Apache, MySQL, PHP und Perl and installs them all in one step on your server.

2.2. How to get the Software
You can find the latest version of XAMPP (for Windows) here : http://www.apachefriends.org/en/ (current Version 1.5.2). The winfile for download : xampp-win32-1.5.2-installer.exe

2.3. Installation XAMPP
After download you run the installation guide and choose the language. Than check the license and after that you have to choose the folder for installation. (e.g. C:\XAMPP )
(XAMPP creates an own folder XAMPP. So you have now C:\XAMPP\XAMPP). After running the installation guide you get a finale message and now you are able to configure the server.

2.4. Server configuration
For our ILIAS 3 installation it’s needed to switch down the PHP version from 5 to 4. ILIAS 3 is not running stable with PHP 5.

2.4.1. PHP Version
To switch down from PHP5 to PHP 4 you have to do the followings steps :
- first start the control panel of XAMPP and stop the apache service (It’s better to use the administrative tools of services)
- go now to the folder, where XAMPP is installed. (e.g. C:\xampp\xampp)
- start the file php-switch.bat and enter a 4 following the enter key.
- start now again the apache service from the XAMPP control panel. PHP is now running with version 4.

2.4.2. DOMXML
ILIAS 3 needs for PHP the extension DOMXML.
You had to proof, if this extension is active.
- go to the folder of XAMPP (e.g. C:\XAMPP\XAMPP\)
- go now to folder apache\bin (e.g. C:\XAMPP\XAMPP\apache\bin)
- open file php.ini
- search in „Dynamic Extensions“ for :
;extension=php_domxml.dll
- uncomment this line so that DOMXML will start after reloading PHP
- save file php.ini


Short Annex for php.ini. After installation you find in the folder XAMPP about three files php.ini, one file php5.ini and one file php4.ini. The “activeâ€

Nice installation manual.

This will help a lot to get Ilias running on a Windows machine.

The next step will be xml-processing under Windows.

My Ilias-installation (3.6.3, but I've tested older installations as well) under Win2k works as far as I can see, but it will only be usefull when I can implement learning modules.

I've tested several possibilities, but Ilias- and Scorm Learning modules need Xml-processing capabilities.

I've installed all the supplemented sofware (zlib, sablot, libxml, libxslt, ilias-pear, expat) but still can't edit learning modules; I've put all the .dll's in WINNT/SYSTEM so PATH won't be the problem but Windows doesn't seem to be able to process ilias-dtd's in a proper manner.

I've imported a test-module, made with iLex 2.6 and keep getting validation errors.



When I try to edit part of the learning module I get the following Validation Error(s):

as soon as I try to add text or media (insert paragraph, insert media, insert (file) list)

The same error display when I try to build a learning module from scratch.


I hope someone will be able to help me; ilias won't be any use if this problem can't be solved

Harry

Hi Harry,

seems to be an error with the XML or XSLT processor. I installed ILIAS 3.6.3 today on my windows machine using the installation instructions on the top of the page (but I did not downgrade to PHP 4 because ILIAS 3.6.3 runs without problems with PHP 5). So when I run the phpinfo() from the XAMPP configuration page I can find a libxml section with libxml support as well as a xsl section with libxslt support. If you don't have both, ILIAS will not work well with learning modules.

But even the described switch to PHP 4 worked fine on my installation. When I call phpinfo() I find XML support with expat and XSL support with Sablotron 1.0.2 (but there could be problems with Sablotron 1.0.2 so either Sablotron 1.0/0.98 or PHP 5 is recommended).

I added an image to a learning module, it worked fine.

I never got such an error message like yours...

Regards,
Helmut

Thanks Helmut,

I've downgraded tot PHP 4 because of the problems but this didn't solve the problem.

In my phpinfo() (in Ilias-administration) the libxml section is missing (there is dom-xml support, a xml-section with expat support and a xslt-section with sablotron 1.0.2. support);

The libxml.dll and libxml2.dll libraries are available in WINNT/SYSTEM.

Do I need to deactivate dom-xml in my php.ini?

I'll switch back to php 5 and if this doesn't solve it I'll try a new - clean - install.

Harry

Oke,

A switch-back to php 5 looks positive; I've got a libxml-section, but now my dom-xml section and my xslt-section is gone.
(I've activated dom-xml in php.ini, but that did cause only more problems, so I deactivated it)

Opening my learning modules causes the next error:



I asume sablotron is the problem here; I'll try to install sablotron 1.0

Harry

I've enabled extension=php_xsl.dll in php.ini

I can open my learning modules now without a validation error or problems with the xsltProcessor, but still no editing.

When I try to edit or insert a paragraph, Apache and Ilias generates errors:



Phpinfo() shows an xsl-section with libxslt enabled (no sablotron nor expat!)

Harry

It seems the validation errors are php 4 specific; switching back and forth to php 5 resolves and replicates the validation errors.

Sablotron and Expat are only used in php 4, so I'll keep php 5 and look into libxslt

Harry

Hi Harry,

php5 and libxml plus libxslt is the best solution. Sablotron is full of errors and the expat library is getting a bit long in the tooth. libxml is more performant.

The message that the xsltProcessor is missing usually is caused by a missing xsl support (libxslt). maybe the xsl support must be activated in php.ini but on my installation it was activated both by default (libxml and libxslt).

Cheers,
Helmut

Hi Helmut,

You're right about Sablotron and Expat; don't need it in php5.

Activating libxml is no problem, but activating libxslt causes a php error:



The module is in the php\extensions\ directory (not in php\ext\)
When a copy the library to php\ext, PHP Starup trows the following error:



I don't think php_xslt.dll causes the mismatch;
I've copied libxslt.dll, libexslt.dll and xsltproc.exe from libxslt-1.1.7.win32 to my D:\WINNT - path.
If I remove these libraries, php can't load php_xslt module.

Do I need libxslt-x.x.x.win32 and if this is the cause of the mismatch which version can solve this?

Harry

I've checked php 5 xslt support and configuration on php.net and as far as I can see, my php.ini is correct; only 'extentions=php_xsl.dll' should be activated (not php_xslt.dll).

Phpinfo() does show the dom/xml enabled (API Version 20031129, libxml Version 2.6.19, all support enabled), libxml (support active and streams enabled), xml (support and Namespace support active, libxml2 Version 2.6.19) and xsl (enabled, Version 1.1.7, compiled agains libxml version 2.6.11!, EXSLT enabled, Version 0.8.5)

A Macromedia xml/xslt testdocument didn't trow any errors; I guess I have to look deeper.

When I check my test learning module in ''administration/repository, trash and permissions" I find my test-course, but when I dig deeper, Ilias displays:



Looking in "repository" causes no problem; my test-course is available and all the pages can be displayed. This is not a permission issue, because I'm logged in as administrator.

I'm not sure if and how these problems are related.

Harry

Hi Harry,

maybe you should check this with another learning module. Maybe the learning module created by openoffice has a bug. Just try http://www.ilias.de/docu/goto.php?target=pg_3027&client_id=docu at the ILIAS documentation page. After opening the page, just click the "Download" button to get the manual as ILIAS learning module.
Then try to import the manual on your installation.

Cheers,
Helmut

Hi, Helmut,

I followed your link, but "download" did not show any files to download. I did use Ilex 1.2.6-templates and I have an - older - iLex manual as learning module running.

I've checked several learning units and I also did try to build a learning module from scratch (add category, add course, add Ilias learning module, add chapter, add page). So far so good, but when I open the page in my repository and try to insert a paragraph or even try to set the edit mode the above mentioned problems occur.

I've implemented a new Ilias-site with a new database and even newly implemented XAMPP (1.4.16) in windows server 2003 (I'm running on a dual boot), so I asume neither Ilias nor Windows is the direct cause of the problems.

I've tested editing in an older Ilias-implementation (3.2.3 with php 4) on another server; here I fall back on the above mentioned validation errors:


In administration there seems to be the same problem when I dig down to the individual page (no items found!):

Hi Harry,

sorry, I forgot to make the download file public. Now it should work...

But I don't have a clue what the problem of yours could be.
Sorry,

Helmut

Hi, Helmut

A clean XAMPP-Ilias installion on an other windows pc didn't solve much. I'm sure the learning module is not the problem; the same problem occurs when I try to build a learning unit from scratch in Ilias with the editor.

I've noticed a weird error in my Apache log:


It seems Ilias is not able to locate the stylesheets although I can change stylesheets and even a modified copy of the default looks good.
Somehow Ilias refers to "functions.js" in my server document root; the file is available in ilias3/templates/default.
I first thought it is the windows backward slash that causes the trouble, but it seems Ilias corrects all slashes.
My second thought is that "classes/class.ilUtil.php" doesn't translates the full path to /tempates correctly.

I'm not a php wizard so I hope someone can help me out.

Harry