Joomla & SWGfL

[speckytecky]

My current Mission is to try and get a site built for one of the schools I work at. I want to do it with the Joomla package. A lady at SWGfL tells me she doesn't believe SWGfL supports Joomla - only Frontpage? Is that right??

[FragglePete]

Our website which went live in March is based on Joomla and is hosted with SWGfL with no problems.

 

Just choose the Linux Advance Hosted solution I believe, which will give you access via Plesk.

 

The Commonweal School

 

HTH

 

Pete

[speckytecky]

Our website which went live in March is based on Joomla and is hosted with SWGfL with no problems.

 

Just choose the Linux Advance Hosted solution I believe, which will give you access via Plesk.

 

The Commonweal School

 

HTH

 

Pete

 

Thanks Pete,

 

Problem there is the fact we aren't Linux! Hope that doesn't mean I'm going to have to buy and use Front Page.

[Heebeejeebee]

SWGfL are often up themselves. Because they don't support Joomla doesn't mean you can't use it. IIRC they only officialy support FP 2000 WTF.

 

HBJB

[TheScarfedOne]

if you can, get it on a local box. thats what weve done here. same reason...

[speckytecky]

SWGfL are often up themselves. Because they don't support Joomla doesn't mean you can't use it. IIRC they only officialy support FP 2000 WTF.

 

HBJB

 

Any thoughts what I'd need to load (WAMPP perhaps - and if so to where) to get it running. So far all I have uploaded is the site file from the Joomla package.

[speckytecky]

if you can, get it on a local box. thats what weve done here. same reason...

 

Thanks but a local box is not on the radar at present and anyhow my thinking is the school is paying for the Service from SWGfL surely they ought to be supporting Joomla which seems to be fast becoming the standard for schools.

[K.C.Leblanc]

Thanks but a local box is not on the radar at present and anyhow my thinking is the school is paying for the Service from SWGfL surely they ought to be supporting Joomla which seems to be fast becoming the standard for schools.

 

EDIT: Ignore this, Fraggle Pete has already ansered the question.

 

This is based on when I last had a good look at what SWGfL offered about 18months ago.

 

SWGfL's standard hosting packages will not support Joombla, however they offer upgraded packages with either Linux or Windows hosting. The linux hosting includes PHP and MySQL so should support Joomla, however they won't make guarantees.

 

I think you can however get your SWGfL web address redirected to another host, so you could use a hosting company who offer a hosting package that includes Joomla.

 

You would only need WAMPP if you're installing Joomla on your own Windows server. You certainly shouldn't be putting on SWGfL's server.

Edited April 25, 2009 by K.C.Leblanc

[K.C.Leblanc]

Thanks Pete,

 

Problem there is the fact we aren't Linux!

 

Doesn't mean you can't use their Linux hosting package. All that means is the server hosting the web page is running Linux, it has no baring on what you're using on your servers.

[speckytecky]

Doesn't mean you can't use their Linux hosting package. All that means is the server hosting the web page is running Linux, it has no baring on what you're using on your servers.

 

How would I go about setting that up then please?

[FragglePete]

Get a Change Request Form filled out applying for Advance Hosting (Linux) with SWGfL. You'll need then get a domain (or subdomain) with them pointing to this webspace. You get 1Gb of storage with unlimited bandwidth.

 

You will then get access of Plesk which will enable you to setup the mySQL database.

 

Then either develop on this new webspace, or setup a local box with something like WAMP, or even a LAMP server on an old-ish machine using Ubuntu or something. Get hold of the EduGeek Project Joomla templates and modify with your school colours, logos, etc.

 

Use something like Joomla Pack to help transfer your data and SQL Database to the server with SWGfL. Or you can just transfer the templates and media files, and then use the mySQL database management tool with SWGfL to 'inject' the data from your local test machine.

 

Wow your heads of departments with your new web site. Job done.

 

If you need further help just ask.

 

I think in a few years time I'll look at hosting the server locally, as I can see our site getting quite big and may start exceeding SWGfL limits.

 

Pete

[speckytecky]

SWGfL now tell me that:

 

There is a SWGfL service that has the additional functionality.

The service is called SWGfL Advanced Web Hosting, which has:

Apache version: Apache 2.0.52

PHP version: 4.3.9

Perl version: Perl v5.8.5

mySQL version: MySQL 4.1.21

 

Being new to web it means little to me! Would this serve the purpose.

[rush_tech]

SWGfL now tell me that:

 

There is a SWGfL service that has the additional functionality.

The service is called SWGfL Advanced Web Hosting, which has:

Apache version: Apache 2.0.52

PHP version: 4.3.9

Perl version: Perl v5.8.5

mySQL version: MySQL 4.1.21

 

Being new to web it means little to me! Would this serve the purpose.

 

Yes that server should be able to Host a Joomla Install

 

Linky

Edited April 27, 2009 by rush_tech

[matt40k]

Yes,

 

Can someone tell me why they aren't using Cpanel? As it's free for education.

[speckytecky]

Yes,

 

Can someone tell me why they aren't using Cpanel? As it's free for education.

 

Never heard of this one can you point us in the direction of more info please?

[matt40k]

Sorry, Cpanel is a web server control panel, I meant it as a question to the "SWGfL" rather then a school.

[speckytecky]

Sorry, Cpanel is a web server control panel, I meant it as a question to the "SWGfL" rather then a school.

 

Thanks.

 

Question now asked of SWGfL awaiting an answer. However, in the meantime they have responded to my previous request and now tell me that they can provide an Advanced Web Hosting Service for £170 PA which comes with 1GB of space - as mentioned previously.

 

I'm thinking this should do the job. On the booking form they ask for any special requirements such as PHP on Windows. I'm thinking if I just make them aware it's Joomla on Windows that should do the trick or is there anything else I need to point out? I'm starting from scratch with this one so please forgive my lack of uptake!

[FragglePete]

Thanks.

 

Question now asked of SWGfL awaiting an answer. However, in the meantime they have responded to my previous request and now tell me that they can provide an Advanced Web Hosting Service for £170 PA which comes with 1GB of space - as mentioned previously.

 

I'm thinking this should do the job. On the booking form they ask for any special requirements such as PHP on Windows. I'm thinking if I just make them aware it's Joomla on Windows that should do the trick or is there anything else I need to point out? I'm starting from scratch with this one so please forgive my lack of uptake!

 

The advance web hosting as you've already highlighted will give what you need. You then use 'plesk' to setup the mySQL database. It's a bit like cPanel.

 

Get it setup, get hold of the joomla files (or the EduGeek Projects Files), FTP to your new web space and browse to the webspace that will then install Joomla for you after a few clicks.

 

Pete

[speckytecky]

OK Folks - I now have the Advance web hosting on a Linux server set up by SWGfL can anyone give me a bit of a walk through please on what I need to do next. I did have some very useful replies in PM's but overzealously tidying up recently inadvertantely deleted them.

 

Regards - Geoff

[rush_tech]

OK Folks - I now have the Advance web hosting on a Linux server set up by SWGfL can anyone give me a bit of a walk through please on what I need to do next. I did have some very useful replies in PM's but overzealously tidying up recently inadvertantely deleted them.

 

Regards - Geoff

 

How far have you got? You have cpanal or plesk access to web host? FTP access to web space?

Yes......you'll need to create a database and user for the database>>>>>upload chosen Joomla package to web root>>>preview from within control panel or goto web address>>>>run through joomla install......

[FragglePete]

As mentioned previously, log into Plesk with the details given to you by SWGfL.

 

You'll need to setup a MySQL Database. Make a note of the database details, (host, database, username, password, etc).

 

Upload the Joomla package (or the wonderful EduGeek Joomla Package). It will take some time as there are a lot of files.

 

Browse to the root of the website with Internet Explorer and follow the on-screen instructions given by the Joomla Web Installer. You'll have to enter the details you noted down about the MySQL. Once setup, you then delete the Installation directory log into the backend and start creating!

 

Pete

[Lewis]

Yes,

 

Can someone tell me why they aren't using Cpanel? As it's free for education.

 

Initially to keep the technologies the same for simple management and making it easier for users to switch OS. PLESK has a Linux and Windows version, until CPanel complete Enkompass, the IIS version of their control panel then it makes sense to use a similar commercial product which works well on both OS's.

[sakwoya]

Hi

 

We're looking at Joomla on SWGfL but our hosting package is FP, no SQL etc etc.

 

Previous post here states they want £170 to 'upgrade' to PHP/MySQL

 

I don't have £170 but I do have PHP/SQL hosting elsewhere.

 

I could also get a WAMP or XAMP box running in the school to host internally

 

My questions are:

 

1) Any security/safeguarding implications in hosting off-site? (i.e. 'official' objections - there's no sensitive data being held on the Joomla but is there any body, anywhere that does not like hosting this way?)

2) If I frame the off-site Joomla setup in our SWGfL hosted index.htm file then will I have any problems with filtering or caching?

 

3) If I host it internally then is it just a case of setting up the box in the school and then telling SWGfL?

 

Graeme

 

Edit - just found out SWGfL want £170 per annum so that is definitely out

Edited March 26, 2010 by sakwoya
Shock at hosting prices

[speckytecky]

You might find the free BT / Recipero sites of interest - as a stop gap

 

One that has had a lot of work put in on it being:

 

Christ Church C of E Primary School, Hanham | HomePage

 

Hi

 

We're looking at Joomla on SWGfL but our hosting package is FP, no SQL etc etc.

 

Previous post here states they want £170 to 'upgrade' to PHP/MySQL

 

I don't have £170 but I do have PHP/SQL hosting elsewhere.

 

I could also get a WAMP or XAMP box running in the school to host internally

 

My questions are:

 

1) Any security/safeguarding implications in hosting off-site? (i.e. 'official' objections - there's no sensitive data being held on the Joomla but is there any body, anywhere that does not like hosting this way?)

2) If I frame the off-site Joomla setup in our SWGfL hosted index.htm file then will I have any problems with filtering or caching?

 

3) If I host it internally then is it just a case of setting up the box in the school and then telling SWGfL?

 

Graeme

 

Edit - just found out SWGfL want £170 per annum so that is definitely out