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.LRN Installation

Index

Introduction 

Installing .LRN: Using the VMWare Virtual Machine 

Installing .LRN: Using the Tarball

Installing .LRN: Using CVS

Installing .LRN: Using Debian/Ubuntu Packages

Introduction

VMWare virtual machine: simple (for a testing and evalution). Tarball: medium to hard (for a production install without source control). CVS: hard but flexible (e.g. makes it easier to update your installation from the code repository between official releases). Debian/Ubuntu: simple to medium (fast and easy install for novices, easy infrastructure deployment for professional users).

Installing .LRN: Using the VMWare Virtual Machine

to be announced. 

Installing .LRN: Using the Tarball

Before you start

Quickly read the OpenACS Installation Overview and if you still feel like you can progress start with the first part of the next section: Install a Unix-like system and supporting software

(skip the obvious portions if you are already running some unix like OS). Download the latest .LRN distribution from the .LRN repository (currently 2.4.1).

Move the tarball into your /tmp directory (replace dotlrn-2.4.1.tgz with the name of the tarball you downloaded, if you downloaded another version):

mv dotlrn-2.4.1.tgz /tmp/

untar it in that directory

cd /tmp
tar zxf dotlrn-2.4.1.tgz

Installation Process

Continue with the other sections of the installation document, but instead of downloading the OpenACS tarball mentioned in the docs (section "Unpack the OpenACS tarball" in the Install Linux and supporting software document), use the .LRN tarball you just downloaded above. This .LRN distribution includes all OpenACS packages needed to install and run .LRN. Throughout the documentation, use your unpacked .LRN tarball under /tmp/dotlrn-2.4.1 (or name of the directory you unpacked it to) instead of instead of the OpenACS tarball referred to in the documentation.

.LRN is automatically installed and configured as part of the installation process if you install using a standard .LRN distribution.

When installation is complete, restart AOLserver as described in the OpenACS installation instructions.  You'll need to wait a few minutes while dotLRN configures itself.  Reload your browser page.  If installation was successful, you'll see a login page. Use the user name and password you entered for the system administrator.  A page will come up that includes a link to sitewide administration.  Visit the link, then click on the "users" link and then approve the system administrator's .LRN membership.

Explore .LRN

Go to .LRN Administration at http://yourserver/dotlrn/admin.  Create a .LRN Community and a couple of users.

Here are some suggestions for things to check out in dotlrn:

Goto /dotlrn your "workspace". Click the "My Account" link at the top and try the "Customize this portal" link there.  Goto the admin pages for a class or community and try the "Manage Membership" link. Create a new sugroup for a class or community. Edit or create new "Custom Portlets".

Installing .LRN: Using CVS

Setting up the Required Infrastructure

The OpenACS documentation page has extensive installation instructions describing how to install needed database and webserver. Follow the instructions up until the point where you are told to download OpenACS and then continue with this document instead.

Notes on using CVS

CVS commandlines are given in terms of anonymous users, if you have an account on openacs.org, use your login where appropriate. Don't forget to set the CVS_RSH variable in your shell envrioment to "ssh".

Checking out the code

Go to /var/lib/aolserver (create the directory if it is not already present). Checkout the code (this is a complete code checkout and might take a while):

cd /var/lib/aolserver
cvs -d anonymous@cvs.openacs.org:/cvsroot login
cvs -d anonymous@cvs.openacs.org:/cvsroot -r oacs-5-4 co openacs-4
mv openacs-4/packages/dotlrn/install.xml openacs-4

Proceed

You can then proceed with the normal OpenACS installation instructions.

Explore dotLRN

Go to dotLRN Administration at http://yourserver/dotlrn/admin. Make some dotLRN users, terms, departments, classes.

Here are some suggestions for things to check out in dotlrn:

Goto /dotlrn your "workspace". Click the "Control Panel" link at the top and try the "Customize this portal" link there. Goto the admin pages for a class or community and try the "Manage Membership" link. Create a new sugroup for a class or community. Edit or create new "Custom Portlets".

Enjoy!

Automated Installation

As an alternative to the manual CVS checkout and installation described here there are scripts that will automate the install for you. See the OpenACS installation documentation for more details.

Installing .LRN: Using Debian/Ubuntu Packages

Debian

Ubuntu