Final Preparation

Transferring the files

The first task is to upload the uncompressed collection of files that you created during the last section to your Web server. If you are installing on a localhost - for example the computer you are working on – then it is simply a case of copying and pasting (or moving) the files into the root folder (or a sub-folder) of the Web server. If however you are running the server on a remote host, then this process will involve the use of a FTP client program, some Web Browsers have such a tool built in or can be added in, or the control panel of your host provider, if one is available.

The root folder is located in different places depending upon the operating system/distribution and Web server package you are using and it might be called htdocs, httpd, or www, but we would be here a long while if we tried to detail every possible combination of OS, distribution, package, and directory structure. So, establishing this is up to you!

In some cases it will be possible – as well as quicker and easier - on remote hosted servers to upload the compressed file via your FTP client and to then unzip or uncompress the file directly into the root directory. This will most often be the case with Linux based Web servers where command line access is available. Some hosting companies incorporate a file management system within their bespoke control panels which will include an FTP program.

Occasionally files will become corrupted during the transfer and it may be necessary to complete this procedure more than once.

If you get completely stuck then ask at the forums for assistance after first doing a search in case someone else has already asked the same question.

A bit more preparation...

You are now, almost, ready for the final leap-of-faith and the installation of Joomla! but we would recommend gathering together some final bits of information that will be needed to complete the task and it is better to have them to hand from the beginning rather than scrabble around for them whilst proceeding with the installation itself.

MySQL Details

• the host name for your database – if you are installing locally or on a dedicated, remote host – this host name is likely to be localhost. If you are installing remotely to a shared hosting Web server and database it is likely that your host provider has their own way of identifying a particular customer's database, and you must make sure you have this information to hand if you are to successfully complete the installation.

  • Your host name:

• the username and password of the database root user – your access keys to the database. Again if you are installing locally or to a dedicated remote host these are likely to either be the default settings or a name and password that you had previously entered during installation of the database software. The default username is typically root, although you can change this for something else if you want - just make sure you keep a note of it. See the next section Secure Password Thinking for some hints.

  • Your username:

  • Your password:

• the database name by which you are identifying the database for this Web site. For a localhost or dedicated remote server you will be able to set this to what you want but on shared or virtual hosted servers these may again be set by the host company.

  • Your database name:

Warning! By default the standard installation of MySQL does not use a password - it is blank. This will not be accepted by Joomla! nor is it a particularly wise security habit to get into. You must ensure that you have set a password up within the my.ini file which is the configuration file of MySQL.

FTP account details

Joomla!'s new FTP Layer feature has been introduced to overcome perennial problems that have been experienced by many Linux/Unix host Users in the past where there are file write permission issues with the Users Host Provider particularly on Shared Hosting servers. This can significantly affect the installation of new Extensions or writing to the configuration.php file.

Using the FTP Layer eliminates the need to make directories and files writable and thus improves overall security of the installation and server. It also makes the site administrators job a lot easier!

Note: The FTP Layer is not required on localhost installations or on Windows or Mac OSX based host/server services as the file write protection is handled differently. As stated above this is primarily required on Linux Shared Hosting where access to change user permissions is not given.

Localhost installations do not require the FTP details to be included. 

If you do not want, or are unable, to complete these details at this stage they can be added/edited through the Control Panel->Site Menus->Global Configuration screens at a later time.

It will also be advisable if you are intending to use the new FTP layer facility of Joomla! to have your FTP details available.

• username – The name you enter to actually access your Joomla! Web site root directory through an FTP client program. For a Web site on a remote hosting server the host may have provided you with a specific ID related to your account. This will be for the whole of your Web server and you should set up a separate FTP account for access to this Joomla! site root directory only.

  • Your FTP username:

• password – the password you enter to confirm your identity and therefore access the Joomla! Web site root directly with the FTP client program. This should be different to that which may have been set by your hosting company for the main Web server, where applicable.

  • Your FTP password:

• host – the URL address of the FTP server for access to your Web site. If you are running this on a local machine (non-Windows only) then this address will typically be 127.0.0.1. If you are using a remote host it may be a specific address that the host sets or a URL related to your Web site

  • Your FTP host:

• port – generally most FTP servers utilise port 21 and this is the default setting that Joomla! assumes

  • Your FTP port:

• root – this is the Joomla! root directory within your Web server that the FTP client is required to open into by default. Obtain the full path detail to this directory.

  • Your FTP root pathway:

It is important to note that if you run more than one Web site on your server the root directory will change - the other four settings will not necessarily have, or on shared hosting likely be able, to change.

Once these details are collated you are ready to proceed with the installation.