On-Premises Installation Guide | Communifire Documentation

4.1 Prepare Your Site Files

1. Request your license key and installation file from Axero.
2. Download and unzip the installation file on your server.
3. Create a new folder for your site on a drive other than C (e.g., D:\intranet.com).
4. Copy the "DB_Scripts" and "Software" folders from the unzipped file to your new site folder.

4.2 Set Up Your Database

1. Start SQL Server Management Studio.
2. Right-click the server and select Properties.
3. On the Security tab, select "SQL Server and Windows Authentication mode".
   
4. Click OK.
5. Create a new database:
   1. Right-click Databases and select New Database.
   2. On the General tab, name your database.
   3. On the Options tab, set the compatibility level to SQL Server 2016 (130).
   4. Click OK.
6. Run the database setup script:
   1. Go to File > Open > File...
   2. Go to the "DB_Scripts" folder in your site folder and open Communifire_Database_Schema.sql.
   3. If the following message appears, choose No.
      
   4. Select your database, click Execute, and ensure the query runs successfully.

4.3 Configure Your Database

1. Right-click your database and select New Query.
2. Copy and paste the following script into the query editor:

   EXEC [Dyve_System_InstantiateCommunity]
      @ApplicationName = 'intranet',
      @ApplicationURL = 'http://intranet.com',
      @VirtualDirectory = '',
      @DefaultEmailAddress = 'email@email.com',
      @SMTPServer = '',
      @SMTPUsername = '',
      @SMTPPassword = '',
      @SMTPPort = 25,
      @AdminUserName = 'admin',
      @AdminPassword = 'choose_a_strong_password'

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3. Replace the values in quotes with your details. SMTP information can be added after you log into the site.
4. Select your database, click Execute, and ensure the query runs successfully.
5. Record the admin username and password. You'll need them to log in to your new site.

4.4 Update the Database

1. Click File > Open > File...
2. Open the "DB_Scripts" folder in your site folder and select CF_Database_Update_8.0-to-Latest.sql.
3. Select your database, click Execute, and ensure the query runs successfully.

4.5 Create the Database User

1. Create a new login:
   1. Expand the Security tab, right-click Logins, and select New Login.
   2. Select SQL Server authentication and enter a login name and password. Make sure there are no trailing spaces.
   3. Uncheck Enforce password policy.
2. Map user to database:
   1. Go to User Mapping, select the new database, and select db_owner permissions.
   2. Click OK.
3. Verify the user:
   1. Double-click your database and find the new user under Security > Users.
   2. Right-click the user and select Properties.
   3. Click Membership and confirm that db_owner is assigned.
   4. Click Owned Schemas and select db_owner permissions.
   5. Click OK.

4.6 Configure the Web Server

1. Open Server Manager.
2. Click Manage and select Add Roles and Features.
3. Click Next to proceed through the initial setup screens.
4. Under Server Selection, record the server name and IP address. You will need these values to configure the database connection in Steps 4.8 and 4.13.
5. Under Server Roles, select Web Server (IIS) and click Add Features.
6. Click Next.
7. Select all available .NET Framework 4.7 and 4.8 features. Framework 4.8 features are not displayed in SSMS 19 when installed but will run when .NET Framework 4.7 is selected.
8. Select all features under WCF Services.
9. Click Next twice and select the following role services:
   • Common HTTP Features: HTTP Redirection, WebDAV Publishing
   • Health and Diagnostics: Custom Logging, Logging Tools
   • Security: All features
   • Application Development: WebSocket Protocol, Server Side Includes
   • Management Tools: IIS 6 Management Compatibility, IIS Management Scripts and Tools, Management Service
   • IIS 6 Management Compatibility: IIS 6 Management Console, IIS 6 Scripting Tools
10. Click Add Features, Next, and then Install.
11. After installation completes, click Close.

4.7 Install IIS URL Rewrite

Download and install IIS URL Rewrite on your web server.

4.8 Add Domain to the Hosts File

1. Open Notepad as administrator.
2. Open the hosts file located at %SystemRoot%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts
3. Using the IP address from Step 4.6.4, add a new line with your server IP and website address:
   

   YOUR_SERVER_IP_ADDRESS intranet.com

4. Save the file.

4.9 Create the Site in IIS

1. Open IIS Manager.
2. Under your server, right-click Sites and select Add Website.
3. For Site name, enter the URL of your website (e.g., intranet.com) and copy this name to the Host name field.
4. For Physical path, select your site's software folder (e.g., D:\websites\intranet.com\software).
5. Click OK.

4.10 Set Up SSL

1. In IIS Manager, select the server, double-click Server Certificates in the middle pane, and click Import... on the right to upload your SSL certificate.
2. Click the site and select Bindings... on the right.
3. Select your site and click Add...
4. Under Type, select https.
5. Enter the host name (e.g., intranet.com).
6. Check Require Server Name Indication.
7. Choose your SSL certificate from the list and click OK.
8. Click Close.

4.11 Configure the Application Pool

1. In IIS Manager, go to Application Pools.
2. Right-click your site and select Advanced Settings.
3. Configure the following settings:
   • Enable 32-Bit Applications: False
   • Idle Time-out (minutes): 0
   • Disable Overlapped Recycle: True
   • Regular Time Interval (minutes): 41760
4. Click OK.

4.12 Set Folder Permissions

1. In File Explorer, right-click your site folder (e.g., D:\websites\intranet.com) and select Properties.
2. Go to the Security tab and click Edit.
3. Click Add, enter IIS AppPool\<YourAppPoolName>, and click OK.
4. Select Read permission only and click OK twice.
5. Assign permissions to the new user:
   • Software/Assets folder: Right-click and select Properties, go to Security > Edit, select the new user, and set Modify permission.
   • Software/bin/HiQPdf.dep file: Right-click and select Properties, go to Security > Edit, select the new user, and set Read and Execute permission.

4.13 Configure the Database Connection

1. In File Explorer, open your site's software folder (e.g., D:\websites\intranet.com\software).
2. Open the CFConnectionStrings.config file using a text editor.
3. Replace the content with the correct template for your site:
   • For SQL Server authentication

     <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
     <connectionStrings>
       <add name="CommunifireConnectionString" connectionString="Database=[DATABASE NAME];Server=[SERVER NAME];User ID=[DATABASE USERNAME];Password=[DATABASE USER PASSWORD]" />
     </connectionStrings>

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   • For Active Directory authentication

     <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
     <connectionStrings>
       <add name="CommunifireConnectionString" connectionString="Data Source=[IP_ADDRESS];Initial Catalog=[DATABASE_NAME];Integrated Security=SSPI;" providerName="System.Data.SqlClient" />
     </connectionStrings>

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4. Update the connection string with your database details.
5. Save the file.

4.14 Activate Your Site

1. In IIS Manager, start the application pool and then start the site.
2. Go to the site in your browser. It may take a few minutes to open.
3. When the site loads, click Click here to manage your license.
4. Log in with the admin username and password from Step 4.3.
5. Click Click here to manage your license again.
6. Click the Add Domain button.
7. Under Domain name, enter "https://" and the site URL.
8. Select Is Active and click Save Changes.

1. Return to IIS Manager and restart the site.
2. Go to the site in your browser. It may take a few minutes to open.
3. When the site loads, click Click here to manage your license.
4. Log in with the admin username and password from Step 4.3.
5. Click Click here to manage your license again.

1. Under Domain name, select the HTTPS site.
2. Enter your license key and click Save and Validate License Key.
3. Under Domain name, select the HTTP site.
4. Enter your license key and click Save and Validate License Key.

4.15 Install Elasticsearch

Follow the On-Premises Elasticsearch Installation guide.