# This is a guide to installing the QuizComposer(c) system on a Web-server. # # The quiz server can be installed on a UNIX/Linux machine running an # Apache Web server (and presumably other server programs). Naturally the # Web server must have been set up. If you have to set up the Web server # and you don't have experience in this field read the text file on # this subject included with the UNIX/Linux installation files. # # If you are a user of an Internet service your Internet service provider(ISP) # might have given you permission to administrate a Web server. In this case # you have recieved information about the directory for your (primary) # Web pages, the directory for any scripts activated from any page and the # format of the form tags of such a page. We denote these three the # DocumentRoot directory, the CGI directory and the ScriptAlias, respectively. # # The DocumentRoot often has the name public_html, www or httpd (under your # HOME directory), the CGI directory the name cgi-bin or cgi. The ScriptAlias # often is /cgi-bin/ or cgi-bin/ or /cgi/ or cgi/, correspondingly. If # you are the owner of a private Web server look into the configuration file # for Apache /etc/httpd/conf/httpd.conf or similar. # # The quiz system requires execution access to the Bash shell and a Python 2.x # interpreter. If you are not experienced with CGI scripts in Python (or # even with CGI) you are advised to commence by copying the following HTML # page into the DocumentRoot and the corresponding Python script into the # CGI directory (remember to remove the first column #. # # The HTML page is: # # # # # # # # # # The Python script is: # #!/usr/bin/env python # print 'Content-type: text/plain\n\n' # import os # print 'Environment for QuizComposer server:' # print # for i in os.environ.keys() : # print ''.join([ i, '=', os.environ[i] ]) # # Having placed the HTML page point your browser to the location: # http://your-domain/test-py.htm # If the page doesn't appear set the user name and access rights correctly. # # If you get an error message when clicking the button of the HTML page # likewise check the user name and access rights for the script. # # If you are stuck in the previous proces get help from a person experienced # in working with Web servers. # # The result printed by the script contains information which you might # need when installing the quiz server. Save this information some safe # place. Then # remove the HTML page and the script since leaving # them on the server endangers your domain. # # The quiz server installation packet consists of: # 1. an HTML-page install.htm to be placed in the DocumentRoot directory. # The page comtains a field for entering all data defining a specific # quiz server installation. # 2. a Python script install.py to be executed from the HTML-page install.htm. # 3. a file (install.tgz) containing the the quiz system files in tar'red, # compressed format. # 4. a shell script (install.sh) which unpacks and installs the quiz system # files according to the specification in install.htm. # 5. a number of examples of interface programs to external programs # used (optionally) to evaluate quiz answers # 6. this short guide. # # (Two more files might come handy for persons having some experience # with UNIX/Linux. See the end of this page). # # Your installation process starts with the copying of install.htm into # the DocumentRoot directory and install.py to the CGI directory. # # Then you try to point to install.htm with your browser. If the page # is displayed click any button WITIOUT WRITING A PASSWORD. If you # get a message about a missing password, congratulations! the # install script install.py was executed. Otherwise you'll have to # change a single line in install.htm as described in that file. # # When you can start install.py from install.htm choose a password and # click any of the first buttons (NOT the INSTALL QUIZCOMPOSER button). # The result displayed should inspire your choice of values for the # installation defined by the export variables in the large entry # field defining the installation. # # The rest of the installation process is described in the installation # files install.htm and install.py. You might also find useful information # in the shell script install.sh. # # # Two more files are at your disposal for either the initial installation # process or subsequent installation of new versions of QuizComposer, # viz. the HTML page manualinstall.htm and its associated script # manualinstall.py. Both contain a thorough description of how they # should be installed and used on your server. # # Copyright: Olaf Kayser 2006-8 (Open Source/Gnu Affero General Public License)