To install Discus onto a Unix server using telnet or SSH:

1. Visit the appropriate download page (Discus Freeware or Discus Professional) and follow the instructions to obtain the appropriate tar, gzipped file (discus4_10_xxx.tar.gz). Note that the file name will vary depending on whether you are downloading the Freeware or Professional version, and which international version you are downloading if any. Save this file to a place on your hard drive where it will be easy to find later.

2. Using an FTP program (or SFTP/SCP capabilities of your SSH program as appropriate), transfer the discus4_10_xxx.tar.gz file to your web server. Select binary mode if that choice is offered. NOTE: Do NOT extract this file with a zip program on your own computer!

3. Start a telnet or SSH session to your server and navigate to the directory where you uploaded the discus4_10_xxx.tar.gz file.

   cd directory

4. Unzip and extract the tar archive. This will create a subdirectory called discus4_10_xxx with the installation files. Note that in place of the xxx in the file and directory names you must substitute the actual name of the file that you downloaded!

   tar -xzvf discus4_10_xxx.tar.gz

   Some unix systems do not support the above command. If you receive an error message about the -z flag not being supported, try the following command instead:

   gzip -dc discus4_10_xxx.tar.gz | tar -xvf -

   or:

   gunzip discus4_10_xxx.tar.gz; tar -xvf discus4_10_xxx.tar

5. Use Perl to run the initial setup script in the UNIX shell.

   cd discus4_10_xxx; perl 1st_install.pl

   You will be prompted to follow these on-screen instructions:

   • Enter license number (if you are installing Discus Professional)
   • Choose Perl interpreter
   • Choose CGI extension

   This step generates a script called dconfig.cgi (or perhaps dconfig.pl) within your discus4_10_xxx directory. This dconfig script provides very detailed and generally accurate suggestions to help you configure your discussion board.

6. Copy the dconfig.cgi script to your server's cgi-bin directory. You can do this with 'cp', the unix copy command.

   • Hit CTRL-Z to suspend the Discus setup script.

   • Type the following command, substituting in the actual path to your cgi-bin directory:

     cp -p dconfig.cgi /path/to/your/server/cgi-bin

   • If the command was successful, type this command to return to the Discus setup script:

     fg

7. Use your web browser to access the WWW setup form at http://your.domain.com/cgi-bin/dconfig.cgi. Here, you need to substitute in the exact URL to where you copied the dconfig script in the previous step. If you get 404 (not found), you have this URL wrong.

   When the interactive setup form appears, follow the on-screen instructions to configure your Discus board.

   When you are finished, click the button to submit the form. This should immediately bring up a screen which lists further instructions.

8. On most systems, you will see a message that says your discus.conf file has been written.

   If you see this indication, hit ENTER in your telnet window to bring up the prompt asking you if you wish to use the existing discus.conf file. Answer yes and skip ahead to the next step. If you exited the 1st_install.pl script, run it again by typing perl 1st_install.pl, and you will be prompted to use your discus.conf file.

   On rare systems, you will be presented with a text box containing your discus.conf file and instructions to copy that file to the clipboard.

   Hit ENTER in your telnet window and the script should prompt you to paste in a discus.conf file. If you exited the 1st_install.pl script, run it again as you did in step 3, and you will be prompted to paste in your discus.conf file.

   Select all text from the box in your browser window and copy it to the clipboard. As prompted in your telnet window, paste in this text. Discus installation will then complete itself automatically.

9. Access your installed board!

   The URL is given both in the telnet window and in your browser. You should immediately ensure your security by setting up a password for the board administrator's account. To do this:

   • Click the "Administration" link

   • Enter "admin" for your username, and leave the password box blank

   • Click the "Log In" button and follow the instructions to set up a password and register

10. Set up your board!

    DiscusWare strongly suggests that all of our new customers complete the "Board Administrator Getting Started" tutorial to learn the basics of operating the administration and user interface, and to confirm that the software was properly installed.