Duncansapien’s Techblog

An Opensource PHP/MySQL web-based poll has been brought online.

Poll Source: Advanced Poll v2.0.7 (PHP/MySQL)
Copyright (c) Chi Kien Uong
URL: http://www.proxy2.de

Installed to: SML Apache 2 webserver and MySQL Database Server.

Installation Steps.

1. Script unzipped to s:apache2htdocssmlpoll
2. Database PC: The database was created by means of a script - all scripts under c:mySQLscriptspoll on database PC - which
   a) Created the database (CREATE DATABASE POLL;)
   b) Granted remote admin-name access to this database to the webserver PC
   (GRANT ALL TO [admin-name]@webserver)
   The actual names used are in the MySQL script, not listed here for security.
3. Apache2 PC: htdocssmlpollincludeconfig.inc.php was edited to have
   db: poll
   host: 137.195.80.146
   username: [admin-name]
   password [same as MySQL root password]
4. With a web browser, the installation PHP script was then run: /sml/poll/install.php
   The username and password - as above - were requested and the database configured automatically.
   The above install.php script was then deleted.

Administration of the poll is via a web browser to /sml/poll/admin/ and requires the credentials above.

Using the Poll: EndNote or Reference Manager?

The first poll created was a choice between EndNote or Reference Manager:
http://www.sml.hw.ac.uk:8080/sml/poll/endnote/index.php

The header includes the text:

<?php
header("Cache-control: private"); // Required to fix an IE6 bug when using the Back button (see above tutorial page)
$year=2005;
// Important! You have to include it before your html code
include_once "s:/apache2/htdocs/sml/poll/poll_cookie.php";
?>

and the actual poll is included via the text:

<div style="float: right; margin-right:5em;">
<?php
// Now include the actual poll code
include_once "s:/apache2/htdocs/sml/poll/booth.php";
echo $php_poll->poll_process(4);
virtual("footer.html");
?>
</div>

Overview:

The Database PC in G23 suffered an unknown problem and went into a reboot cycle.
"Last Known Good" die not resolve the issue.

Restoration:

1. The SML base Ghost 2003 image for the PC was copied onto the PC.
2. The PC was renamed, issued with the correct IP number and MySQL reinstalled as a service.
3. The XP Firewall had application mysqld-nt.exe added to the allowed applications.
4. The appropriate security scripts run to change the default root password etc.
5. The Helpspot and Serendipity installation scripts were run.
6. MySQL was then stopped with "net stop mysql" and the database files and scripts restored from P:backupmysql where P: is the gome folder of the user associated with the database PC (omitted here for security, but starts sql****).
7. MySQL was then started (net start mysql) and Helpspot, Serendipity tested (all ok).
8. Novell auto-login was then setup on the PC.

Backup:

1. Database backup: Syncback Pro was installed from N:schoolinstallutils and scheduled to backup the entire c:MySQL folder to P:backupMySQL every night at 7pm.
2. The entire PC was then Ghosted (Ghost 2003) to Databasepc.gho and the image held on the Iomega HDD in Duncan’s office.