How install and use AtoM 2.8.2 on Windows?

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Ronald Rojo

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Aug 8, 2024, 3:55:06 AM8/8/24
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Hello..

I need to know how to install and use AtoM on Windows 11 like from scratch.. Not much experience on Building a web server. It is a project for a NGO group for archiving purposes.

Johan Pieterse

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Aug 8, 2024, 4:29:06 AM8/8/24
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Hi Ronald


There is also the option of using WampServeror XAMPP, two software stacks that provide you with all the packages that you need in order to run AtoM out of the box: MySQL, Apache and PHP. It’s definitely a very good option for inexperienced users.

I usually install XAMP  Apache + MariaDB + PHP without Perl

If you do not want to install on production then virtual machine is simple and good to "play" with.

Johan Pieterse 
AtoM IT Specialist (AtoM support and maintenance)

Ricardo Marquez

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Aug 9, 2024, 3:38:11 PM8/9/24
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   Hi all, 

   I've tried the Vagrant BOX, but your version is outdated. 

   Is there any way for upgrade it for te AtoM 2.8.2? 

   Thanks.

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RM

Jim Adamson

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Aug 12, 2024, 5:54:57 AM8/12/24
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Hi Johan,

Hmmm. The http://www.wampserver.com web site times out ... not a great start.

Do you have experience of the XAMPP stack you linked to specifically for AtoM? I can only imagine setup would be a trying experience, with so many highly-specific AtoM dependencies and no Artectual-provided instructions or support for AtoM running on Windows. Couple this with trying to set up AtoM as a beginner or technical novice, and I'd bet money on it not going well, and/or becoming a big support burden for someone else. From what you've said, it sounds like the opposite is true? The first problem I'd expect is that the user would (understandably) download the latest version of XAMPP, which comes with PHP 8...which probably won't play well with AtoM.

And then there's the fact that AtoM 2.8 requires PHP 7.4, which is now unsupported. On Ubuntu — the recommended OS for AtoM — the Ubuntu Security Team fill that gap by patching high-priority security flaws for the lifetime of the OS. I'm not sure the same can be said in the Windows environment. Is it likely the XAMPP maintainers would patch security flaws in upstream PHP 7.4?

I think it'd be much more sensible to have someone with experience of Ubuntu set this up in Ubuntu 20.04; I imagine the results would be much more predictable. If Ronald needs something that is production-ready and doesn't have access to server resources in his organisation then it may well be worth considering a hosted option.

Thanks, Jim

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Jim Adamson
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Johan Pieterse

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Aug 12, 2024, 6:55:36 AM8/12/24
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Hi Jim

Yes unfortuanitly AtoM on Windows is an issue. Even on Ubuntu 22.04, PHP8 is loaded. I have installed on Ubuntu 20, 22 and SUSE.
On Windows I have installed with XAMP. I downgraded PHP 8 to 7 for best results.

I do believe Ubuntu is better than Windows (I like Linux better haha). 
For production environments virtual machines, in my experience, does not work. My biggest issue is supporting the VM as I struggle to get "hands on".

But at the end all installs are virtually the same. 
You get MySQL running (create DB and user)
You get PHP running with all the "other" stuff
Then decide between Apache or NGINX (setup virtually the same but the current pages shows NGINX). Manually setting up the site configuration files could be an issue.
If on Windows use IIS (The Apache/NGINX in Windows) or Apache (Apache is part of XAMP)
On Linux it is easier to install AtoM itself as there is the install option. On Windows I normally download the GIT version and do manual setup (not really easy).

But I agree that sometimes a technical person is needed. The user knows Windows more than Linux so perhaps that install should be better described.

Johan Pieterse 
AtoM IT Specialist (AtoM support and maintenance)

Jim Adamson

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Aug 13, 2024, 5:44:43 AM8/13/24
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Hi Johan,

Thanks for your reply - it's interesting to read your experiences.

For Ubuntu 22.04, there is a PPA called ondrej/php that provides PHP 7.4 - I expect that's what you've used. I've certainly had a good experience using this in Vagrant.

For production environments virtual machines, in my experience, does not work. My biggest issue is supporting the VM as I struggle to get "hands on".

I guess you're referring to "desktop" (Type 2) hypervisors e.g. Oracle Virtualbox? We've been running AtoM on Ubuntu VMs in our VMware ESXi environment for many years, and the experience is great!

I'd be very wary of recommending Windows as an environment for production AtoM instances, not least because of the lack of ongoing security patches for PHP 7.x, and that many users who ask about Windows want to run it on a Windows desktop O/S, which is really not suitable anyway. As you suggested, if they've made it as far as creating a working AtoM installation, the end result should be functionally the same as Linux, but if they face problems then there'll be limited to no community or Artefactual support.

Assuming I am correct about the lack of security support for PHP 7.x under Windows, I'd recommend that Artefactual update their page on installing AtoM on Windows. As it stands it could well lead users down the track of thinking installing PHP 7.x under Windows in production environments is a safe thing to do, potentially leaving users' instances exposed.

Thanks, Jim

Johan Pieterse

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Aug 13, 2024, 8:13:12 AM8/13/24
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Hi Jim

For Ubuntu 22.04, there is a PPA called ondrej/php that provides PHP 7.4  - Yes thats the one.
Yes desktop. I am not talking of "real" VM servers. My AtoM and the National Archives (8 mil records)  is running on VM's.
I agree on updating the page. You don't want to be blamed for not warning users. 

It is good to talk some "technical" stuff. That is where I normally play although I am also a qualified archivist (getting hooked when I had to implement our NARSSA).
Johan Pieterse 
AtoM IT Specialist (AtoM support and maintenance)

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