INSTALL

   1 ---
   2 Installing MediaWiki
   3 ---
   4
   5 Starting with MediaWiki 1.2.0, it's possible to install
   6 and configure the wiki "in-place", as long as you have
   7 the necessary prerequesites available.
   8
   9 In 1.3.0 the old command-line installer has been removed.
  10 A new command-line installer/upgrader may come soon...
  11
  12 Required software:
  13 * Web server with PHP 4.1.2 or higher (4.3.x is preferred)
  14 * A MySQL server. 4.0.x is preferred, but 3.2.x should
  15   work as well.
  16
  17 MediaWiki is developed and tested mainly on Unix/Linux
  18 platforms, but should work on Windows as well.
  19
  20 If your PHP is configured as a CGI plug-in rather than
  21 an Apache module you may experience problems, as this
  22 configuration is not well tested.
  23
  24 Don't forget to check the RELEASE-NOTES file...
  25
  26 ********************** WARNING **************************
  27
  28 The web-based install is still somewhat experimental. It
  29 doesn't yet support updating the format of an existing
  30 MediaWiki database, the maintenance scripts aren't available,
  31 and there may be all kinds of horrible bugs or security
  32 problems that haven't been worked out yet.
  33
  34 HOWEVER it is much easier, safer, and more reliable than
  35 the old install.php, and does not require root access
  36 if you already have a database and user access to it.
  37
  38 REMEMBER: ALWAYS BACK UP YOUR DATABASE BEFORE ATTEMPTING
  39 TO INSTALL OR UPGRADE!!!
  40
  41 ----
  42 In-place web install
  43 ----
  44
  45 Decompress the MediaWiki installation archive either on
  46 your server, or on your local machine and upload the
  47 directory tree. Rename it from "mediawiki-1.x.x" to
  48 something nice, like "wiki", since it'll be in your URL.
  49
  50 To run the install script, you'll need to temporarily make
  51 the 'config' subdirectory writable by the web server. The
  52 simplest way to do this on a Unix/Linux system is to make
  53 it world-writable:
  54
  55   chmod a+w config
  56
  57 Hop into your browser and surf into the wiki directory.
  58 It'll direct you into the config script. Fill out the form...
  59 remember you're probably not on an encrypted connection.
  60 Gaaah! :)
  61
  62 If all goes well, you should soon be told that it's set up
  63 your wiki database and written a configuration file. There
  64 should now be a 'LocalSettings.php' in the config directory;
  65 move it back up to the main wiki directory, and the wiki
  66 should now be working.
  67
  68 Once the wiki is set up, you should remove the config
  69 directory, or at least make it not world-writable (though
  70 it will refuse to config again if the wiki is set up).
  71
  72
  73 ----
  74
  75 Don't forget that this is free software under development!
  76 Chances are good there's a crucial step that hasn't made it
  77 into the documentation. You should probably sign up for the
  78 MediaWiki developers' mailing list; you can ask for help (please
  79 provide enough information to work with, and preferably be aware
  80 of what you're doing!) and keep track of major changes to the
  81 software, including performance improvements and security patches.
  82
  83 http://mail.wikipedia.org/mailman/listinfo/mediawiki-l (site admin support)
  84
  85 http://mail.wikipedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikitech-l (development)
  86