DotNetNuke v4 on ASP.NET v2

DotNetNuke v4 on ASP.NET v2 • Stan Schultes • Enterprise architect / application developer • Conference speaker, mentor, trainer • Contributing Editor, Visual Studio Magazine • Microsoft MVP • www.vbnetexpert.com • stan@vbnetexpert.com

WebCast Series on DotNetNuke 2005 WebCasts: Jan 31: DNN v3 – Overview Jan 31: DNN v3 – Installation and Configuration Feb 4: DNN v3 – Portal Management Feb 4: DNN v3 – Custom Module Development May 16: DNN v3 – Building Custom Modules May 16: DNN v3 – Advanced Module Development 2006 WebCasts: Feb 13: DNN v4 – Overview Feb 13: DNN v4 – Running on ASP.NET v2 http://msdn.microsoft.com/webcasts http://www.vbnetexpert.com (DotNetNuke downloads)

Presentation Outline • DNN v4 – Get Running on ASP.NET v2 • Installation Requirements • Distribution Packages • Installation Walkthrough, Tips & Tricks • Deploying DNN • Upgrading DNN • What’s New in ASP.NET v2? • Developing for DNN v4 • Starter Kit • Source Distribution • Tips & Tricks

DNN v4 Installation Requirements • Win2K, WinXP, or Win2K3 with IIS & SMTP • DNN v3.2: • .NET FW v1.1, SQL 2000 / MSDE • Visual Studio 2003 for development • DNN v4.0: • .NET FW v2.0, SQL 2005 / Express (or SQL 2000) • Visual Studio 2005 for development

Package Distribution Options • Install vs. Source • Install package – upgrades from v3 to v4 • Source package – no auto upgrade path • Starter Kit • Separate Docs Download (PDF) • Installation templates • Modules Separate from Core • Place desired modules in Install directory

DNN v4 Installation Walkthrough • Unzip the Install package to a directory • Set directory permissions (ASPNET/Network Service) • Create empty SQL database, create account as db_owner • Create virtual web directory, configure for ASP.NET v2 • Rename release.config to web.config • Edit web.config • DB connection strings • MachineKeys • custom settings • Browse to http://localhost/vdir - automatically sets up site • Change Host and Admin passwords!

Installation Tips & Tricks • Read the Installation Guide! • Setup guides: \documentation\*.html • Site Builder Wizard – rehydrate from template • Import Module content • Bulk resource install directories: • Container, Language, Module, Portal, Skin, Template • Exception log in \portals\_default\logs • Installation failures: try delete & re-create DB • Watch DNN forums & bug tracker for fixes

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 (any unique string) in web.config for shared DBs • Set AutoUpgrade setting in web.config to False while configuring site • Browse to: <url>/install/install.aspx?mode=install • Running in Medium Trust environments • add requirePermissions=“False” to all config sections • see Code Access Security (CAS) doc • Use portal templates & module exports to deploy content • Think through (& test!) your backup / restore process

Upgrading DotNetNuke • Source package: no auto upgrade from DNN v3 to v4 • Project models & directory structures are different • Back up current configuration, database, web.config • Unzip the new install package into portal directory • Configure new web.config • DB connection strings, MachineKeys, custom settings • Browse to the site • Obsolete files are automatically deleted • (\portals\_default\<ver>.txt) • Rehearse the upgrade on your staging site

What’s New in ASP.NET v2? • Client API Enhancements • New Client Script Manager class • Navigation Controls use the Provider model • Windows Authentication (Admin -> Authentication) • New ConfigurationManager class for web.config • Changes in handling of XSL Transforms • CBO class updated to support Generics • return <List of T> rather than ArrayList • Code rewrites for deprecated classes/methods

Developing for DNN v4 • Starter Kit with Visual Web Developer (VWD) • Visual Studio 2005 & SQL Server 2005 • Project directory structure changes dramatically • Provider model used throughout • Core & standard modules are written in VB • Develop custom modules with any .NET language • Custom Module migration • Test - v3 modules should run on FW v2.0 • Convert to ASP.NET v2 controls, upgrade 3rd party • Use IIS vs. built-in Cassini web server

DNN v4 – Tips & Tricks • DNN Forums are your friend • Watch your Log Viewer for errors • Manage your database size • Dev machine: set DB recovery mode to Simple • Build a sitemap for search engines • Build a staging site for upgrades (VPC), always back up before attempting • See \docs dir, DNN documentation (PDF)

Learn More • www.dotnetnuke.com - project download (register) and info • support.dotnetnuke.com - Gemini bug tracker • http://forums.asp.net/90/ShowForum.aspx - DNN main forum • http://www.dotnetnuke.com/default.aspx?tabid=795- full DNN forums list • http://forums.asp.net/1107734/ShowPost.aspx - DNN 3.2 and 4.0 (pinned post) • http://forums.asp.net/1114393/ShowPost.aspx - DNN v4 starter kits & templates • http://forums.asp.net/1105076/ShowPost.aspx - starter kits forum thread • http://forums.asp.net/1123229/ShowPost.aspx - installing DNN v4 source • http://www.adefwebserver.com/DotNetNukeHELP/DNN_Module4/ - DNN v4 module development tutorial • http://forums.asp.net/1156381/ShowPost.aspx - discussion of web application projects • http://msdn.microsoft.com/msdnmag/issues/06/01/ExtremeASPNET/ - explains ASP.NET v2 codebehind model • http://weblogs.asp.net/bsimser/archive/2006/01/31/437023.aspx - DNN vs. Sharepoint discussion • http://sourceforge.net/projects/goog-sitemapgen/ - Google sitemap generator • www.asp.net - Microsoft’s ASP developer site • www.codeproject.com/database/ConfigureMSDE.asp?print=true

DotNetNuke v4 on ASP.NET v2