famous 5 minute install confusing me…

  • The famous 5 minute install of wordpress asks that I open wp-config-sample.php in wordpad and edit in my own values.

    Trouble is, I don’t know what those values should be.

    Here’s the config-sample text, with my questions interspersed:

    <?php
    // ** MySQL settings ** //
    define(‘DB_NAME’, ‘wordpress’); // The name of the database (Do I change this? Can I change this? Or must it always be WordPress?)
    define(‘DB_USER’, ‘username’); // Your MySQL username
    (This MySQL stuff confuses me completely. I need to have a database installed to use WordPress? Does wordpress include that, or must I obtain it and install it separately, or is it supplied by my ISP… or what? Why do I need a database, anyway? I thought wordpress was blogging software…groan…)
    define(‘DB_PASSWORD’, ‘password’); // …and password(I gather this would be a password to a database I don’t have. Erk.)
    define(‘DB_HOST’, ‘localhost’); // 99% chance you won’t need to change this value

    // You can have multiple installations in one database if you give each a unique prefix
    $table_prefix = ‘wp_’; // Only numbers, letters, and underscores please!

    // Change this to localize WordPress. A corresponding MO file for the
    // chosen language must be installed to wp-includes/languages.
    // For example, install de.mo to wp-includes/languages and set WPLANG to ‘de’
    // to enable German language support.
    define (‘WPLANG’, ”);

    /* That’s all, stop editing! Happy blogging. */

    define(‘ABSPATH’, dirname(__FILE__).’/’);
    require_once(ABSPATH.’wp-settings.php’);
    ?>

    If anyone can point me at a verbose discussion of installation aimed at the amateur with no knowledge of SQL or PHP, I’d really appreciate it.

    Thanks for any pointers anyone can provide… Best, Charlie

Viewing 9 replies - 1 through 9 (of 9 total)

  • You will need a database in order to run wordpress. Most webhosts support mysql, so you’ll need to find your username and password in the hosting company’s admin panel (and also the database host), create a database with the name of your choice, and enter those 4 values in the define() statements in place of the lowercase words at the top of your wp-config.php. Nothing else in the file needs to be changed.

    This may be different if you’re hosting wordpress yourself, but from your post it doesn’t sound like you’re qualified to do that, no offense intended.

    Thread Starter charlieworton

    (@charlieworton)

    I’m not hosting wordpress. I’m trying to install it on space I rent from a hosting provider.

    Is it common for the provider to have MySQL available to users as a service, or is it more common for users to install their own copy of MySQL into their space?

    Regards, Charlie

    “Why do I need a database, anyway? I thought wordpress was blogging software.”

    Yes, you’re correct: WP is blogging software. Blogging software which (like almost all of its competitors) uses a database to store the content.

    “Is it common for the provider to have MySQL available to users as a service,”

    Usually, yes. Speak to your host about it.

    Thread Starter charlieworton

    (@charlieworton)

    Sounds like my host should have some flavour of a SQL already installed, and would (typically) let me use it. WordPress needs to know stuff about the database, hence the configuration requirements. WordPress will then use the existing database software (supplied by the ISP) to index the articles on my site, so that the articles can be referenced by users.

    OK, I’ll go talk to my host. Thanks for all your help – I appreciate it. Best, Charlie

    Does your web host give you a CPanel?

    If your host has Fantastico, I recommend using it for your first WP installation.

    Thread Starter charlieworton

    (@charlieworton)

    My web host is bluefur, and I have a small Unix package with them. I have a Cpanel, and (I think) I have fantastico as well. Trouble is, I don’t know how to use any of this.

    I have managed to use an FTP client package to successfully move the decompressed word press folder to my space. So that is progress, albeit a small step.

    I’ve sent them an email regarding MySQL, and am waiting to hear from them.

    Thanks for your continued interest – I appreciate it.

    Regards, Charlie

    Thread Starter charlieworton

    (@charlieworton)

    The good people at bluefur hosting took my wordpress folder and set it all up for me. I now have the barest beginnings of a blog at charlieworton dot calm. Thanks for your help, all. Best, Charlie

    And I quote:

    And on the other, a hard core computer geek with numerous certifications in computer hardware and networking, and well developed computer programming and website design skills.

    . ??

    Welcome to WordPress Charlie.:)

Viewing 9 replies - 1 through 9 (of 9 total)
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