KNOWLEDGE FORUM 4 MACINTOSH SERVER ADMINISTRATOR S GUIDE

Transcription

1 KNOWLEDGE FORUM 4 MACINTOSH SERVER ADMINISTRATOR S GUIDE

2 Knowledge Forum is a registered trademark of Knowledge Building Concepts. Administrator s Guide Macintosh Server--Version 4.1 or above Macintosh and QuickTime are registered trademarks of Apple Computers, Inc. Apple Computer, Inc. makes no warranties whatsoever, either expressed or implied, regarding this product, including warranties with respect to its merchantability or its fitness for any particular purpose. Internet Explorer is a registered trademark of Microsoft, Inc. Netscape and the Netscape N and Ship's Wheel logos are registered trademarks of Netscape Communications Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. Knowledge Forum Administrator s Guide 2003 Learning in Motion, Inc.

3 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 GETTING STARTED 1.1 Macintosh CD-ROM The Server Hardware Role of the Administrator Setting Up the Knowledge Forum Server Setting Up a Database Overview of Administrator Options Accessing the Administrative Component of Knowledge Forum The Administrator Options Edit Server Configuration Administrator Password Web Port New Database Language Databases Languages Languages Directory Attachments Directory Movies Directory Streaming Server Help URL Access Log Error Log Save and Restart Restore Manager Access Log In To Knowledge Forum Administrator Logout WORKING FROM THE KNOWLEDGE FORUM SERVER 3.1 Creating a Database from the Knowledge Forum Server Modifying Kforumd.conf Shutting Down and Restarting the Server from the Knowledge Forum Server i

4 TABLE OF CONTENTS 4 MOVING FILES AND BACKING UP DATABASES 4.1 Moving Your Files Relative Path Name Absolute Path Name Movies Directory and Streaming Server Backing Up Your Database TROUBLESHOOTING 5.1 Troubleshooting ii

5 1 GETTING STARTED 1.1 MACINTOSH CD-ROM Your Knowledge Forum software is delivered on a CD-ROM. The CD-ROM contains the following files and folders for a Macintosh: Note: Read chapter 1 before installing. Read Me file Knowledge Forum Server folder containing: Knowledge Forum 4.x Languages folder (containing files for language localizations) Knowledge Forum 4 Administrator s Guide in PDF format Knowledge Forum 4 User s Guide in PDF format 1.2 THE SERVER HARDWARE The Knowledge Forum Server software manages the communications and resources for a set of users. The server hardware is an important element in a successful Knowledge Forum experience. The Knowledge Forum Server software should be located on a dedicated Macintosh, without other active applications. We recommend the following server requirements: Power Macintosh with Mac OS X or above 128 MB of RAM External hard drive, CD-ROM burner, tape drive, or zip drive (for back-ups) TCP/IP installed and operational with Internet access CD-ROM drive (to load the initial program) Optional: QuickTime Streaming Server installed (for streaming movies) 1 1

6 1 GETTING STARTED 1.3 ROLE OF THE ADMINISTRATOR The Knowledge Forum administrator prepares Knowledge Forum for use. The administrator launches the server, creates the Knowledge Forum database, and makes any necessary changes to the server configuration. This is done prior to the administrator or any other users logging in to Knowledge Forum. The administrative tasks are done from the Administrative Component of Knowledge Forum separate from Knowledge Forum, itself. The Administrative Component and Knowledge Forum have different login pages, and require different passwords. The following table describes some of the differences between the Administrative Component and Knowledge Forum. Item Administrative Component Knowledge Forum Login Page Default Username NA manager Default Password admin build Tasks Covered In Administrator s Guide User s Guide 1.4 SETTING UP THE KNOWLEDGE FORUM SERVER In order to set up the Knowledge Forum Server, you must place the server on your server machine and launch it. You can then log in to the Administrative Component of Knowledge Forum and create a database. To install and launch the Knowledge Forum Server: Insert the Knowledge Forum 4.x CD-ROM in the machine that will be your server.

7 1 GETTING STARTED 2. Copy the Knowledge Forum Server folder to the hard drive of the machine that will be your server machine. The folder contains the following: Note: The Languages folder contains files for languages such as French, Japanese, and Swedish. (Languages may vary.) See section to learn more about languages. Knowledge Forum 4.x Languages folder Knowledge Forum Server folder 2. Double-click to launch the server. A status window appears. Knowledge Forum Server status window When the server opens, it automatically creates several files (kf-access.log, kf-error.log, and kforumd.conf) and folders (Attachments and Movies) in the Knowledge Forum Server folder on the hard drive. The file kforumd.conf is the Server Configuration file, which defines the parameters for the Knowledge Forum Server. 1 3

8 1 GETTING STARTED Stores attachments Stores movies Keeps log of user access Defines parameters Keeps log of errors Note: See section to learn more about progressive and streaming movies. Files created in the Knowledge Forum folder At this point, the server is up and running, works with progressive movies, and uses the default Web port of It still needs a database. 1.5 SETTING UP A DATABASE You must create a database before you or your users try to access Knowledge Forum. This is done from the Administrative Component of Knowledge Forum, which you can access from your browser. To access the Administrative Component of Knowledge Forum: 1. Open a browser (on the same or different machine as your server). 2. Access the Administrative Component through the browser by typing the name or IP address of the machine followed by a colon, the default Web port (8080), and /admin. 1 4 Accessing Knowledge Forum s Administrative Component using a server name

9 1 GETTING STARTED Accessing Knowledge Forum s Administrative Component using an IP address The Administrator Login page appears. Administrator Login page 3. Type the default password, admin, in the Password field. 4. Click. The Administrator Options page appears. Administrator Options page 5. Click the Edit Server Configuration link. The Edit Server Configuration page opens. From here you can create your database. 1 5

10 1 GETTING STARTED Note: All of the configuration items (including new database language and databases) are covered in section 2.2. Note: See section to learn more about the new database language and section to learn more about databases. Edit Server Configuration page Setting up a database involves the New Database Language and Databases sections of the Edit Server Configuration page. The New Database Language section lets you choose which language certain standard Knowledge Forum items such as the Welcome view title, sample group name, and the provided scaffolds and supports will appear in. The languages listed in the New Database Language section are the ones stored in your Languages directory (folder). You can set the new database language only at the creation of the database. The Databases section lets you create a database. Once a database is added to the Databases list box it will open automatically each time you open the server, and users will be able to log in and access it. For your changes to take effect, you must save the Server Configuration file and restart the server. 1 6

11 1 GETTING STARTED To choose a database language and define a database name: Tip: Do not include apostrophes or quotation marks in database names. Tip: Include a.kdb extension at the end of your database name. While not required, it will allow you to easily recognize database files in the Knowledge Forum Server folder. Note: See section 3.1 to learn more about creating a database that does not open automatically with the server. 1. In the New Database Language section, click the radio button next to the language you want to designate as the language of the new database. 2. Type the database name in the Databases field. Database name typed 3. Click. The database is added to the Databases list box. Database added 4. Click to save the Server Configuration file and restart the server. You will return to the Administrator Options page. Every time the server opens, the added database will open and be available for users to access. The database will always open with the same database language you selected when the database was created. 1 7

12 2.1 OVERVIEW OF ADMINISTRATOR OPTIONS There are several options available exclusively to administrators in Knowledge Forum. Administrators can access these options from the Administrative Component of Knowledge Forum. Administrators can edit the Server Configuration file (which also allows you to add a database), restore manager access to Knowledge Forum, go to the Knowledge Forum log in page, and log out ACCESSING THE ADMINISTRATIVE COMPONENT OF KNOWLEDGE FORUM You can access the Administrative Component of Knowledge Forum from the Administrator Login page on your browser. To access the Administrative Component of Knowledge Forum: 1. Open a browser (on the same or different machine as your server). 2. Access the Administrative Component through the browser by typing the name or IP address of the machine followed by a colon, the default Web port (8080), and /admin. Accessing Knowledge Forum s Administrative Component using a server name Accessing Knowledge Forum s Administrative Component using an IP address The Administrator Login page appears. Administrator Login page 2 1

13 3. Type the default password, admin, in the Password field. 4. Click. The Administrator Options page appears. Administrator Options page THE ADMINISTRATOR OPTIONS The Administrator Options page contains links to four options. The following table describes the administrator options. Administrator Section Options Covered Description Edit Server Configuration 2.2 Allows you to make changes to the Server Configuration file (kforumd.conf), save your changes, and restart the server. The configurable items are the administrator password, Web port, new database language, database, languages, Languages directory, Attachments directory, Movies directory, streaming server, help URL, access log, and error log. Restore Manager Access 2.3 Provides a back-up method of adding a manager in case a manager account becomes inaccessible. Log In To Knowledge Forum 2.4 Takes you to the Welcome to Knowledge Forum page, where you can log in to Knowledge Forum. 2 2 Logout 2.5 Returns you to the Administrator Login page.

14 2.2 EDIT SERVER CONFIGURATION Note: You can also make changes to kforumd.conf directly from the server machine. See section 3.2 to learn more about modifying the Server Configuration file directly. You can modify the Server Configuration file, kforumd.conf, by making changes in the Edit Server Configuration page, which writes the changes to kforumd.conf. You can enter these changes from any machine s browser as long as you are logged in to the Administrative Component of Knowledge Forum. For changes to take effect, you must save the changes and restart the server. The Edit Server Configuration page is accessed from the Administrator Options page. Administrator Options page To access the Edit Server Configuration page from the Administrator Options page: Click the Edit Server Configuration link. The Edit Server Configuration page opens. 2 3

15 Edit Server Configuration page There are a number of items that you can configure from the Server Configuration file. Each configuration item is described below, and steps are given for configuring each item from the Edit Server Configuration page. However, even though as an administrator you have control over where items are stored, we recommend that you leave your files in the Knowledge Forum Server folder and limit your modifications to the Administrator Password, Web Port, New Database Language, Databases, Languages, and Streaming Server sections of the Server Configuration file ADMINISTRATOR PASSWORD 2 4 The default administrator password is admin. This grants you access to the Administrative Component of Knowledge Forum.

16 Administrator Password field CHANGING THE ADMINISTRATOR PASSWORD You can change the administrator password. To change the administrator password from the Edit Server Configuration page: 1. Type a new password in the Administrator Password field. 2. After all changes to the Edit Server Configuration page are complete, click WEB PORT. The server defaults to port To access the database, the user needs to know what port the server is communicating through. When a user signs into Knowledge Forum, the Web port is used in the browser URL address: Servermachine is the name or IP address of the machine running the server, and port# is the number assigned in the Server Configuration file. You may need to change the port number because of firewall restrictions. Some may need to poke a hole in a firewall for a certain port. Port 8080 is a port that some firewalls already have open. CHANGING THE WEB PORT You can change the Web port. Web Port field 2 5

17 To change the Web port from the Edit Server Configuration page: 1. Type the new port number in the Web Port field. 2. After all changes to the Edit Server Configuration page are complete, click. If you change the Web port and restart, your browser will be redirected to the new port. If the selected Web port is unavailable and you receive a connection failure error, the server will revert to the last successfully used port. However, the unavailable Web port will still be saved in the Server Configuration file. You must return to the Edit Server Configuration page, enter an available Web port, and save it before logging out of the Administrator Options page NEW DATABASE LANGUAGE User selected English as the language when he or she logged in, so items such as links, buttons, and headers appear in English. The new database language determines which language some of the standard Knowledge Forum items such as the Welcome view title, sample group name, and the provided scaffolds and their supports will appear in for a new database. The language these items appear in will not change even if a user selects a different language during log in. 2 6 Administrator selected French as the new database language when this database was created, so items such as the standard scaffolds and supports will appear in French. Standard scaffolds and supports

18 SELECTING A NEW DATABASE LANGUAGE The only chance to set the database language is when the database is created. Once set, it cannot be changed. (However, editors and managers could manually change the items set by the new database language by using each item s edit link in Knowledge Forum.) Your language choices are listed in the New Database Language section of the Edit Server Configuration page. The choices are determined by the languages in your Languages directory (folder). The default new database language on the Edit Server Configuration page is English. Note: You can locate the database file outside the Knowledge Forum Server file but it is not recommended. See section 4.1 to learn more about moving files. Note: You can also create a database from the Knowledge Forum Server. See chapter 3 to learn more about creating a database from the server machine. New Database Language section with language radio buttons To select a new database language: 1. In the New Database Language section, click the radio button next to the language you want to designate as the new database language. 2. After all changes to the Edit Server Configuration page are complete, click DATABASES. The Databases section of the Edit Server Configuration page defines which databases will open automatically with the launch of the Knowledge Forum Server. When you add a new database in the Server Configuration file, it will be created and opened automatically during the restart of the server. You can also remove a database from the Server Configuration file if you are not using it anymore, and do not want it to open when the server is launched. ADDING A DATABASE TO THE SERVER CONFIGURATION FILE You can add a database to open automatically with the launch of the Knowledge Forum Server. 2 7

19 Tip: Do not include apostrophes or quotation marks in database names. Tip: Include a.kdb extension at the end of your database name. While not required, it will allow you to easily recognize database files in the Knowledge Forum Server folder. Tip: If the database you are adding already exists on the Knowledge Forum Server, be sure to type the database s name exactly. To add a database (so it will open automatically with the server) from the Edit Server Configuration page: 1. Type the database name in the Databases field. 2. Click to add the database to the Databases list box. Database added 3. After all changes to the Edit Server Configuration page are complete, click. If the database did not exist before you typed the database name in the Databases field, it will be created. All databases added to the Databases list box will open automatically with the launch of the server and be available for users to access. REMOVING A DATABASE FROM THE SERVER CONFIGURATION FILE You can remove a database so it will not open automatically with the launch of the Knowledge Forum Server. The database will still exist on the Knowledge Forum Server, but it will no longer be available to users. To remove a database (so it will not open automatically with the server) from the Edit Server Configuration page: 1. Select the database to remove from the Databases list box. Database selected 2. Click to delete the database from the Databases list box. 3. After all changes to the Edit Server Configuration page are complete, click. 2 8 When the server restarts, the database will no longer be available to users.

20 2.2.5 LANGUAGES Note: If additional languages become available from the Knowledge Forum Web site, you will need to download the new language files and place them in the Languages directory. Languages are activated by selecting them from the Languages section of the Server Configuration file. In addition to the default language, English, other languages are available. These language files, which include a.zao extension in their file names, are located in the Languages directory of the Knowledge Forum 4.x folder. SELECTING A LANGUAGE You can select which language or languages you want to be available for your Knowledge Forum users. Each potential choice is listed in the Languages section of the Edit Server Configuration page next to a check box. Those languages with a check in their corresponding check box will be active. English is always available, and is therefore not listed and has no check box. Languages section with language check boxes To select a language: 1. In the Languages section, click the check box next to each language you want available. 2. After all changes to the Edit Server Configuration page are complete, click. After you save the Server Configuration file and restart the server, the chosen languages will be available in the Language drop-down list of the Welcome to Knowledge Forum page. 2 9

21 Available languages in the Language drop-down list of Knowledge Forum Warning: Without the proper fonts and browser settings, you will not be able to properly view certain letters or character-based languages. Your Languages and New Database Language sections may look similar to the following example, or have question marks in place of the language names. Note: You can locate the Languages directory outside the Knowledge Forum Server folder. See section 4.1 to learn more about moving files View of Languages section without the proper fonts For correct language display, set your browser s character set to UTF-8 and install the proper fonts for character-based languages LANGUAGES DIRECTORY The Languages directory (folder) stores all available languages. In order for a language to be active, it must be added in the Languages section of the Server Configuration file. The Languages Directory setting determines the name and location of the folder that contains the languages. The name defaults to Languages, which is located in the Knowledge Forum Server folder. DESIGNATING A NEW PATH NAME FOR THE LANGUAGES DIRECTORY You can move the Languages directory but there is rarely a need to do this, so it is not recommended. If you move the Languages directory and its contents to a new location on the server, you must also designate the new path name in the Languages Directory field.

22 Languages Directory field To designate a new path name for the Languages directory: 1. From the server machine, move the Languages directory and its contents to a new location on the server. 2. From the Edit Server Configuration page, type the new path name for the Languages directory in the Languages Directory field. The new path name must match the location you moved the directory to on the server. 3. After all changes to the Edit Server Configuration page are complete, click ATTACHMENTS DIRECTORY. Note: You can locate the Attachments directory outside the Knowledge Forum Server folder. See section 4.1 to learn more about moving files. The Attachments directory (folder) stores all the attachments uploaded by users. A folder for each database opened by the server exists within the Attachments directory. Each database s folder in the Attachments directory contains the attachments (including pictures) for that database. If you move a database to another machine, you must also move that database s folder in the Attachments directory. Folder for database in Attachments directory DESIGNATING A NEW PATH NAME FOR THE ATTACHMENTS DIRECTORY You can move the Attachments directory but there is rarely a need to do this, so it is not recommended. If you move the Attachments directory and its contents to a new location on the server, you must also designate the new path name in the Attachments Directory field. The name defaults to Attachments, which is located in the Knowledge Forum Server folder. 2 11

23 Attachments Directory field To designate a new path name for the Attachments directory: 1. From the server machine, move the Attachments directory and its contents to a new location on the server. 2. From the Edit Server Configuration page, type the new path name for the Attachments directory in the Attachments Directory field. The new path name must match the location you moved the directory to on the server. 3. After all changes to the Edit Server Configuration page are complete, click MOVIES DIRECTORY. Note: See section to learn more about movies. Note: You can locate the Movies directory outside the Knowledge Forum Server folder. You will want to do this if you have servers on different ports and have installed a streaming server. See section to learn more about the streaming server and moving files. The Movies directory (folder) stores all the QuickTime movies uploaded by users. A folder for each database opened by the server exists within the Movies directory. Each database s folder in the Movies directory contains the QuickTime movies for that database. If you move a database to another machine, you must also move that database s folder in the Movies directory. Folder for database in Movies directory DESIGNATING A NEW PATH NAME FOR THE MOVIES DIRECTORY 2 12 You can move the Movies directory but it is only required when you have servers on different ports and are running a streaming server. The streaming server can only point to one directory, so all QuickTime movies must be stored in the same Movies directory. If you move the Movies directory and its contents to a new location on the server, you must also designate the new path name in the Movies Directory field. The name defaults to Movies, which is located in the Knowledge Forum Server folder.

24 Movies Directory field To designate a new path name for the Movies directory: 1. From the server machine, move the Movies directory and its contents to a new location on the server. 2. From the Edit Server Configuration page, type the new path name for the Movies directory in the Movies Directory field. The new path name must match the location you moved the directory to on the server. 3. After all changes to the Edit Server Configuration page are complete, click STREAMING SERVER. Knowledge Forum can play progressive or streaming QuickTime movies. A streaming QuickTime movie is stored in a streaming format. When you download a streaming movie from the Web, you can access any segment of the movie and just play that segment. For instance, if you want to play a segment 10 minutes into a movie, you can jump to that segment. A streaming movie does not take up stored space on the local hard drive and cannot be saved on the hard drive. A progressive QuickTime movie is stored on the viewer s computer. It can be downloaded from the Web just like a streaming movie. However, a progressive movie downloads from the first frame and continues to the end. You can play a segment of the movie, but if you want to play a segment 10 minutes into the movie, you need to download the first 9:59 of the movie before it will start playing at 10:00. Progressive movies take up storage on the local drive and can be saved. Most movies you deal with on the Web are progressive. Users can upload QuickTime movies and play them with a QuickTime Player. Knowledge Forum does not require additional software in order for users to upload and play progressive movies. However, to set up Knowledge Forum to play streaming QuickTime movies, you need a QuickTime Steaming Server. The QuickTime Streaming Server is freely available from Apple and can be found at

25 Note: See section 4.1 to learn more about locating the Movies directory in a central location that all Knowledge Forum Servers use. The QuickTime Streaming Server should run on the same machine as the Knowledge Forum Server. The machine name or IP address, such as kforum.motion.com, where the QuickTime Streaming Server resides must be added to the Streaming Server field of the Server Configuration file. If this field is missing, then streaming movies will be delivered as progressive downloads. In addition, your QuickTime Streaming Server must point back to your Movies directory. If you have more than one Knowledge Forum Server running, all QuickTime movies need to be stored in the same Movies directory. You will need to point all servers to that Movies directory in the Server Configuration file. SETTING-UP THE STREAMING SERVER You can set up the Streaming Server and the Knowledge Forum Server so Knowledge Forum will run streaming QuickTime movies. First you must download and install the Streaming Server. To set up the Streaming Server: 1. Download the QuickTime Streaming Server from Apple at to your server machine. 2. Install the QuickTime Streaming Server on the same machine as the Knowledge Forum Server. 3. Point the QuickTime Streaming Server to the location of the Movies directory. SETTING-UP THE KNOWLEDGE FORUM SERVER TO RECOGNIZE THE STREAMING SERVER After you have set up the Streaming Server, you can set up the Knowledge Forum Server to recognize the Streaming Server. Steaming Server field To set up the Knowledge Forum Server to recognize the Streaming Server from the Edit Server Configuration page: 1. Type the machine name or IP address that hosts the Streaming Server in the Streaming Server field. 2 14

26 2. After all changes to the Edit Server Configuration page are complete, click. 3. Test to ensure that streaming movies are uploading and playing. Note: See section to learn more about the Movies directory, section to learn more about relative path names, and section to learn more about absolute path names. MOVIES DIRECTORY AND STREAMING SERVER If you have more than one Knowledge Forum Server running on your machine each serving different databases and you have a QuickTime Streaming Server running, all QuickTime movies must be stored in a single Movies directory (folder). The QuickTime Streaming Server will point to that Movies directory. You must change the path name in the Movies Directory field to have all Knowledge Forum Servers also point to the Movies directory. You will need to do that using relative or absolute paths in the Movies Directory field HELP URL The help URL tells the system where to send users for online help when they click the Help button in Knowledge Forum. By default, users are sent to a URL address at If you want to create your own help specific to your users, you can change this URL. Do not change the URL path if you want to use the standard online help for Knowledge Forum. CHANGING THE HELP URL You can change the help URL. Help URL field To change the help URL from the Edit Server Configuration page: 1. Type the new URL in the Help URL field. 2. After all changes to the Edit Server Configuration page are complete, click. When a Knowledge Forum user clicks the Help button, Knowledge Forum will look for the help URL file at the location you specified. 2 15

27 ACCESS LOG The access log keeps track of each user request to a server page. Thus, you can monitor and track the types of actions a user performed, and when he or she signed onto the server. The access log can be used for internal monitoring of activity on the server and is helpful when debugging a problem. However, if the server has many databases open and those database are active, this log can fill up quickly. Therefore, you may want to clear it periodically or turn it off altogether if your system is running smoothly and you do not want to monitor activity. Access log for Knowledge Forum Server The log shows the date and time the user accessed the server, the browser used, the user name, the database accessed, and the action taken. Note: See section to learn more about shutting down and restarting the server from the server machine CLEARING AN ACCESS LOG You can clear an access log from the server machine. To clear an access log from the server machine: 1. Shut down the server. 2. Place the access log in the Trash. 3. Empty the Trash. 4. Restart the server.

28 TURNING OFF THE ACCESS LOG Tip: To turn the access log back on, follow the steps for Moving and/or Renaming the Access Log, using the access log name you deleted earlier. If you do not want to keep the information in the access log, you can turn it off. To turn off the access log from the Edit Server Configuration page: 1. Delete the file name in the Access Log field. 2. After all changes to the Edit Server Configuration page are complete, click. MOVING AND/OR RENAMING THE ACCESS LOG Note: You can locate the access log file outside the Knowledge Forum Server folder. See section 4.1 to learn more about moving files. You can move and/or rename the access log. The default access log name is kf-access.log and is located in the Knowledge Forum Server folder. Access Log field To move and/or rename the access log from the Edit Server Configuration page: 1. Type the new path and/or file name in the Access Log field. 2. After all changes to the Edit Server Configuration page are complete, click. DELETING AN ACCESS LOG You can delete an access log from the server. You may want to do this to an old access log after turning it off or renaming it, but it is not required. To delete an access log from the server: 1. Place the access log in the Trash. 2. Empty the Trash ERROR LOG The error log records any problems the server encounters. Please keep this file active to monitor any problem. If you have a problem please send this file with a description of what happened to helpdesk@learn.motion.com. 2 17

29 MOVING AND/OR RENAMING THE ERROR LOG Note: You can locate the error log file outside the Knowledge Forum Server folder. See section 4.1 to learn more about moving files. You can move and/or rename the error log. The default error log name is kf-error.log and is located in the Knowledge Forum Server folder. Error Log field To move and/or rename the error log from the Edit Server Configuration page: 1. Type the new path and/or file name in the Error Log field. 2. After all changes to the Edit Server Configuration page are complete, click. DELETING AN ERROR LOG You can delete an error log from the server. You may want to do this to an old error log after renaming it, but it is not required. To delete an error log from the server: 1. Place the error log in the Trash. 2. Empty the Trash SAVE AND RESTART Any changes you make to the Server Configuration file (kforumd.conf) will not take effect until you save the file and restart the server. This can be done using the Save and Restart button at the top-right corner of the Edit Server Configuration page. Clicking the button rewrites kforumd.conf and restarts the server to implement your changes. When you save the Server Configuration file, the previous file will be backed-up as kforumd.conf.0.bak. If you do not want to save your changes, click the Cancel button. You will return to the Administrator Options page without rewriting kforumd.conf or restarting the server. To save the Server Configuration file and restart the server after making all your changes on the Edit Server Configuration page: Click You will return to the Administrator Options page.

30 2.3 RESTORE MANAGER ACCESS Note: See section of the Knowledge Forum 4 User s Guide to learn more about creating users. Knowledge Forum databases are created with one default manager (username manager, password build). Managers normally create other managers from the Authors List in Knowledge Forum. Occasionally, a manager s account may become inaccessible because manager/build was accidentally deleted, or a manager s password was changed and forgotten, for example. In order to restore manager access to a database, you can create another manager. This is done from the New Manager page, accessed from the Administrator Options page. Administrator Options page To restore manager access from the Administrator Options page: 1. Click the Restore Manager Access link. The New Manager page appears. Note: To add a manager to the database, you must complete the Username and Password fields. The remaining fields are optional New Manager page 2. Select the database in which to create the new account from the Database drop-down list. 3. Type the new manager s username in the Username field. 4. Type the new manager s password in the Password field. 5. Type the new manager s first name in the First Name field. 2 19

31 6. Type the new manager s last name in the Last Name field. 7. Type the new manager s address in the field. 8. Type the new manager s organization in the Organization field. 9. Click. Note: See section of the Knowledge Forum 4 User s Guide to learn more about assigning managers to groups. You will return to the Administrator Options page. The newly created manager is added to the database s Author List in Knowledge Forum. Managers added from the New Manager page will not be assigned to a specific group. Managers can assign themselves (or other managers) to a group from the Edit Author window, which is accessed from the Author List in Knowledge Forum. 2.4 LOG IN TO KNOWLEDGE FORUM You can exit the Administrator Options page and go to the Welcome to Knowledge Forum page where you can log in to Knowledge Forum. Administrator Options page To go to the Welcome to Knowledge Forum page: Click the Log In To Knowledge Forum link. The Welcome to Knowledge Forum page appears. 2 20

32 Welcome to Knowledge Forum page You can log in to Knowledge Forum from the Welcome to Knowledge Forum page. There is no administrator designation in Knowledge Forum, so you need a username and password that will allow you to enter Knowledge Forum as a manager. You can use the default manager username, manager, and the default password, build, if you do not have your own manager username and password. To log in to Knowledge Forum: 1. Select a language from the Language drop-down list. 2. Select a database from the Database drop-down list. 3. Type your username in the Username field. 4. Type your password in the Password field. 5. Click. Knowledge Forum opens. 2 21

33 2.5 ADMINISTRATOR LOGOUT You can exit the Administrative Component of Knowledge Forum and return to the Administrator Login page. Administrator Options page To exit the Administrative Component of Knowledge Forum from the Administrator Options page: Click the Administrator Logout link. The Administrator Login page appears. Administrator Login page 2 22

34 3 WORKING FROM THE KNOWLEDGE FORUM SERVER 3.1 CREATING A DATABASE FROM THE KNOWLEDGE FORUM SERVER You can create a database from the Knowledge Forum Server. However, a database created in this manner will not open automatically on the next launch of the server until you add it to the Databases section of the Server Configuration file. To create a database from the Knowledge Forum Server: 1. Double-click from the Knowledge Forum Server folder to launch the server. A status window appears. Knowledge Forum Server status window (with no databases open) 2. From the File menu, select New Local Database to create a database. Accessing the File menu to create a new database The Create New Database window appears. 3 1

35 3 WORKING FROM THE KNOWLEDGE FORUM SERVER Tip: Do not include apostrophes or quotation marks in database names. Tip: Include a.kdb extension at the end of your database name. While not required, it will allow you to easily recognize database files in the Knowledge Forum Server folder. Creating a new database in the Knowledge Forum Server folder 3. Type your database name in the Save As field. 4. Locate the Knowledge Forum Server folder in the Where drop-down list. 5. Click. The database will open in the server. Note: See section to learn more about setting up a database to open automatically with the server. Make sure you type the database name in the Databases field exactly as you did in step 3 above. 3 2 The Knowledge Forum Server with mynewdatabase.kdb open You can then set the database to open automatically with the launching of the server by adding it to the Databases section of the Edit Server Configuration page.

36 3 WORKING FROM THE KNOWLEDGE FORUM SERVER Web Port Help URL Access Log name Error Log name Attachments Directory name Movies Directory name Languages Directory name Streaming Server Administrator Password Database New Database Language Languages 3.2 MODIFYING KFORUMD.CONF You can modify the Server Configuration file, kforumd.conf, directly from the server machine. This has the same effect as making changes on the Edit Server Configuration page of the Administrative Component of Knowledge Forum. The Server Configuration file, kforumd.conf, is located in the Knowledge Forum Server folder on the server machine. Each item on the Edit Server Configuration page is included in kforumd.conf. Server Configuration file, kforumd.conf Note: Be careful not to edit any of the syntax of the kforumd.conf file. To modify the Server Configuration file directly: 1. Open kforumd.conf. 2. Make your changes (examples below). Type a new Web port number after WebPort=. 3 3

37 3 WORKING FROM THE KNOWLEDGE FORUM SERVER Type a new help URL address after HelpURL=. Type a new access log name after AccessLog=. Type a new error log name after ErrorLog=. Type a new Attachments directory name after AttachmentsDir=. Type a new Movies directory name after MoviesDir=. Type a new Languages directory name after LanguagesDir=. Type a new streaming server IP address or machine name after StreamingServer=. Type a new administrator password after AdminPass=. Type Database= and a database name under [Databases] for each database you want to make available to users. Type a new database language code after NewDBLang=. Type Language= and a language code under [Languages] for each language you want to make available to users. 3. Save your changes. You then need to shut down and restart the server SHUTTING DOWN AND RESTARTING THE SERVER FROM THE KNOWLEDGE FORUM SERVER For changes made directly to kforumd.conf to take effect, you must still shut down and restart the server. You can shut down and restart the server from the Knowledge Forum Server, itself, instead of from the Edit Server Configuration page. To shut down and restart the server from the Knowledge Forum Server: 1. On the Knowledge Forum Server, select the database. 3 4

38 3 WORKING FROM THE KNOWLEDGE FORUM SERVER Database selected 2. Click. 3. From the File menu, select Quit to close the server. Quitting the Knowledge Forum Server 4. Double-click. The server will restart and your changes to kforumd.conf will take effect. 3 5

39 4 MOVING FILES AND BACKING UP DATABASES 4.1 MOVING YOUR FILES By default, the files and folders that the Knowledge Forum Server accesses such as the Languages directory (folder), Attachments directory (folder), Movies directory (folder), access file, and error file are found in the Knowledge Forum Server folder. You can place these files in different locations as long as you designate the proper path names in the Server Configuration file. If you have more than one Knowledge Forum Server running on your machine and support a QuickTime Streaming Server, you will want to do this with the Movies folder RELATIVE PATH NAME You can enter a relative path name by entering the location of the file in relationship to the Knowledge Forum Server folder. For instance, if you want the Movies folder to be named anothername and located in newfolder, which is at the same level as the Knowledge Forum Server folder, you would enter:../newfolder/anothername/ This would store the movies in a directory called anothername, which is located inside a directory called newfolder, which is located at the same level as the Knowledge Forum Server folder ABSOLUTE PATH NAME You can also specify an absolute path name starting with the machine level. For instance: /Macintosh HD/newfolder/anothername/ In this case, the file would be located in a folder called anothername, located in newfolder, which is on the Macintosh HD MOVIES DIRECTORY AND STREAMING SERVER If you have more than one Knowledge Forum Server running on your machine each serving different databases and you have a QuickTime Streaming Server running, all movies must be stored in a single Movies directory. The QuickTime Streaming Server will point to that Movies directory. You must change the path name in the Movies Directory field in order to have all Knowledge Forum Servers point to the Movies directory. You can do that using a relative or direct path in the Movies Directory field. 4 1

40 4 MOVING FILES AND BACKING UP DATABASES 4.2 BACKING UP YOUR DATABASE It is good practice to back up your database on external storage each evening. Assign someone to do the back-up at the end of the day. Tip: Bring down the server before making a back-up of the database. While not strictly necessary, it is prudent because reopening a database will alert the administrator to any problems with the database. To back up the database (two options): Option 1 1. Shut down the server. 2. Click the database. 3. Select Make Duplicate from the File menu. 4. Move the duplicate to the external storage. Option 2 1. Shut down the server. 2. Click the database. 3. Press OPTION and drag the database to the external storage. This will make a duplicate copy on the external storage. Make sure you rename the database on the external storage. Devise a system to keep back-ups for about two to three weeks (if you are using the system every day) and then start archiving the oldest backups. 4 2

41 5 TROUBLESHOOTING 5.1 TROUBLESHOOTING We have a firewall on the Internet connection and I can t access the database from a different location. Talk to your network administrator. You will need to put a hole in your firewall for port 8080 or find a port that is open in your firewall. I have just installed my server and I can access it on the server machine, but when I go to another machine, I cannot access it. Do you have a firewall? If so, talk to your network administrator. You will need to put a hole in your firewall for port 8080 or find a port that is open in your firewall. I just changed the Web port and now I can't connect! One possibility is that although the server will revert to the old port setting if the selected port is already in use, the server might not be reachable on the new port if you're accessing Knowledge Forum through a firewall. Contact your firewall administrator. If you are still having problems, call Learning in Motion at or us at helpdesk@learn.motion.com. I just installed the server, but I receive a connection error when I try to access the Administrative Component or Knowledge Forum. The default Web port, 8080, may not be available. Determine what ports are available. Then open kforumd.conf from the Knowledge Forum Server folder on the server machine, change the Web port to an available port, save your change, and restart the server. When I connect in the browser, I get the message, No databases are currently available. Check the server for error messages. Make sure the database is in the Server Configuration file so it is loaded when the server starts. Note: See section to learn more about the QuickTime Streaming Server and QuickTime movies. I am having problem installing my QuickTime Streaming Server. Refer to the QuickTime Web site or talk to Apple. I have my QuickTime Streaming Server installed but every time I upload a streaming movie, it plays as a progressive movie. Make sure your streaming server designates the Movies directory as the place to serve the QuickTime movies from, and make sure that the QuickTime Streaming Server is designated in the Server Configuration file. 5 1

42 5 TROUBLESHOOTING When loading a movie, I get a progress window that says, Your movie is being uploaded. 0 bytes before finally saying it is saved. But the QuickTime movie does not appear in the view or note. The upload is not finding the directory to store the QuickTime movie. Check the setting of your Movies directory in the Server Configuration file. If you changed the path to the Movies directory, confirm that it is correct. You might want to change the path back to the Knowledge Forum Server directory and see if it works then. I cannot view any QuickTime movies. Sometimes Windows has difficulty resolving machine names. Change the streaming server s machine name to its IP address in the Streaming Server field of the Edit Server Configuration page. If the problem persists, or the Streaming Server field already contains the IP address, call Learning in Motion at or us at helpdesk@learn.motion.com. I forgot my administrator password and cannot log in. Open kforumd.conf in the Knowledge Forum Server folder and look for the password after AdminPass=. After changing my Languages directory path name and restarting the server, the Languages and Primary Language sections of the Edit Server Configuration page say, No language files found. You need to move the Languages directory on the server before you change the path name of the Languages directory in the Edit Server Configuration page. Move the Languages directory to a new location on the server. Then, go to the Edit Server Configuration page and type the new path name for the directory in the Languages Directory field. The path name must match the location of the directory on the server. Save your changes and restart the server. I created a database and logged in to Knowledge Forum, but the buttons and links do not work. Does your database name contain an apostrophe or quotation marks? If so, create another database without the apostrophe or quotation marks in the database name and delete the old one, or rename the file. 5 2 Some of my language choices don't display correctly. Check the character set on your browser (found in the View menu on Internet Explorer and Netscape). It should be set to UTF-8. If you are trying to view a character-based language, make sure that you have the fonts for that language installed on your computer. Otherwise, the characters will appear as question marks when using UTF-8.

43 5 TROUBLESHOOTING I'm trying to run Internet Explorer 5.1 on OS X and my drop-down lists don't work. Internet Explorer has difficulty with the UTF-8 character set that Knowledge Forum uses. Try using a recent version of Netscape (6 or 7), another browser, or an older version of Internet Explorer. I want to use a database from old my Knowledge Forum Server in my new server. Make a copy of your database. Move it to the machine that has your Knowledge Forum 4.x server on it. Then open your old database in the new server. The server needs to re-build the database, so it might take a while to open. (You will not see a progress bar while it is rebuilding.) When this is done, close the database and open it again. The server will perform another rebuild. Now your database is ready. From now on, the database should open immediately if the server was shut down correctly. Can I run the browser and server on the same machine? You can run the browser and the server on the same machine which is especially useful during installation. Of course, you need to have a browser installed on the machine where your Knowledge Forum Server is running. My server is hanging after about three minutes. The server requires TCP/IP to be installed, configured and active. If your server seems to start-up, but either hangs for more than three minutes or errors out, there is probably a misconfiguration with your TCP/IP settings. Check with your network administrator on how to proceed, or call Learning in Motion at My browser has a spinning world on the screen and does not seem to be responding for at least two minutes. Check your server and make sure it is still running. My system crashed and now I don t seem to be able to get going again. What do I do? Try restarting the computer. If your browser crashed, restart the application. If you continue to have the problem, try running the server with a new database, and see if the problem still exists. If that works, then the problem is with your database. Call or helpdesk@learn.motion.com and then send your database, access logs and error logs. We will try to repair your database. (Hopefully you have a backup database just in case!) 5 3