• ( Looking for how to install panFora on Windows or Unix-based systems?
  Click here.)
  
  
• Note: Please read the following instructions for installing panFora on Mac OS X systems carefully, and follow the installation steps sequentially.
  
  

1. Installation Requirements
   
   
2. Before You Begin
   
   
   1. FYI
      
      
   2. Gathering Information and Privileges
      
      
3. panFora Installation
   
   
   1. Downloading panFora Distribution
      
      
   2. Installinging panFora Files
      
      
   3. Web Server Configuration
      
      
   4. Mail Server Configuration
   
   
4. panFora Setup
   
   
5. Create New Forum

Please review the following assumptions, requirements, and expectations for installing the panFora software with Mac OS X operating systems and its Apache web server software.

1. System Requirements:
   
   You will need the following (in addition to Operating System and Apache software requirements):
   
   
   1. Mac OS X 10.1+
      
      
   2. PERL version 5.6 or greater (already included in OS X installation)
      
      
   3. 30 MB disk space (minimum) + storage for forum content
      
      
   4. 64 MB RAM (or greater)
      
      
2. Assumptions
   
   It is assumed that you have:
   
   
   1. OS X operating system and PERL correctly installed on your computer.
      
      
   2. Apache web server included with OS X installation ready to go.
      
      
   3. system administrator privileges to modify Apache server configuration (as needed) and create/write to web document directories.
      
      
3. Expectations:
   
   
   1. panFora software installation is simple and easy.
      
      However, the required reconfiguration of Apache to accommodate the installation of any web application (including panFora) is best done by a knowledgeable system administrator.
      
      
   2. While we have taken steps to document instructions for panFora's installation with clarity and detail, we cannot account for all the variations of your particular web server and system configuration.
      As such, we highly recommend and expect that the system administrator doing the panFora software installation has:
      
      
      • familiarity with Apache web server concepts (such as web directories mapping, file directory permissions).
        
        
      • prior experience installing web applications.

These instructions are intended For Mac OS X operating systems and Apache web server software.

In this document you will find all the instructions on how to properly install panFora software on your webserver.

• Click here to view Product Information.
  
  

This document is intended for the System Administrator who is responsible for the web server's operation.

• The System Administrator installs panFora software and responds to requests for new forums from webmasters, clients (or others who act as designated Forum Administrators).

Please take advantage of our Tech Support Forum.

• Our online support team is happy to help with technical matters and questions related to panFora installation, FAQs and troubleshooting.
  Tech Support Forum is free and only a mouse-click away.

In order to install panFora software, you should have the following information and privileges:

• Web server's Document Root directory. [ Click for explanation ]
    (default on OS X: /Library/WebServer/Documents).
  
  
• Read, write and execute permission within Document Root directory. [ Click for explanation ]
  
  
• Web server configuration file location (httpd.conf) and modification privileges. [ Click for explanation ]
    (default on OS X: /etc/httpd/httpd.conf).
  
  
• Desired location for installing panFora. [ Click for explanation ]
    (suggest for OS X: /Library/WebServer/Documents/withinc/panFora).
  
  
• Desired location for placing Forum webpages and data.
    (suggest for OS X: /Library/WebServer/Documents/withinc/Forums).
  
  
• Location of downloaded panFora distribution file. [ Click for explanation ]
  
  
• Path to installed PERL executable. [ Click for explanation ]
    (default on OS X: /usr/bin/perl).
  
  
• Path to sendmail executable. [ Click for explanation ]
    (default on OS X: /usr/sbin/sendmail).
  
  
• Web server process Owner ID and Group ID. [ Click for explanation ]
    (default on OS X: www and www, respectively)
    (default on OS X Server: Owner ID is www. Group ID may be www or admin. Check your web server configuration to be sure.)

This portion of the documentation provides step by step instructions on how to install panFora.

Once panFora Installation is completed, you may proceed to panFora Setup.

If you have already downloaded the panFora distribution file for Mac OS X operating systems from wiTHinc's website, skip to the next step.

• Download panFora for Mac OS X operating system and Apache web server software from wiTHinc's website: http://www.withinc.com/downloads/panfora.html

If your web server configuration is set up differently than the default setup described below, please make the appropriate changes to the absolute paths mentioned in the instructions.

The paths given below are just an example. Your paths must be consistent with your system and web server configuration.

In the installation directions below, we will put panFora in a subdirectory of your web server space.

You may also choose to put panFora on the root level of the web server space.

The examples below are applicable to Apple's OS X apache web server.

panFora will work with other web servers, but it is left to the user to configure the web server properly.

1. Go to the web server's Document Root directory
      < cd /Library/WebServer/Documents >
   
   
2. Make the subdirectory "withinc"
      < sudo mkdir withinc >
   
   
3. Change to the withinc directory
      < cd withinc >
   
   
4. Make the subdirectory "Forums"
      < sudo mkdir Forums >
   
   
5. Extract the distribution file, "panFora-xxx.tgz", to deposit all necessary panFora files and subdirectories into the withinc directory
      < sudo tar xzf /path-of-distribution/panFora-xxx.tgz >
   
   
6. Transfer ownership of all panFora files and directories to the web server.
   
   
   • In the example below, we assume that the owner-id and group-id of the webserver are www and www, respectively. OS X Server may use group admin instead of www.
     
     
   • Please check your webserver configuration for the appropriate values.
     
     
      < sudo chown -R www ../withinc >
      < sudo chgrp -R www ../withinc >
   

Configure apache web server to run panFora and its cgi-scripts.

In apache's httpd.conf (OS X location:/etc/httpd/httpd.conf) please confirm, add, or change configuration lines as follows:

• DirectoryIndex    index.html
  AccessFileName    .htaccess
  
  
• <Directory "/Library/WebServer/Documents/withinc">
  Options    FollowSymLinks   ExecCGI
  AllowOverride    All
  </Directory>
  
  
• <Directory "/Library/WebServer/Documents/withinc/panFora">
  Options    FollowSymLinks   ExecCGI
  AllowOverride    All
  </Directory>
  
  
• AddHandler    cgi-script   .cgi

In default Mac OS X installations, permissions for two upper level directories are set insecurely and thus prevent the "sendmail" program from running. Note: "sendmail" is required for sending out emails and email notifications from panFora.

This security issue can be corrected by typing a command into a Terminal window as follows:

Now, using a web browser, go to the appropriate URL to complete the wizard's 5 step setup:

1. Locating PERL
   
   
2. Locating sendmail
   
   
3. Setting the panFora system administrator password
   
   
4. Entering the panFora license key
   
   
5. Registering your copy of panFora

• If you followed the installation instructions exactly, the setup web URL is:
  http://your.server/withinc/panFora/Init.cgi

• The wizard will guide you through the easy 5 step set-up process.
  
  
• At the end of the process, you'll be given 2 URLs:
  
  
  • One goes to "Creating and Setting up a Forum" web pages.
    
    
  • The other goes to the panFora System Administrator "Admin Menu" web pages.
    
    
  • Remember to either record these URLs or bookmark for future reference.
    
    
• If you would like designate another administrator who will create, set-up and delete forums, you may give the panFora System Administrator Password you specified in the setup to that person, and provide him with the "Creating and Setting up a Forum" instruction document.
  
  That person is referred as the panFora System Administrator.

• Please click here for instructions on how to Create Forums