3f Software Planner project management server installation guide

3f Software Planner server installation guide

Applies to
Version 3.2.0 or above

Topic

Information on how 3f Software Planner server is installed.

Prerequisites

You have fundamental technical knowledge about using and configuring Windows server products and IIS (Internet Information Service)

Article

3f Software Planner server installation file install and configure 3f Software Planner virtually automatically. Some problems can however arise so skimming through this installation guide may save time for you.

1. Pre-installation check list

2. Installation location

3. Database

4. SSL Encryption

5. Starting 3f Software Planner

6. Register 3f Software Planner

7. Common problems

Pre-Installation check list

1. Make sure that your server meets the minimum system requirements

2. IIS (Internet Information Service) is installed. If you need to install IIS, remember to restart your computer before installing 3f Software Planner! MAKE SURE THAT THE DEFAULT WEB SITE IS STARTED

3. Monitor resolution is minimum 1024 X 768 Pixels *

4. Monitor Color is Medium (16 bit) *

5. You are logged in as Administrator on the Windows 2000 or 2003 Server.

6. Signed Active controls are permitted to be run in Internet Explorer *

7. JavaScript is enabled. *

* If you want to run the 3f Software Planner on the server. We recommend that you run it from a work station.

Installation location

1. You can choose the installation folder and drive of the 3f Software Planner. You do not necessarily have to install it in the default IIS folder.

2. 3f Software Planner's virtual directory is called "Iplan" and is always created in the default web site. You can, after the installation, move the virtual directory to a different web site by deleting the Iplan virtual directory and then create a new virtual directory in the web site you want to use. The virtual directory should point to

D:\3f Software Planner 2006\iplan\ (where you substitude D:\3f Software Planner 2006 with the folder where you installed 3f Software Planner)

Note: Always name your new virtual directory Iplan

Database

The installation file contains a so-called merge module that automatically installs MSDE 2000 (Microsoft Desktop Engine) which is 'mini' MS-SQL server. This database works fine up to 15 - 20 simultaneous users.

If the server has a Microsoft SQL Server 2000 the installation routine will detect that and create the database there.

If you want to use a database on a different database server then you can, following the installation move the database to the database server. To see how click here.

SSL encryption

The 3f Software Planner has been developed so that using SSL is possible. For information on SSL encryption and 3f Software Planner click here

Starting 3f Software Planner

Always use 3f Software Planner with Internet Explorer 5.50 or above.

From the server where 3f Software Planner is installed: Enter http://localhost/iplan/

From a different computer: http://192.168.0.1/iplan (Substitute 192.168.0.1 with the I.P. address of your server)

To start 3f Software Planner by double clicking an icon on your desktop computer click here

Register 3f Software Planner

When the installation is finished you have to register the 3f Software Planner. Get the installation key then submit it together with your company name and telephone number. To go to the installation key submission page click here.

Common problems

1. When I enter http://localhost/iplan in my browser nothing happens

1. The 3f Software Planner is always installed in the default web site. Check that the default web site is running.

2. On a server, you can have more than one web site and you can have more than one LAN card. Each of these web sites and LAN cards can have there own I.P. address.

At some point in time somebody may have changed the I.P. address of the Local Host which is done in a regular text file called "Hosts" (note the file has no extension). The file can usually be found in:

C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc

The content of the file can be:

# Copyright (c) 1993-1999 Microsoft Corp.
#
# This is a sample HOSTS file used by Microsoft TCP/IP for Windows.
#
# This file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. Each
# entry should be kept on an individual line. The IP address should
# be placed in the first column followed by the corresponding host name.
# The IP address and the host name should be separated by at least one
# space.
#
# Additionally, comments (such as these) may be inserted on individual
# lines or following the machine name denoted by a '#' symbol.
#
# For example:
#
# 102.54.94.97 rhino.acme.com # source server
# 38.25.63.10 x.acme.com # x client host

127.0.0.1 localhost

In this example, the localhost is 127.0.0.1 meaning that when you type local host in your web browser the IIS will look for the 3f Software Planner in the web site to which this I.P. address is assigned.

If this is not the default web site, then the 3f Software Planner will not start because it cannot be found!

To solve the problem, open your Internet Information Services configuration manager found in the control panel under Administrative Tools. Next, expand the nodes until you see "Default Web Site" then right click and choose Properties.

On the web site tab you will see "IP Address" and to the right of that you will see the I.P. address for the default web site.

Use that I.P. address to start the 3f Software Planner by entering the following in your Internet Explorer 5.5. or above: http://127.0.0.1/iplan (where 127.0.0.1 is substituted with the IP address in YOUR default web site.

We strongly recommend that you do not change anything in your configuration because doing so can have side effects. If the localhost does not point to your default web site, then it is because somebody changed it. (Whoever changed it may have had a very good reason for doing so.)

2. Each time I enter name and password, nothing happens after I press Login

If you are working on the computer where 3f Software Planner is installed:

1. Try to enter the I.P. address instead of entering the computer name.

Example: http://192.168.0.1/iplan (Then press enter)

(Substitute 192.168.0.1 with the I.P. address of your computer or server)

2. Try to enter localhost instead of entering the computer name.

Example: http://localhost/iplan (Then press enter)

If you are working on a different computer than where 3f Software Planner is installed:

1. Try to enter the I.P. address instead of entering the computer name.

Example: http://192.168.0.1/iplan (Then press enter)

(Substitute 192.168.0.1 with the I.P. address of the computer or server where 3f Software Planner is installed)

3. Monitor color

Make sure that the monitor supports medium 16-bit color. *

4. Monitor Resolution

Make sure that the monitor resolution is set to 1024X768 Pixels resolution. *

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