Demo Site Set Up

[HostPost]

Hi
I have put up a demo Coppermine site at http://hostpost.co.uk/scripts/coppermine/index.php for my users to view. I have a web hosting company at http://hostpost.co.uk/ which specialises in photographic hosting and I am please to have Coppermine (V1.4.24) available on a self installer script. (1.5 will be updated as default at a later time)

The idea is that my viewers can view and test the demo before installing it on their own sites. Has anyone done this before and come up with a way to securely view the Admin back end by guest viewers? Obviously getting the site spammed, changed and pasted in all kinds of unwanted stuff is an issue so the script may have to be set to revert to default on a regular basis, possibly through using cron?

If there is any help on this, views, comments I would be grateful, Thanks.
David

[Joachim Müller]

The idea is that my viewers can view and test the demo before installing it on their own sites. Has anyone done this before and come up with a way to securely view the Admin back end by guest viewers? Obviously getting the site spammed, changed and pasted in all kinds of unwanted stuff is an issue so the script may have to be set to revert to default on a regular basis, possibly through using cron?

I have toyed with the idea to do something similar to allow users to see the backend, i.e. the admin user interface, but shyed away from the effort that would be necessary to set this up in a bullet-proof way. As far as I know what you're requesting hasn't been done yet (or at least nobody has reported about it so far).  Resetting the website every now and then is not a problem: the problem is the time between resets: with the admin in coppermine being omnipotent (the admin can easily add code to the site as well using the plugin architecture and execute it), it's hard to keep malevolent visitors from doing really weird things (where defacement is only a comparatively small issue). I'd love to hear a good idea for that, but from my experience you can't do that.

I am please to have Coppermine (V1.4.24) available on a self installer script.

Please keep in mind that we (the coppermine developers) are not fond of auto-installers and will recommend users who come here seeking support to drop the auto-install and perform one that we suggest - that's the only supported install method as far as we're concerned. If you're curious about the details, please read up the corresponding section in the preliminary documentation for cpg1.5.x: http://documentation.coppermine-gallery.net/en/auto-installers.htm

[HostPost]

Thank you for your swift reply.
(seems the topic has been moved and I can only find it now by pressing reply!)

I understand what you mean about accessing the admin backend, it is a worry. If no one has tackled that before then I think the safest way to go will be by using admin screenshots in a gallery probably instead.

I am very surprised about the not supporting the auto install, I thought developers would be glad of having their scripts supported. I have always found it 10 times easier and quicker to set up using an auto installer. I had this demo set up in about 2 minutes. The install can be updated if need be after set up if the installer has slipped a version or two. But I take your comments all on board anyhow.
Regards

[HostPost]

Opp's sorry, topic not moved - was confused by the next button