FreeBSD ,mysql, php, and bright green newbie

[Understudy]

Hi.

I am installing coppermine on my own server. The server is running FreeBSD 6.0. I have installed Apache2.2 . I have installed bind and updated the glue records. So the DNS works. Now I want to install coppermine. So I went to the port and did a bit of research. The coppermine port no longer has a regular maintainer so I really can't bug anyone over there. I went ahead and did the portinstall of coppermine. It is suppose to install the dependancies it needs. However it may not have.

When I installed apache I did not install any extra crap. So no php or sql or other stuff. Reason # 1 for that is I didn't want a lot of crap on the box. Reason #2 I have not done any work with Mysql or PHP.

When I did the install from the ports it installed the following:
coppermine-1.3.5
mysql-client-4.1.18_1
php4-4.4.2_1
php4-gd-4.4.2_1
php4-mysql-4.4.2_1
php4-pcre-4.4.2_1
and probably a few libs. The thing I first noticed is that there is no Mysql server. There is a client. I am not sure if coppermine will work without a mysql server. So question #1 . Do I need a mysql server ?

Question #2 Are there any other major dependencies I need to be aware of?

Next item I have never installed and set up Mysql and PHP so I am going to come back here with some silly questions on those, I am bugging the SQL and PHP forums also and reading way to much stuff. But expect this thread to carry a lot of silly questions. (Danger Will Robinson)

Sincerely,
Brendhan

[Nibbler]

We can only support you in the use of the software we provide directly. Please download and install Coppermine 1.4.4 from our downloads page. Coppermine requires PHP + MySQL + (GD or IM). If you have that all installed and working then Coppermine will work fine. I'm not familiar with how BSD organises its packages but there is usually a mysql-server package to install.

[Understudy]

*sigh*

I don't want to seem rude. I understand the desire to maintain support to the current version of coppermine. However the current version is not avaliable throught the ports or packages with FreeBSD. There is also a port freeze in effect. Also without a port maintainer for coppermine on FreeBSD the version will probably not be kept up to the latest and greatest. And I sure as heck don't know enough to want to become a port maintainer for FreeBSD. Maybe down the road.

As I have come to understand if you run a mysql-client you must run the server. However the server does not have to be on the same box thus why it is not a required dependancy. I am going to keep going with this. I would appreciate the any help. I can just understand not to expect it.

Sincerely,
Brendhan

[Nibbler]

OK, this thread is heading in the wrong direction. I know nothing about the 'port' version of Coppermine. I don't know how it works, how it's been modified to work as a 'port' or anything about it. That's why I simply can't help you with it. There is no need to install the port atall. Coppermine comes with its own installer that will get you up and running in no time. The concept of dependencies does not apply to Coppermine. It requires a webserver with common software installed. That's it.

[Understudy]

OK, this thread is heading in the wrong direction. I know nothing about the 'port' version of Coppermine. I don't know how it works, how it's been modified to work as a 'port' or anything about it. That's why I simply can't help you with it. There is no need to install the port atall. Coppermine comes with its own installer that will get you up and running in no time. The concept of dependencies does not apply to Coppermine. It requires a webserver with common software installed. That's it.

Okay I have solved the issue, and some of it was what you said.
However for the benefit of others who are new to this a little of the wisdom I have obtained.
If you are running the server and have root access to it, you do not need to install the port. Also the port will not work with if you have vhosts. Coppermine is a webuser application that is installed in the webusers directory. It is not a backend application like php4 or mysql.
It is more like a middle point application. It needs to talk to php and mysql . However it features are accessed through a browser. This is very similar to much of the blog software out there like Greymatter and Movable Type.

So while the FreeBSD port is out of date it doesn't matter provided you have the appropriate backend items installed and configured properly. <------- Pay attention if you are the person running and configuring the server that is a lot of work.

Since I am the guy running and configuring the server and I am new to this is was quite an exercise.  FreeBSD does something very well, that is install dependencies. However it doesn't always know what you want. And I only installed bare minimums to begin with as far as the webserver went. That meant apache22. no funky modules or anything else. I din't want to install the kitchen sink. Also security issues were a bit of a concern. If I didn't need it it didn't go in.

If you want to run coppermine on a webserver you are in charge of you need these items:
Apache
Mysql-server
Mysql-client
Php (not that php4 installs a php4_mod that you won't see in the pkg list, that okay you want that also)
GD2
and all the libs that will get installed with them.
Note version numbers have been for the most part have been left off because you can use the latest and greatest or not. I did not go with latest and greatest. In some cases I did. Also if you run a commerical server license requirments may mean you have to alter your choices slightly.

So I have a running server with coppermine on it. I would say this one is closed. I have other questions that have to go into other areas.

Sincerely,
Brendhan