This guide is similar to our easy DotNetNuke installation guide - except that on a hosted server, many of the install prerequisites will already be in place and working. This makes installation on a hosted server easier and quicker.
Some of the steps require you to use your hosting control panel. Since different hosts use different control panels, you will need to find the appropriate functions by yourself.
Some hosted servers require your website to be in a subdirectory. There are extra steps required to deal with this. This guide does not include those extra steps as they are different for different hosting providers. We recommend you use a hosting provider that does not require installation in a subdirectory.
Step one: Download the current DotNetNuke install package - not the starter package.
Step two: Upload the files to your hosted server. FTP the downloaded zip file and use your control panel to unzip the files. If your control panel does not support unzip, then unzip the files on your PC and FTP upload the unzipped files.
Step three: Make sure your files are in the correct location. They should be in your hosted root directory, which will probably be named either wwwroot or your account name.
Step four: Use your control panel to create a new blank database, and a database user.
Step five: Make a web.config file. FTP download the file release.config from your hosting account and rename it to web.config. Change the two database connection strings as described in step 5 of the easy DotNetNuke installation guide:
5a. First in the connection strings section:
Data Source=(your server name);Initial Catalog=(your db name);user id=(your db user);password=(your db password);" providerName="System.Data.SqlClient"/>
5b. Then in the app settings section:
Data Source=(your server name);Initial Catalog=(your db name);user id=(your db user);password=(your db password);"/>
These keys will already be in your web.config, you just need to change them to contain the correct connection string.
The connection string format is the same for SQL 2000, SQL 2005 and SQL 2005 express (and SQL 2008 as well, if you have just started using that).
Step six: The ASP.NET account must have write access to the files you uploaded in step two. You may be able to do this in your control panel, or you may have to ask your hosting provider's support desk to do this for you.
Step seven: Set up your domain name. If you were given a temporary domain name by your host, it is a good idea to use this while getiing your site ready. Your domain name may have already been set up in your control panel by your host, and may already be set up to point to your website directory. If not, then it is best to ask your hosting support to do this for you if you do not know how. Once your domain name is set up and is configured to point at your website directory, then continue with the installation.
Step eight: Browse to your temporary domain name and the install wizard will begin. If there is an error that says anything about permissions, then go back to step six. Now continue following the install wizard as described from step six onwards in our easy DotNetNuke installation guide.
After the install is complete, read our essential DotNetNuke settings guide to see what steps you should take following an installation.