DotNetNuke – Portal Installation & Configuration

1. DotNetNuke – Portal Installation & Configuration • Stan Schultes • Enterprise architect / application developer • Conference speaker, mentor, trainer • Contributing Editor, Visual Studio Magazine • Founder - .NET Pub Club (netpubclub.net) • Microsoft MVP • www.vbnetexpert.com • stan@vbnetexpert.com

2. WebCast Series on DotNetNuke • DNN v3 – New Features & Portal Overview • January 31, 2005 • DNN v3 – Installation and Configuration • January 31, 2005 • DNN v3 – Portal Management • February 4, 2005 • DNN v3 – Custom Module Development • February 4, 2005

3. Audience Polls • How much experience with ASP.NET (0,<1yr, 1-2yr, 2-3yr, >3yr)? • Who is using DNN in production today (Y/N)? • Who has seen DNN v3 (Y/N)? • How are you using DNN (personal, corporate, consultant, host, other)?

4. Presentation Outline • DNN Portal Overview • Installation Requirements & Walkthrough • Configuration Overview • Deploying Your Portal • Configuration Tips & Tricks

5. DNN v3 Portal Overview • DotNetNuke is an open source (free), ASP.NET based web portal application • Portal and content management are done live on the site • Target Audiences: • Web Hosters • Corporate Portal Developers • Individual Users

6. Installation Requirements • Current: v3.0.9 (v3 release candidate) • Requires: • Win2K, WinXP, or Win2K3 • IIS installed and operational • .NET Framework V1.1 • SQL Server 2000 or MSDE • SMTP configured if you want to use mail • VS.NET 2003, or custom build environment (no SDK version available today) • DNN is written in VB.NET, but you can write custom modules (.DLLs) in any .NET language

7. DNN Installation Walkthrough • Installation Process (staging machine): • Unzip the code to a directory • Give ASPNET/Network Service account permissions • Create a virtual directory pointing to the code • Create an empty SQL database, set up account as dbowner • Edit web.config for SQL connection string • Browse to http://localhost/vdir • Change Host and Admin passwords! • Upgrade Process (simple): • Back up your current configuration • Unzip the new code into the directory structure • Browse to the vdir

8. Installation Details • Initial setup – build a local staging site before trying to install in a hosted environment • Database = SQL (Access in v3 via 3rd party) • Web.config tags (in <data defaultprovider>): • objectQualifier, databaseOwner • Installation failures: try delete & re-create DB • Web.config overview… • Site Builder Wizard – rehydrate from template

9. Configuration Overview • Portals – Pages – Modules • Roles & Users • Host vs. Admin Roles • Host Configuration • Portal Configuration • Site Customization • Custom Modules

10. Portals – Pages – Modules • Portals = websites (unique URLs) • Templates are an easy way to create sites • Create many sub-portals in one installation • Pages = portal organizational units • Page hierarchy forms the site menu structure • Page permissions, appearance, and link types • Modules = information containers • Add new or existing modules to pages • Module permissions, appearance, dates, and options • Module export/import • Configuration shortcuts on IconBar

11. Roles & Users • User access to portal info is controlled by Roles • Roles: • Used to set permissions for viewing and editing content • Role usage is up to you • Public & private roles • New Membership provider • User registration: none, private, public, verified • Users: • New user profile fields (web, IM, cell) – specify required user fields in Admin  Users with checkboxes • Preferences – language, time zone • Membership Services: new Subscriptions public role • Admin search for users by name, email

12. Host vs. Admin Roles • Host – controls overall installation & configuration • Create sub-portals, Aliases, File Manager • Create locales, change resource files, lists • Payment processing, demos, premium services • Friendly URLs, site search mgmt • Set site log storage to database or file • Create superuser accounts • Portal Admin – manages single site configuration • Controls layout of portal – page – module • Build Site Wizard • File Manager with sub directories and roles • Vendors & Banner Ads • Newsletters (Bulk Email in v2) • Choose locale (applies resource files)

13. Host Configuration • Remember to change the Host password! • Host Settings: • Payment processing, demos • Portal space allocation & log history interval • Friendly URLs • Uploadable file types • Site log storage (database or file) • Portal Aliases (on Admin Site Settings from Host) • File Manager

14. Portal Admin Configuration • Remember to change the Admin password! • Build Site Wizard • Site Settings: • Appearance, skins, containers • User registration: none, private, public, verified • Administrator account • Page management, payment, banners • File Manager: • Set file viewing and upload roles • Shows space available on portal

15. Site Customization • Skins & Containers • DNN v2 skins & containers work in v3 • DNN is skinnable by portal and page • Containers are module skins • CSS Style sheet • Use logos, images, icons on page, module & menu • Localization / language • Provider model for plug-in flexibility • Data access, membership, html editor, search, etc. • Integrate/build custom modules • Modify the core code (only if you’re serious)

16. Custom Modules • Add functionality without changing core • Upload module packages as Host • Many free/inexpensive CMs are available • Set modules as premium to charge for use • Build custom modules in any .NET language • Examples provided in DNN source: • Page Title • Survey • Users Online

17. Deploying Your Portal • Local vs. hosted install • Ideally: your web host supports DNN auto install • Reality: build a local staging site first • Object: install only runtime files on hosted site • Upgrades: rehearse on your staging site first! • Shared hosting / databases • use objectQualifier in web.config • Use portal templates to deploy content • Sub-portals • Parent = unique URL (example.net or site.example.net) • Child = subhost of a parent (example.net/anothersite) • Think through (& test!) your backup / restore process

18. Configuration – Tips & Tricks • Installation failures: try delete & re-create DB • Exception log in \portals\_default\logs • Upgrading your portal: • Always backup your site (& db) before attempting upgrades! • Unzip upgrade into new directory & repoint vdir (staging) • Overwrite – compare file lists & eliminate obsolete files • Rehearse the upgrade on your staging site • Docs – host & portal templates, skinning • Watch DNN forums & bug tracker for fixes • Visit the many resource sites for skins, containers, tutorials, other tips & tricks, etc.

19. Learn More • www.dotnetnuke.com – project download (register) and info • support.dotnetnuke.com – Gemini bug tracker • www.asp.net/forums – DNN forums • www.gotdotnet.com/community/workspaces • http://www.cathal.co.uk/Default.aspx?tabid=28 • Free v2 modules list (v3 coming) + resources + great skin! • http://dnnjungle.vmasanas.net – resource portal • www.wwwcoder.com – resource portal • www.dnn.com.au – resource portal • www.dotnetnukehelp.com – resource portal • www.asp.net – Microsoft’s ASP developer site • www.codeproject.com/database/ConfigureMSDE.asp?print=true