Ok, I've tried this installation thing several times, but I just don't get it.  I've tried various iterations and none work.
Working env: o/s winXP Pro, vs2005 STD, SQL2005, asp.Net Framework v2.0.50727

I've got the source, install, and starterKit zips.  Tried all of them , but no go.  Now,  I can use some good 'ol help from you folks that already have installed this version on a similar setup.  My goal is to setup this workstation as my development box for testing, too.  So, any and all advice and pointers would be good.  I seen the existing posts about installation, but it's not working with my setup.  Tell me what I need to do to get this going please. 

I've DNNv3.2.0 up, but really want to see and start using asp.net v2.0 and DNNv4.0  thanks

Mmm... it worked quite well for me...

- Install .net 2.0 framework.

- extract the dnn4 install zip on your server.

- if Win2003 server, set "Network" user or summat like that to full permissions.

- I used Vis Studio 2005 to create a database locally, then uploaded the mdf file (not sure if i did the ldf file or not)... with the name "Database.mdf" into the app_data folder.

- create a website or a virtual dir.

- point it to the dnn4 folder, and you're ready to rock.

for each further website or v-dir, you'll have to play with the aliases.

I also need to get around to installing the source code locally, build it, then push live... but in theory, it *should* just replace the dnn4 install zip... is this right?  My next task is then (or so I plan) to experiment with backups and confirm i can re-install rapidly in the event of a disaster.

FAQs for DNNv4.x Installation...

What is the first step?

Ok, first step is usually to read the doc.  Well, that's cool, but which one?  The readme.txt, you can throw out with this release - unless there's really a default 'Access' database created for use with 4.0 - Not!  So, how about the Welcome html that comes up.  Well, not much but an overview, and if you are not using SQLExpress, just too much left out.  Ok, how about the post on the main forum that says readme first?  Good heads up stuff, still not an installation guide is it.  And the answer is....


What are the prerequisites for installing DNNv4.0?

ASP.Net: v2.x release.  Specifically, which version?
Database Support: SQL2005, SQLExpress
Operating System: WinXP Pro, can't tell you want Windows Server version - I don't have any.
Web Server: IISv5 and above probably, Cassini is still buggy from Starter Kit documentation installation provided in Shawns post for SQLExpress
Browser Support:  IEv6 and above.  Should work with other browsers such as FireFox, but others will have to comment on the little differences
Minimum Hardware Requirements:  Follow recommendations from MS for installation of SQL2005 or SQLExpress.  But, basically, you need  good disk space available, and as much memory as you can afford.  More as folks post their setups.

Can I install DNNv4.0 with a different database name and how? 

Can I install DNNv4.0 on disks other than the C: drive and how? 

Does the vitural directory have to be located  under the C:/inetput\wwwroot folder and why? 

How do I create a DNN Development environment on WinXP Pro, using VS2005 STD, and SQL2005?

Could someone explain the new folder structure for DNNv4.0? 


Now, this is just my attempt at putting all of the FAQs I've seen so far, in a central place for view by the community. Gee! What a concept!! Now, no to slam anyone, because the effort to bring this app out was indeed huge, and to keep it free, well that's a great gift, as well.  So, what can the non-Core  Team member do to contribute?  Document your questions, answers, and setups so the reset of the community can get rolling with this release as quickly and pain free as possible.  If the CT can help along the way that would be great.  I know Shaun's post on the Starer Kit is very infromative, and I'll install SQLExpress today and go through it, but I'd really like to see how I can use my VS2005 STD, and SQL2005 packages too.  I mean they are such powerful tools, why wouldn't I want to do that?

So, if it's possible, can this post be pinned?  If not, I'll try to keep it on page one by adding what I find and letting you know how it's going.  Thanks to everybody helping move DNN forward, especially the Core Team.

You may want to look at my post:
http://forums.asp.net/1123393/ShowPost.aspx

Well I'm a first time DNN user and decided to go with v4 because .Net v2 was just released.
On a W2K3 machine already running IIS I installed:

.Net framework v2
MSXML 6.0
SQL 2005 Express Edition (mixed mode auth, so it is easier to move sql to another server later)
SQL Server Management Studio Express
   Created the WebContent DB  from Management Studio and created a SQL logon to be dbo for this.
MS Visual Web Developer Express
   Created a new IIS virtual server with a new home directory and host header
   Downloaded the DNN v4 starter kit, expanded the zip and double clicked the DotNetNuke.vscontent file
   Specified HTTP location using the host header
   Edit the web.config (after renaming it from the temporary name) to set the SQL connection string (in 2 places in the file)
   <ctrl>F5 to build the project
Browser opened with into instructions for accessing my new DNN portal :-)

Almost identical to these instructions http://forums.asp.net/1114393/ShowPost.aspx except that I had already created the DB.

I have now spent much more time trying to figure out how to install a custom module (newblog) than getting DNN installed. There doesn't seem to be any best practice on where to put the files and how to add it to the portal (using Host functions I guess)

imorrish wrote:

I have now spent much more time trying to figure out how to install a custom module (newblog) than getting DNN installed. There doesn't seem to be any best practice on where to put the files and how to add it to the portal (using Host functions I guess)

Have you seen this?:
http://www.dotnetnuke.com/guidedtour/

Yes, but everything refers to the .dnn file. Even the add new module page lets you test a .dnn file, but I figured it out, it is the zip file you upload. When trying to upload a .dnn file it just said it was an invalid extension. It would have been very easy to have a note on this page that said to upload the zip package.

I must say that uploading a zip file and DNN automatically unzipping it is a very cool feature for bulk uploading of documents and images (compared to SharePoints multi upload).

Ian.