War, Tomcat, Installer procedures overview

[williamgh]

Ive gotten Alfresco running in a couple different maners now, but not happy with the mess I made, I want to start again and do it the right way. After reading the forums for a couple days, I've come across info that raises some questions that should have obvious answers… so I'll just ask.

Please explain the different installation scenerios of clean install processes. How do you do a War install, a Tomcat install and a custom Installer procedure?

1: The pre-packaged Installer comes with everything. Its a no-brainer install and works. But my question about this approach is, is this process just as customizable as the manual and long winded procedures? If someone is capable and familiar with Alfresco, would he/she still use this installer? When and why?

2: Tomcat seems to be the bundled manual install process. After having been through this, I see there are certain components in this package that go against what the install manual describes. Please list what comes with Tomcat that I dont have to worry about installing on my own, OR list what essential items I must install that Tomcat does not come with.

3: I first thought that the WAR files are only for upgrades on a working Alfresco system. Is this right or wrong? I think I read in the forums that you can install Alfresco from scratch with WAR files so can someone confirm this with a quick run-down of what the process would look like?


What I'm looking for here is a simple and reliable install process that allows some options durring install that arent offered in the Installer package. This should also consider the ability to manipulate options through out system and stable future Alfresco upgrades.
I can see how that is a broad request but the answer would depend on my capabilities. I'm good with C, java, and PHP but I dont have time to search through forums full of complaints like my own for the in's and out's of Alfresco manual configurations.
The install manual is full of great info but I need a little more help in understanding the scope of various installation processes.

I think these answers will help me and others out greatly with beginning a good install process!

[pagenix]

Good luck! The system seems to be structured towards those initiated in the rites of the server admin… While the demos, speils and youtubes make it all sound very easy, it quickly goes opaque once you get beyond the basic install.

I'm the first to admit that I am NOT very well versed in the ways of Tomcat and how it works, but even I can see that there exists a need for a basic how to connect a standard Apache install to a standard Alfresco install so it would work a bit better.

I'm not holding my breath.

[pagenix]

PS

I mean, imagine how radical it would be to ask during install if you would like to have Alfresco communicate through an already installed Apache server… What a concept!

[williamgh]

I mean, imagine how radical it would be to ask during install if you would like…

Quoted For Truth

but back on to the original post's query

[williamgh]

Hello.

Can someone provide some details to items 1, 2 and 3?

Thanks!
William

[williamgh]

Is this not an interesting topic of conversation?
Is the question poorly constructed?

I have re-read the manual to see if the answers were overlooked but I still think a quick explinaiton of the three styles of installation would help.

[mrogers]

1: The pre-packaged Installer comes with everything. Its a no-brainer install and works. But my question about this approach is, is this process just as customizable as the manual and long winded procedures? If someone is capable and familiar with Alfresco, would he/she still use this installer? When and why?

Yes the installation is "just as customizable", at the end of the day it's the same set of alfresco files.    However whereas the installer would install, for example, a bundled instance of the database server and a bundled instance of tomcat,  probably most real configurations will make use of an existing database server.      

2: Tomcat seems to be the bundled manual install process. After having been through this, I see there are certain components in this package that go against what the install manual describes. Please list what comes with Tomcat that I dont have to worry about installing on my own, OR list what essential items I must install that Tomcat does not come with.

What issues in particular?

3: I first thought that the WAR files are only for upgrades on a working Alfresco system. Is this right or wrong? I think I read in the forums that you can install Alfresco from scratch with WAR files so can someone confirm this with a quick run-down of what the process would look like?

Web Archive (WAR) files are packaged Java Web Applications.    An experienced administrator will be able to install the alfresco WAR file on its own.      You would also use the WAR file to deploy to another application server like WebLogic, JBOSS or WebSphere or to an existing, instance of Tomcat.

[williamgh]

About item 2, the issue is primarily regarding the suggestions of the install directories and assumptions of what should be installed and what comes with the tomcat package. I think you would understand if you followed the directions step by step. I dunno, maybe I'm interpriting things wrong or I'm reading too far into it.

The other thing about all of what I'm asking about is that install manual is pretty confusing. Its like it tries to hint at some key things without actually connecting those obscure dots. To be successful in one process assumes that you know about something else somewhere in the manual.