Documentation

Installation

Running On Windows

Revised: Feb 28, 2009.

Preview Of Installation

Getting Andromeda running on Windows is quite easy. Here is a basic outline of what needs to be done:

• Install Packages
  • Install the XAMPP package (Apache and PHP)
  • Install Postgres
  • Install Perl
• Configure Packages
  • Configure PHP
  • Configure Postgres
• Install Andromeda
  • Download Andromeda and unzip it
  • Run some commands
  • Run Andromeda for first time, create super-user

Install Packages

Install XAMPP

First we are going to install the XAMPP package, which gives us Apache and PHP all set up and ready to go. The download page is at http://www.apachefriends.org/en/xampp-windows.html. There are many downloads available on that page, the one want is simply called "XAMPP". As of this writing, the latest version 1.7.0.

When the install begins, you will be given a configuration screen. Be sure to check "Install Apache as a Service", as depicted here:

At the end of the install, Windows firewall may pop up and tell you it is blocking Apache. Tell it to unblock it.

Install Perl

Now we are going to install the Perl language, which is required for a few of Andromeda's advanced database features. The download page for version 5.10 is at http://downloads.activestate.com/ActivePerl/Windows/5.10/. Scroll to the bottom of the page and find the latest version. The easiest way to install is to just download the latest ".msi" file and then click on it once it is downloaded.

There are no choices or configuration options for Perl, just accept the prompts and let it run.

Install Postgres

PostgreSQL (or just Postgres) is an open source database system with features on par with many commercial database systems. The download page is at http://www.enterprisedb.com/products/pgdownload.do#windows.

During the install, you will be prompted for a password for the postgres service account. This is the all-powerful password for database access, choose it as you would any top-level admin password. We do not need any other options during this install.

Configure Packages

Now we are ready to configure the packages. This is as easy as editing a few files and restarting some services.

Configure PHP

Our first task is to edit the PHP ini file, which will be at c:\xampp\apache\bin\php.ini (or perhaps on another drive). Make the following setting changes:

• max_execution_time: kick up to 300 seconds.
• memory_limit: expand to at least 64MB. This is required when your databases get very complex. Without this setting, PHP will simply stop during a database build but give you no error message!
• extension = php_pgsql.dll: uncomment this line
• variables_order: should be "EGPCS".

Once you have made these changes, restart the Apache web server by using the XAMPP control panel:

Bring up the control panel, Apache should be the first service listed. Click [STOP], wait a moment, and click [START].

Configure Postgres

We have one configuration file we must edit for Postgres. Open the file C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\8.3.\data\pg_hba and put these lines before any of the others:

#  DEV SERVER ONLY, do not put this line in on a
#  production server.
host  all         postgres    127.0.0.1/32     trust 

# Users in pg group "root" can connect to anything
host   all         +root      127.0.0.1/32     password

# Members of the anonymous role can login
host   samename    all        127.0.0.1/32     password
host   samegroup   all        127.0.0.1/32     password

Now stop and restart the PostgreSQL service:

Install Andromeda

First download Andromeda from Sourceforge at http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=188856. Look for the "andro-win" package and download the zip.

Move the Andromeda zip file into C:\XAMPP\htdocs and unzip it there. You will then see a new folder, c:\XAMPP\htdocs\andro_root

Using a command prompt, enter these commands:

CD c:\program files\postgresql\8.3\bin
createdb -U postgres andro
pg_restore -U postgres -d andro < c:\xampp\htdocs\andro_root\andro\files\andro.sql

Run Andromeda!

Now point your browser to: http://localhost/andro_root/andro