Eprints Server Installation

Even before start installing eprints server, our apache web server was connecting using https (secure connection) but not usual http connection. And yes we have open the port for both ssh and http(80) in out DSL modem firewall. Anyway, rather than solving this problem first, we decided to go ahead with the eprints sever installation on https. Decision was to try to solve http problem only when preprints server will refused to work on https. Moreover, if it works on https, it may my be more secure.

We started installing the eprints server by following the instructions given on the documentation page. As expected, things did not go smoothly. Initially, we got some error due to some missing perl modules. Later we faced the major problem due to some administrative configuration in MySQL database. Unfortunately, eprints documentation do not talk about it and sort of assume that the setting up compatible error free MySQl server is already been done by someone. Most of the day just went away in figuring out the communication issues between eprints server and MySQL server and learning new things about MySQL. Anyway, just before we were about to end the day, things start going smoothly and we went ahead with installation of eprints server. In fact, we were able to create an account also, however only for administrator.

Although, installation was complete and as per assumption there should be a working web site for the server, but there was nothing. Mainly because the apache web server was not able to (re)start.

We decided to stop here for the day.

(Sunday, April 23, 2006 )