NOTE: This is a SupplementalDocument topic which is not included with the official TWiki distribution. Please help maintain high quality documentation by fixing any errors or incomplete content. Put questions and suggestions concerning the documentation of this topic in the comments section below! Use the Support web for problems you are having using TWiki.

TWiki 4.2 Windows Installation Guide

Purpose & Scope

This is a step by step TWiki 4.2 Windows installation guide. It should have you running your own TWiki in no time. However security issues and advanced settings are out of scope. We will take you through Apache2, Perl and TWiki installation. Basic Apache administration skills could be useful but not strictly required. Basic computer administration skills are assumed.

You've been warned

TWiki is really straightforward to set-up on Windows; however for obvious performance and security reasons we do not recommend use of Windows to run production TWiki server.

Prerequisites

We applied this guide on an x86 machine running Windows XP SP2 yet it should also work unmodified on Windows2003 server (you may need to disable IIS), Windows 2000 and Windows NT.

Downloads

• Download the latest Apache2 release. We used apache_2.2.8-win32-x86-no_ssl.msi.
• Download the ActivePerl version of your choice. We used ActivePerl-5.8.8.822-MSWin32-x86-280952.msi
• Download TWiki 4.2 zip file or get the latest TWiki:Codev.DownloadTWiki

Installations

• Install Apache2. Using the default installation settings is just fine.
• Install ActivePerl. Here again using the default installation settings should work just fine.
• Unzip your TWiki release and put it's content on a path without space characters. C:/www/twiki will do just fine.

TWiki configuration

• Go to C:\www\twiki\bin and copy/rename LocalLib.cfg.txt to LocalLib.cfg.
• Edit LocalLib.cfg and replace the line $twikiLibPath = "/absolute/path/to/your/lib"; by $twikiLibPath = "C:/www/twiki/lib";.
• Open a command prompt cmd.exe .
• Go to C:\www\twiki\bin.
• Run perl ..\tools\rewriteshbang.pl.
• Specify C:\Perl\bin\perl.exe at the prompt and confirm.
• Go to C:\www\twiki\tools.
• Run perl rewriteshbang.pl.
• Specify C:\Perl\bin\perl.exe at the prompt and confirm.

Apache2 configuration

• Go to TWiki:TWiki.ApacheConfigGenerator. Correct the settings to suite your specifics or just copy the content of your twiki.conf from that page and put it in C:\Program Files\Apache Software Foundation\Apache2.2\conf\twiki.conf.
• Open C:\Program Files\Apache Software Foundation\Apache2.2\conf\httpd.conf and add the line Include conf/twiki.conf at the very end.
• Restart your Apache server using the service manager or the Apache tray icon.

More TWiki configuration

• Go to http://localhost/twiki/bin/configure.
• You should get 12 warnings in the General path settings section.
• Open the General path settings section.
• Fix the path containing backslashes (\) by replacing them with Linux-like slash (/).
• Click the Next button.
• Enter a new password, confirm and click Change Password and Save button.
• Follow the Return to configuration link.
• Now you should get 52 errors and two warnings.
• Click the Yes, I've read all the documentation button at the top of the page.
• Click the Open all options button.
• Goto the Security setup section and select the option none for {LoginManager}.
• Goto the Store settings section and select the option RcsLite for {StoreImpl}.
• Goto the Mail and Proxies section and provide your email address in the {WebMasterEmail} field.
• Search for the {RCS}{SearchAlgorithm} option in the Store settings section and select TWiki::Store::SearchAlgorithms::PurePerl.
• Click the Next button, provide your password and save.
• Follow the Go to the TWiki front page link.

Congratulations

You are done!

Happy TWiki

Related topics

The TWikiOnWindows 4.2.0 Installer creates a similar setup, though it adds rcs and grep. (it contains and automatically configures Apache 2.2, Perl 5.8, GNU grep and GNU rcs).

-- Contributors: StephaneLenclud - 08 Feb 2008

The Windows installer worked very well, it was up and running in minutes. But it installs everything on C:\, and it can take a while to get it to moved to a server's data drive. I also had to install more CPAN modules on ActivePerl for the plug-ins I wanted.

-- SeanCMorgan - 04 Mar 2008

Comments & Questions about this Supplemental Document Topic

Thanks Stephane for sharing this!

-- PeterThoeny - 09 Feb 2008

When you click the "Yes, I've read all the documentation" button, the settings just set (i.e. Security setup "none -> {LoginManager}" and Store settings "RcsLite -> {StoreImpl}") get erased.

Because these settings were not properly configured, I was getting "client denied by server configuration" in the apache log, and .../rcs errors when editing pages.

-- AlejandroGonzalez - 19 Feb 2008

Thanks for reporting that problem. I've amended the guide accordingly.

-- StephaneLenclud - 28 Mar 2008

In the More part there is no way to login as windows does not recognize the .htpasswd as a file. Even creating a file and changing the config does not work, What is the format required for the file?

-- JohnMcCue - 01 Apr 2008

John, you can use the Windows login and configure so that {PasswordManager} is 'none'. See TWiki:Support.GettingWindowsLoginPassedToTwiki

-- SeanCMorgan - 02 Apr 2008

John, please ask support questions in the Support web.

-- PeterThoeny - 03 Apr 2008

Hi I followed the well done easy wiki here but I get an error when I try to run: perl ..\tools\rewriteshbang.pl I get this error: "Permission denied at rewriteshbang.pl line 71." Note: I am Administrator.

May you help me? Thanks!

-- RiccardoBianchi - 18 Apr 2008

Please ask support questions in the Support.Webhome web.

-- PeterThoeny - 18 Apr 2008

Ok I found the solution to my problem

If you get "Permission Denied at line 71" check the "Properties" for the files, not the "Security" permissions.

So the solution is: right-click on the \bin and \tools folders, than uncheck the "Read Only" field, choose "Apply this to the subfolders and files", then "Ok"....and now rewriteshebang.pl can do its work properly!!

-- RiccardoBianchi - 19 Apr 2008