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**Steve Wood** · 08-18-2007, 10:32 PM

Re: getting Started w/WAS

Just install the WAS on the server using the installation program, accepting all the defaults and it will install at the proper place. It will create a C:\A5Webroot folder which should be the location you publish files. You cannot use subdomains with Alpha, if by that you mean different URL's such as www.myapp1.com and www.myapp2.com. You have to use subdirectories. However, if you search this forum on Apache Module, you'll see there are other options. FTP would be the correct setting in your Alias for publishing files.

**Mortie** · 08-18-2007, 11:13 PM

Re: getting Started w/WAS

Originally posted by Steve Wood View Post

Just install the WAS on the server using the installation program, accepting all the defaults and it will install at the proper place. It will create a C:\A5Webroot folder which should be the location you publish files. You cannot use subdomains with Alpha, if by that you mean different URL's such as www.myapp1.com and www.myapp2.com. You have to use subdirectories. However, if you search this forum on Apache Module, you'll see there are other options. FTP would be the correct setting in your Alias for publishing files.

HMMMM, installation program? I must have missed that one, other than installing it on my local system. I got no prompts or anything when that happened. It just installed to the directory where I wanted it. That is probably mistake numero uno. Where do I See the installation program if it is not the exe file from the download?

as to subdomains I was referring to

NOT www.mydomain1.com and www.domain2.com

but rather

www.sub1.mydomain.com

and

www.sub2.mydomain.com

the main domain is all the same.

I presume this to be the same as

www.mydomain.com/sub1/

www.mydomain.com/sub2/

which I take as similar to the structure you recommend

**Mortie** · 08-19-2007, 12:14 AM

Re: getting Started w/WAS

So, I can't find this installation program anywhere on my installation.

On the other hand I did find this post.

Please tell me there is something I am not doing right. I purchased the WAS and now, to get an installation program I pay 199? It must be too late at night and I am not really comprehending now.

Does Alpha even use a readme concept for installation of this program?

Help!

**Steve Wood** · 08-19-2007, 01:22 AM

Re: getting Started w/WAS

That post, and the AlphaSports product has nothing to do with installation.

By installation program I just meant install what you downloaded from Alpha after you made your purchase, the EXE files. If you bought both Professional and the App Server, then you have one of each to download and install. The App Server gets installed on the VPS. Otherwise if you publish to the VPS, it won't run what you send there.

But I think the first thing you need to do is just click Help > Open Help File and read the Web Publishing Tutorial, and then in the main help section, the section titled Web Projects, Profiles, and Publishing. That would answer your more fundamental questions posed in your first post. If I just answered them without you doing some reading, it would just lead to other questions (which would also be satisfied by your reading those chapters.)

**Peter.Greulich** · 08-19-2007, 01:02 PM

Re: getting Started w/WAS

If you bought only the WAS and NOT A5v8, you won't be able to create any applications. The Web App Server only runs an application created in the full version of A5v8.

**Mortie** · 08-19-2007, 04:18 PM

Re: getting Started w/WAS

STEVE, I have been reading and playing with the tutorials, etc and have muddled through to the point of creating a grid and an A5w page to put the grid on.

I did the upload/publish thing and good gawd it was slow. I obviously did not configure something right as it let me know it could not find my page. My hunch is that I need the exact server name versus the domain.com/subdirectory. I am playing and reading, and have been for days now.

It is still my contention that the average non-Internet "background" terminology person needs some extra comments in the documentation. But I play and play until I finally get it right. it just takes me asking a few questions here and there.

PETER, thanks; I do have the application; even a Runtime!

**Steve Wood** · 08-19-2007, 05:00 PM

Re: getting Started w/WAS

Well, I'll try to answer these then (and I agee, someone needs to write a laymans guide to the whole web publishing process).

Before I do, you might go to my website and find the article named something like "ATEC - Hosting" which contains good info on hosting.

1) when it is said install the web server to the root directory of my VPS hosting service is that in the htdocs root or all the way to the top where all the "other stuff" resides?

Neither. Install the App Server with its default settings. htdocs and the like refer to IIS. Alpha DOES NOT run on IIS. Unless you need it for something else, IIS can be uninstalled from your VPS. It will probably cause conflict on port 80 if its is running.

2) Should I open the WAS exe file on my local system, configure it based on the above installation then upload the extracted files via FTP? I presume webroot as a directory would be at the level explained in #1.

No. You install the App Server directly on the server from the download from Alpha Software. So, you have to have access to the VPS via remote control so you can see the desktop. If you cannot see your VPS's desktop, you cannot install the App Server.

I think I got Q3 in a previous post.

4. ...I take it these would be loaded into a pair of sub directories, one for the relative WAS files and one for the data files. But I think I don't know what to do if there are a variety of web projects not related but wanting to use the WAS.

Suggested structure for multiple apps (without using Apache):

c:\a5\a5webroot\project1\YOUR PROJ1 PUBLISHED FILES HERE
c:\a5\a5webroot\project2\YOUR PROJ2 PUBLISHED FILES HERE

c:\a5\project1\data\YOUR DATA FOR PROJ1 HERE
c:\a5\project1\data\YOUR DATA FOR PROJ2 HERE

Document Root is c:\A5\A5webroot

Note that the data folders are OUTSIDE of the Document Root.

URL is:

Project 1: www.yourdomain.com/project1/YOURPAGE.A5W
Project 2: www.yourdomain.com/project2/YOURPAGE.A5W

Your FTP location for both would be c:\A5

You should name project1, project2 with your desired application name.

Each project needs its own profile, the Alias set as follows:

Project1: [PathAlias.ADB_Path] = c:\a5\project1\data
Project2: [PathAlias.ADB_Path] = c:\a5\project2\data

Folders for FTP:

Project1: files: a5webroot\project1, data: project1\data
Project2: files: a5webroot\project2, data: project2\data

----
That won't get you all the way, but the rest should jump out.

**Mortie** · 08-19-2007, 11:56 PM

Re: getting Started w/WAS

PETER, thanks for the forward. It gives a lot of information for installing on a local server. My intent is to host on a hosting service through a VPS, which is already in place. My presumption is that it goes to Port 80 by default.

For all reading this and helping I am sorry that I have to seem so dense. I try not to be a bother until I have worn myself out trying to make something work. I do searches; I do read the help files. Until now trial and error on my other applications has worked. There just is no recourse but to turn to those with more expertise than I can find in the documentation.

I have used Alpha before but this is a package (WAS) of which the installation and setup are totally garbled to me. Alpha's documentation on this is horrendous and no doubt reads quite easy to Internet hardware savvy individuals. They should do something to change that IMMEDIATELY!

What I want to do is host databases in various subdirectories on the domain via an existing 3rd party hosted VPS at the following domain

www.myparkinglot.com

IIS is not installed on my computer.

My current version of A5V8 is installed at

c:\A5V8

The WAS is installed at

c:\A5Webroot

There is currently a structure as follows on the VPS

http://myparkinglot.com/stuff

There is nothing there as of now.

I am trying to learn the design and upload process using a database called stuff. It has no purpose other than to enter a few records so I can learn what to do. The database (a single table, no forms, no anything other than 5 records of names) currently resides in the following directory

c:\A5Webroot\stuff

It is quite possible that my dilemma resides in the setup of the profile and the necessary aliases.

I am really not sure about the term "VPS Desktop". I can access my VPS manager program for the service and can access the top level via FTP. If the WAS (all 91MB of it) is supposed to reside somewhere on the VPS I think all I need to know is at what level and I can upload what I have to that level.

Once I am pointed in some type of structured direction as to how the alias, target folders, etc should be composed I believe I am well on my way. Designing components, etc seems to be much easier to understand that this "mess".

Thank again for the patience.

"frustrated in Texas" (and hopefully not drowned or blown away in days to come)

**Steve Wood** · 08-20-2007, 01:29 AM

Re: getting Started w/WAS

Could you reference what WAS documentation you are talking about. I'd like to review.

"VPS Desktop" (which is not what I said, but anyway) means exactly what I did say - can you see your VPS's desktop (lowercase "d"). That means, can you log in to your VPS, see the Windows Start button, see the MyComputer icon, etc. Not talking about FTP, I mean the real Windows desktop. Speaking of Windows, is the operating system on the VPS Windows, or Unix? What is the name of your 3rd party VPS host?

It has to be a Windows operating system. Windows Server 2003 for instance. It cannot be Unix. I just recalled when you said "htdocs" that your VPS probably IS Unix, which (edit: if true) means you do not have a VPS account that you can use at all. For cost comparisons, your VPS account should cost between $50-$80 per month. If its $10 - $30, its Unix.

After you have installed the App Server (WAS) on the VPS, you then have to configure the App Server. To do this, you also have to be looking at the VPS's desktop, be able to see and click the Alpha App Server icon and adjust settings.

**Mortie** · 08-20-2007, 03:02 PM

Re: getting Started w/WAS

Well Steve, You have given me a lot of information that tells me I have done the wrong thing. I have a hosting service that is a Unix machine.

I have to figure it is my fault for doing that. I do recall, now that I think about it, the documentation said Windows 2003 machine. I presumed I had that on WestHost VPS service. But alas I was wrong.

I am not totally lost I guess because I do have an older desktop box sitting in my office that I can try to set it up from there. I am more concerned about the speed of the system due to age more than anything else.

The documentation Peter G sent me is pretty good for a layman like me as it spells it out perfectly as to what to do. My reference to documentation, other than what Peter sent, has always been that of Alpha.

Thanksfor pointing up my problem. As the saying goes, "My Bad"!

**Mortie** · 08-24-2007, 08:46 AM

Re: getting Started w/WAS

I have everything setup to the best of my understanding. By setup I mean

I am on a windows machine
I have a WAS license
The WAS is configured as per instructions
A directory of c:\A5Webroot is established
There is a test a5w file in the root directory
My router is configured for 8080 as is WAS
My Windows Firewall is running and set to allow A5 and the WAS
I can access the test file via localhost
I do have a static IP

I cannot get to the test page via the web using my static ip plus :8080

I have gone to whatismyip.org and done a test on port 8080 and it tells me it is blocked so I guess I need assistance on where to look on unblocking it.

thanks

**Peter.Greulich** · 08-24-2007, 09:36 AM

Re: getting Started w/WAS

Originally posted by Mortie View Post

I cannot get to the test page via the web using my static ip plus :8080

I have gone to whatismyip.org and done a test on port 8080 and it tells me it is blocked so I guess I need assistance on where to look on unblocking it.

I have a D-Link router and it uses Port 8080, so I had to use 8081.

**Mortie** · 08-26-2007, 12:08 PM

Re: getting Started w/WAS

Finally got a chance to look at Port 8081 and it is the same result. It can't find the page.

I think I know what the real problem might be and there may not be an immediate solution.

I am on a DSL system with of course a phone company provided modem. Unfortunately the modem serves not only as a modem but also a wireless router. I have a Linksys wireless router hooked up after the modem. The computer running WAS is after the modem and running from the router. I did this to network the printers in the house and use Network Magic software to manage the household network.

Does this make sense that it could be the reason I am not getting to port 8081 on the right router? If you know a way to change this I would appreciate suggestions. I also have to find the access info for the phone company modem/router.

**Peter.Greulich** · 08-27-2007, 12:32 PM

Re: getting Started w/WAS

Originally posted by Mortie View Post

Unfortunately the modem serves not only as a modem but also a wireless router.

I don't know if the modem would block outgoing ports. Maybe you could call the phone company tech dept and find out?

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