How To Install MediaWiki On Windows In 4 Simple Steps

How To Install MediaWiki On Windows In 4 Simple Steps

Embark on the transformative journey of putting in MediaWiki in your Home windows working system. MediaWiki, the formidable platform that powers Wikipedia, affords a strong and customizable content material administration system, empowering you to create and handle your personal on-line encyclopedia or information repository. As you navigate this text, you’ll uncover the intricate steps concerned in efficiently putting in MediaWiki, from making ready your system to configuring the software program. Brace your self for a complete information that may illuminate the trail in direction of creating and sharing your personal invaluable assortment of information.

installing mediawiki on windows

Earlier than embarking on this set up odyssey, it’s crucial to make sure that your Home windows system meets the minimal necessities for MediaWiki. These conditions embody PHP 8.1 or later, an online server corresponding to Apache or Nginx, and a suitable database administration system like MySQL or MariaDB. Moreover, you will want a textual content editor or built-in improvement setting (IDE) for enhancing configuration information. With these foundational components in place, you may proceed with confidence in direction of the set up course of.

The set up course of for MediaWiki on Home windows could be broadly divided into two distinct phases: preliminary setup and database configuration. Throughout the preliminary setup, you’ll obtain the MediaWiki software program bundle and extract it to a delegated listing in your system. Subsequently, you’ll create a brand new database and a database person with applicable permissions. Armed with the required database credentials, you may proceed to the configuration section, the place you’ll modify the MediaWiki configuration information to ascertain the connection between the software program and the database. Upon profitable configuration, it is possible for you to to entry the MediaWiki interface and begin the thrilling job of making and managing your very personal on-line encyclopedia.

System Necessities for MediaWiki on Home windows

MediaWiki is a robust and versatile content material administration system (CMS) that’s used to create and handle wikis. It’s an open-source software program that’s freely accessible for obtain and use. MediaWiki is written in PHP and requires an online server, corresponding to Apache or Nginx, and a database, corresponding to MySQL or PostgreSQL, to run.

The next are the minimal system necessities for MediaWiki on Home windows:

Requirement Particulars
Working system Home windows 7 or later
Internet server Apache 2.4 or Nginx 1.10 or later
Database MySQL 5.7 or PostgreSQL 9.6 or later
PHP 7.2 or later
Reminiscence No less than 256MB, really helpful 512MB or extra
Disk house No less than 1GB, really helpful 2GB or extra

Along with the minimal necessities, the next software program can be really helpful:

  • PHP extensions: GD, mbstring, curl, zip, XML, iconv
  • ImageMagick or GraphicsMagick for picture processing
  • A caching system, corresponding to Memcached or Redis

Downloading and Extracting the MediaWiki Recordsdata

To put in MediaWiki on Home windows, you first have to obtain the software program bundle from the official MediaWiki web site. The most recent steady model is at present MediaWiki 1.38.4, which could be downloaded as a ZIP file from the next hyperlink:

https://releases.wikimedia.org/mediawiki/1.38/mediawiki-1.38.4.zip

As soon as the ZIP file has been downloaded, you might want to extract its contents to a listing in your laptop. You need to use any ZIP extraction software program for this goal, corresponding to WinRAR or 7-Zip.

Extracting the MediaWiki Recordsdata

To extract the MediaWiki information, observe these steps:

  1. Proper-click on the ZIP file and choose “Extract All…” from the context menu.
  2. Within the “Extract Compressed (Zipped) Folders” window, choose the vacation spot folder the place you wish to extract the information. It’s endorsed to create a brand new folder particularly for MediaWiki, corresponding to “C:MediaWiki”.
  3. Click on the “Extract” button to start out the extraction course of.
  4. As soon as the extraction is full, one can find the MediaWiki information within the specified vacation spot folder.

Word: The MediaWiki ZIP file incorporates a lot of information and directories. The extraction course of could take a number of minutes to finish, relying on the velocity of your laptop and the dimensions of the ZIP file.

Setting Up the Internet Server (e.g., Apache)

To put in MediaWiki, you will want an online server corresponding to Apache. Here is find out how to arrange Apache on Home windows:

  1. Obtain the newest Apache HTTP Server from the Apache Lounge web site.
  2. Set up Apache by following the on-screen directions.
  3. Configure Apache to serve MediaWiki:
    1. Open the Apache configuration file (httpd.conf) in a textual content editor.
    2. Find the part about digital hosts and add the next directives:

“`html

DocumentRoot “C:pathtoyourMediaWikiinstallation”
ServerName your.area.com

“`

  • Save the configuration file and restart Apache.
  • Further Configuration Settings

    Chances are you’ll have to make further configuration modifications in Apache to optimize MediaWiki’s efficiency. Listed here are some really helpful settings:

    Setting Worth
    MaxRequestWorkers 100
    MaxConnectionsPerChild 100
    KeepAliveTimeout 5
    LimitRequestBody 1024000000

    These settings will assist deal with elevated visitors and enhance MediaWiki’s total responsiveness.

    Configuring the Database (e.g., MySQL)

    Earlier than you may set up MediaWiki, you might want to configure a database for it to make use of. A database is a set of associated information, and it is the place MediaWiki will retailer all of its content material, corresponding to pages, revisions, and person accounts.

    To create a database, you will want to make use of a database administration system (DBMS). We suggest utilizing MySQL, as it’s a in style and easy-to-use DBMS that’s suitable with MediaWiki.

    After you have put in MySQL, you may create a database for MediaWiki by following these steps:

    1. Open the MySQL command immediate.
    2. Kind the next command to create a database named “my_wiki”:
    3. “`
      CREATE DATABASE my_wiki;
      “`

    4. Kind the next command to create a person named “my_wiki_user” with the password “my_wiki_password” and grant all of them privileges on the “my_wiki” database:
    5. “`
      CREATE USER ‘my_wiki_user’@’localhost’ IDENTIFIED BY ‘my_wiki_password’;
      GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON my_wiki.* TO ‘my_wiki_user’@’localhost’;
      “`

    Now that you’ve got created a database and a person for MediaWiki, you may proceed with the set up course of.

    Further Notes:

    Setting Suggestion
    Database title my_wiki
    Database person my_wiki_user
    Database password my_wiki_password

    You may change these settings to no matter you want, however remember to bear in mind them, as you will want them later through the MediaWiki set up course of.

    Creating the MediaWiki Database and Consumer

    Earlier than putting in MediaWiki, you might want to create a database and a database person for use by MediaWiki. The next steps will information you thru the method:

    1. Creating the Database

    Utilizing your most popular database administration device (e.g., MySQL or MariaDB), create a brand new empty database. For this instance, we’ll title it “wikidb”.

    2. Creating the Database Consumer

    Subsequent, create a brand new database person with the next privileges:

    • SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, CREATE, DROP, ALTER, INDEX, CREATE TEMPORARY TABLES

    For this instance, we’ll title the person “wikiuser” and grant it entry to the “wikidb” database.

    3. Modifying the Database Consumer Privileges

    To make sure that MediaWiki can entry the database with out utilizing a password, you might want to disable password authentication for the “wikiuser” account. This could sometimes be achieved utilizing the next command:

    “`sql
    GRANT USAGE ON *.* TO ‘wikiuser’@’localhost’ IDENTIFIED BY ”;
    “`

    4. Flushing Privileges

    To make the modifications efficient, execute the next command:

    “`sql
    FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
    “`

    5. Configuring the Database Parameters

    Within the MediaWiki configuration file (normally situated at “LocalSettings.php”), replace the next settings to mirror the database particulars you simply configured:

    Setting Worth
    $wgDBserver ‘localhost’
    $wgDBname ‘wikidb’
    $wgDBuser ‘wikiuser’
    $wgDBpassword ” (depart empty)

    Modifying the LocalSettings.php File

    Now that MediaWiki is put in and configured, it is time to modify the default settings to match your particular necessities.

    The LocalSettings.php file is an important configuration file that incorporates the settings in your MediaWiki set up. It is situated within the ‘config’ subdirectory of your MediaWiki set up listing. To switch the file, you should utilize any textual content editor, corresponding to Notepad or Atom.

    Open the LocalSettings.php file and find the next part:

    “`php
    $wgSitename = “My MediaWiki”;
    $wgMetaNamespace = “My_Meta_Namespace”;
    “`

    Right here, you may edit the values to change the positioning title and the namespace for metadata pages.

    Moreover, if you wish to join your MediaWiki set up to a database, you might want to configure the database settings within the LocalSettings.php file. Discover the next part:

    “`php
    $wgDBserver = “localhost”;
    $wgDBuser = “my_user”;
    $wgDBpassword = “my_password”;
    $wgDBname = “my_database”;
    “`

    Exchange the default values with the right database info. You may also specify the database sort by setting the $wgDBtype variable. For instance, for a MySQL database, you’d set $wgDBtype = “mysql”;

    After you have made the required modifications, save the LocalSettings.php file and restart Apache to use the brand new settings.

    Finishing the Set up and Configuration

    1. Working the Internet Server

    After finishing the MediaWiki set up, execute the net server to run the software program. When you use Apache, use the next command:

    apachectl begin
    

    2. Configuring Firewall

    Enable incoming connections to port 80, which MediaWiki sometimes makes use of. In Home windows Firewall, open the "Inbound Guidelines" part and create a brand new rule for TCP Port 80.

    3. Creating Database

    Use a database administration system like MySQL or MariaDB to create a brand new database for MediaWiki. The database title, username, and password ought to match these specified within the LocalSettings.php file.

    4. Setting Up MySQL

    As soon as the database is created, execute the next command to generate the MediaWiki database tables:

    php upkeep/set up.php --dbuser=YOUR_USERNAME --dbpass=YOUR_PASSWORD --dbname=DATABASE_NAME
    

    5. Configuring Digital Hosts

    When you’re utilizing Apache with SSL, arrange digital hosts to deal with HTTP and HTTPS connections. Add the next strains to your Apache configuration file:

    <VirtualHost *:80>
      ServerName instance.com
      Redirect everlasting / https://instance.com/
    </VirtualHost>
    
    <VirtualHost *:443>
      ServerName instance.com
      DocumentRoot "/path/to/mediawiki"
      SSLCertificateFile "/path/to/certificates.pem"
      SSLCertificateKeyFile "/path/to/key.pem"
    </VirtualHost>
    

    6. Enabling Extensions

    MediaWiki extensions present further performance. To allow extensions, edit the LocalSettings.php file and add the next strains:

    wfLoadExtension( 'ExtensionName' );
    

    7. Troubleshooting

    PHP Model: Guarantee you’ve gotten PHP 5.6 or later put in.
    Server Permissions: Test that the net server person has write permissions to the MediaWiki listing.
    Database Configuration: Confirm that the database title, username, and password are right in LocalSettings.php.
    Extension Compatibility: Ensure that the extensions you are enabling are suitable together with your MediaWiki model.
    Apache Configuration: Make sure that Apache is configured to deal with MediaWiki requests appropriately.
    Firewall: Make sure that port 80 isn’t blocked by a firewall.
    Error Log: Test the MediaWiki error log (var/log/mediawiki/error.log) for any errors throughout set up or configuration.

    Establishing Digital Hosts for A number of Wikis

    To allow a number of wikis to coexist on a single server, you might want to arrange digital hosts. Every digital host represents a particular area title or IP deal with and factors to the corresponding wiki’s listing.

    Making a Digital Host for Every Wiki

    Within the Apache configuration file (httpd.conf), you might want to create a digital host block for every wiki. This block ought to embody the next components:

    1. NameVirtualHost: The area title or IP deal with related to the wiki.
    2. DocumentRoot: The listing the place the wiki’s information are saved.
    3. VirtualHost: The IP deal with and port quantity that the digital host will reply to.
    Digital Host Identify Doc Root Digital Host
    wiki1.instance.com /var/www/wiki1 127.0.0.1:8080
    wiki2.instance.com /var/www/wiki2 127.0.0.1:8081

    Testing the Digital Hosts

    After you have created the digital host blocks, you may take a look at them by including the next line to the tip of the httpd.conf file:

    Embody /and so on/httpd/sites-enabled/*.conf

    Restart Apache and go to the domains or IP addresses of your wikis to see in the event that they resolve appropriately.

    Customizing MediaWiki with Extensions and Themes


    Extensions

    Extensions are add-ons that reach the performance of MediaWiki. They can be utilized so as to add new options, corresponding to polls, maps, or calculators. To put in an extension, obtain it from the MediaWiki Extensions Listing and unzip it onto your server. Then, add the road “extensionName” to your LocalSettings.php file. Activate the extension by including the next strains to your LocalSettings.php file.

    wfLoadExtension( 'extensionName' );
    wfSetupExtension( 'extensionName' );

    Themes

    Themes management the looks of MediaWiki pages. To put in a theme, obtain it from the MediaWiki Themes Listing and unzip it onto your server. Then, add the road “$wgDefaultTheme” to your LocalSettings.php file.

    Discovering Extensions and Themes

    The MediaWiki group has created an enormous repository of extensions and themes. You may browse the newest releases or seek for particular options on the MediaWiki Extensions Listing and MediaWiki Themes Listing web sites.

    Putting in Extensions and Themes from the Internet Interface

    MediaWiki additionally supplies a handy net interface for putting in extensions and themes. To make use of this function, log in to your MediaWiki occasion as an administrator and navigate to the “Extension Supervisor” or “Theme Supervisor” pages. From right here, you may browse and set up extensions and themes straight from the MediaWiki web site.

    Managing Extensions and Themes

    After you have put in extensions and themes, you may handle them by the MediaWiki dashboard. The “Extension Supervisor” and “Theme Supervisor” pages mean you can allow, disable, and configure put in extensions and themes.

    Creating Your Personal Extensions and Themes

    You probably have programming expertise, you may create your personal extensions and themes. To do that, consult with the MediaWiki documentation for builders. Customizing MediaWiki with extensions and themes is an effective way to tailor your wiki to particular wants and improve person expertise.

    Extension Kind Description
    Parser Features Add new capabilities to the MediaWiki parser.
    Output Format Management how content material is displayed.
    Particular Pages Create new particular pages that present further performance.
    Hooks Alter the conduct of MediaWiki by intercepting occasions.
    Widgets Add interactive components to pages.

    Troubleshooting Widespread Set up Points

    1. Unable to entry MySQL database

    Ensure that MySQL is operating and the database person has the required privileges. Test the database username, password, and host in LocalSettings.php.

    2. Error: Cannot hook up with MySQL server

    Confirm that MySQL is operating on the default port (3306) or the port laid out in LocalSettings.php. Test if there’s a firewall blocking the connection.

    3. Error: Cannot discover Apache server

    Ensure that Apache is operating and listening on port 80. Test that the RewriteEngine is enabled within the Apache configuration.

    4. Error: PHP model not supported

    MediaWiki requires PHP 7.2 or larger. Replace PHP to the required model or set up a suitable model of MediaWiki.

    5. Error: Cannot write to information listing

    Make sure that the info listing laid out in LocalSettings.php has write permissions for the net server person.

    6. Error: Invalid session handler

    Confirm that the session handler is ready to “information” in LocalSettings.php and that the session listing has write permissions for the net server person.

    7. Error: Cannot load extension

    Ensure that the extension is put in and enabled within the PHP configuration. Test the extension title and path in LocalSettings.php.

    8. Error: lacking imagemagick library

    Set up the ImageMagick library on the server and ensure it’s added to the system PATH.

    9. Error: DataTables PHP extension lacking

    Set up the DataTables PHP extension and allow it within the PHP configuration.

    10. Error: Invalid URI laid out in base property

    Answer
    Make sure that the bottom URL in LocalSettings.php is a legitimate and accessible URL. It ought to begin with “http” or “https” and don’t have any trailing slashes.

    Test if any net server configuration settings are overriding the bottom URL.

    Confirm that the server’s hostname or IP deal with is correctly configured within the Apache or Nginx configuration.

    Disable any browser extensions or plugins which may be interfering with the URL parsing.

    Attempt accessing the MediaWiki website from one other browser or laptop to rule out browser-specific points.

    How To Set up MediaWiki On Home windows

    Earlier than we start, guarantee that you’ve got the next necessities:

    • Home windows 10 or later
    • IIS (Web Data Providers) 8.5 or later
    • PHP 7.1 or later
    • MySQL 5.6 or later

    After you have these necessities, you may proceed with the set up.

    Step 1: Set up IIS

    When you would not have IIS put in, you may set up it from the Home windows Management Panel.

    1. Open the Management Panel.
    2. Click on on “Applications and Options”.
    3. Click on on “Flip Home windows options on or off”.
    4. Broaden the “Web Data Providers” node.
    5. Choose the “Internet Server (IIS)” checkbox.
    6. Click on on “OK”.

    Step 2: Set up PHP

    You may obtain PHP from the official PHP web site.

    1. Browse to the PHP obtain web page.
    2. Choose the newest steady PHP model.
    3. Click on on the “Obtain” button.
    4. Run the PHP installer.
    5. Choose the “IIS” choice.
    6. Click on on “Set up”.

    Step 3: Set up MySQL

    You may obtain MySQL from the official MySQL web site.

    1. Browse to the MySQL obtain web page.
    2. Choose the newest steady MySQL model.
    3. Click on on the “Obtain” button.
    4. Run the MySQL installer.
    5. Choose the “Server” choice.
    6. Click on on “Set up”.

    Step 4: Configure IIS

    Now that you’ve got IIS, PHP, and MySQL put in, you might want to configure IIS to make use of PHP and MySQL.

    1. Open the IIS Supervisor.
    2. Broaden the “Websites” node.
    3. Proper-click on the “Default Internet Website” icon and choose “Properties”.
    4. Click on on the “Listing Safety” tab.
    5. Click on on the “Edit” button.
    6. Choose the “Nameless entry” choice.
    7. Click on on the “OK” button.
    8. Click on on the “OK” button.

    Step 5: Obtain MediaWiki

    You may obtain MediaWiki from the official MediaWiki web site.

    1. Browse to the MediaWiki obtain web page.
    2. Click on on the “Obtain MediaWiki” button.
    3. Extract the MediaWiki information to a folder in your laptop.

    Step 6: Copy MediaWiki information to IIS

    Now that you’ve got MediaWiki downloaded, you might want to copy the information to your IIS web site.

    1. Open the IIS Supervisor.
    2. Broaden the “Websites” node.
    3. Proper-click on the “Default Internet Website” icon and choose “Discover”.
    4. Copy the MediaWiki information to the “wwwroot” folder.

    Step 7: Create a MySQL database

    Now that you’ve got MediaWiki copied to your IIS web site, you might want to create a MySQL database for MediaWiki to make use of.

    1. Open the MySQL Command Immediate.
    2. Kind the next command:

    3. CREATE DATABASE mediawiki;

    4. Press Enter.
    5. Kind the next command:

    6. GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON mediawiki.* TO 'mediawiki'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'password';

    7. Press Enter.
    8. Kind the next command:

    9. FLUSH PRIVILEGES;

    10. Press Enter.

    Step 8: Configure MediaWiki

    Now that you’ve got a MySQL database created, you might want to configure MediaWiki to make use of it.

    1. Open the “LocalSettings.php” file within the MediaWiki folder.
    2. Discover the next strains:

    3. $wgDBserver = "localhost";
      $wgDBuser = "mediawiki";
      $wgDBpassword = "password";
      $wgDBname = "mediawiki";

    4. Exchange the values with the suitable values in your database.
    5. Save the file.

    Step 9: Set up MediaWiki

    Now that you’ve got MediaWiki configured, you may set up it.

    1. Browse to your MediaWiki web site.
    2. Comply with the on-screen directions.

    Folks Additionally Ask About

    How do I entry my MediaWiki database?

    You may entry your MediaWiki database utilizing the MySQL Command Immediate.

    1. Open the MySQL Command Immediate.
    2. Kind the next command:

    3. mysql -u mediawiki -p mediawiki

    4. Press Enter.
    5. Enter your password when prompted.

    How do I replace MediaWiki?

    You may replace MediaWiki by downloading the newest model from the official MediaWiki web site and copying the information to your IIS web site.

    1. Obtain the newest model of MediaWiki from the official MediaWiki web site.
    2. Extract the MediaWiki information to a folder in your laptop.
    3. Open the IIS Supervisor.
    4. Broaden the “Websites” node.
    5. Proper-click on the “Default Internet Website” icon and choose “Discover”.
    6. Copy the MediaWiki information to the “wwwroot” folder.

    How do I troubleshoot MediaWiki?

    In case you are having issues with MediaWiki, you may test the MediaWiki documentation or ask for assistance on the MediaWiki boards.

    1. Browse to the MediaWiki documentation.
    2. Put up a query on the MediaWiki boards.