How to Install Dolphin (Boonex) with Apache on Ubuntu Linux

This article describes the steps to install Dolphin opens social networking engine on Ubuntu Linux with Apache support.

Dolphin (Boonex) is an open-source social networking engine that you can use to build world-class social networking websites.

With Dolphin, you have full control over how your sites look and function. Every link, image, block, feature, and module can be customized, modified, and re-arranged.

This open-source social networking engine will help you build robust websites for your school, company, or any group looking to collaborate around the same ideas or issues.

For more on Dolphin’s social platform, please visit its home page

How to install Dolphin on Ubuntu Linux with Apache support

As described above, Dolphin (Boonex) is an open-source social networking engine that you can use to build world-class social networking websites.

Below is how to install it on Ubuntu Linux with Apache support.

Install Apache2 HTTP Server on Ubuntu

Apache2 HTTP Server is the most popular web server in use. Install it since Dolphin needs it.

To install Apache2 HTTP on the Ubuntu server, run the commands below.

sudo apt update
sudo apt install apache2

After installing Apache2, the commands below can be used to stop, start and enable the Apache2 service to always start up with the server boots.

sudo systemctl stop apache2.service
sudo systemctl start apache2.service
sudo systemctl enable apache2.service

To test the Apache2 setup, open your browser and browse to the server hostname or IP address, and you should see the Apache2 default test page as shown below. When you see that, then Apache2 is working as expected.

http://localhost

Install MariaDB Database Server

MariaDB database server is a great place to start when looking at open-source database servers to use with Magento. To install MariaDB run the commands below.

sudo apt-get install mariadb-server mariadb-client

After installing MariaDB, the commands below can stop, start and enable the MariaDB service to start up when the server boots.

Run these on Ubuntu 16.04 LTS

sudo systemctl stop mysql.service
sudo systemctl start mysql.service
sudo systemctl enable mysql.service

Run these on Ubuntu 17.10 and 18.04 LTS

sudo systemctl stop mariadb.service
sudo systemctl start mariadb.service
sudo systemctl enable mariadb.service

After that, run the commands below to secure the MariaDB server by creating a root password and disallowing remote root access.

sudo mysql_secure_installation

When prompted, answer the questions below by following the guide.

• Enter current password for root (enter for none): Just press the Enter
• Set root password? [Y/n]: Y
• New password: Enter password
• Re-enter new password: Repeat password
• Remove anonymous users? [Y/n]: Y
• Disallow root login remotely? [Y/n]: Y
• Remove test database and access to it? [Y/n]:  Y
• Reload privilege tables now? [Y/n]:  Y

Restart MariaDB server

Type the commands below to log into the MariaDB server to test if MariaDB is installed.

sudo mysql -u root -p

Then type the password you created above to sign on. If successful, you should see MariaDB welcome message.

Install PHP 7.2 and Related Modules

PHP 7.2 may not be available in Ubuntu default repositories. to install it; you will have to get it from third-party repositories.

Run the commands below to add the below third party repository to upgrade to PHP 7.2

sudo apt-get install software-properties-common
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ondrej/php

Then update and upgrade to PHP 7.2

sudo apt update

Next, run the commands below to install PHP 7.2 and related modules.

sudo apt install php7.2 libapache2-mod-php7.2 php7.2-common php7.2-sqlite3 php7.2-curl php7.2-intl php7.2-mbstring php7.2-xmlrpc php7.2-mysql php7.2-gd php7.2-xml php7.2-cli php7.2-zip

After installing PHP 7.2, run the commands below to open the PHP default config file for Apache2.

sudo nano /etc/php/7.2/apache2/php.ini

Then make the changes on the following lines below in the file and save. The value below is an excellent setting to apply in your environment.

file_uploads = On
allow_url_fopen = On
short_open_tag = On
memory_limit = 256M
upload_max_filesize = 100M
max_execution_time = 360
date.timezone = America/Chicago

After making the change above, please save the file and close it.

After installing PHP and related modules, you must restart Apache2 to reload PHP configurations.

To restart Apache2, run the commands below

sudo systemctl restart apache2.service

To test PHP 7.2 settings with Apache2, create a phpinfo.php file in the Apache2 root directory by running the commands below

sudo nano /var/www/html/phpinfo.php

Then type the content below and save the file.

<?php phpinfo( ); ?>

Save the file. Then browse to your server hostname followed by /phpinfo.php

http://localhost/phpinfo.php

You should see the PHP default test page.

Create Dolphin Database

Once you’ve installed all the packages required for Dolphin to function, continue below to start configuring the servers.

First, run the commands below to create a blank Dolphin database.

To log on to the MariaDB database server, run the commands below.

sudo mysql -u root -p

Then create a database called Dolphin.

CREATE DATABASE dolphin;

Create a database user called dolphinuser with a new password

CREATE USER 'dolphinuser'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'new_password_here';

Then grant the user full access to the database.

GRANT ALL ON dolphin.* TO 'dolphinuser'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'user_password_here' WITH GRANT OPTION;

Finally, save your changes and exit.

FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
EXIT;

Download and Install Dolphin

Run the commands below to download Dolphin’s latest content. Then unzip the download file and move the content to the Apache2 default root directory.

cd /tmp && wget wget https://sourceforge.net/projects/boonex-dolphin/files/latest/download?source=directory --no-check-certificate
unzip download?source=directory
sudo mv Dolphin-v.7.3.5 /var/www/html/dolphin

Next, run the commands below to change the root folder permissions.

sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/html/dolphin
sudo chmod -R 755 /var/www/html/dolphin

Configure Apache2 Dolphin Site

Finally, configure the Apache2 configuration file for Dolphin. This file will control how users access Dolphin content. Run the commands below to create a new configuration file called Dolphin. conf

sudo nano /etc/apache2/sites-available/dolphin.conf

Then copy and paste the content below into the file and save it. Replace the highlighted line with your domain name and directory root location.

<VirtualHost *:80>
     ServerAdmin admin@example.com
     DocumentRoot /var/www/html/dolphin
     ServerName example.com

     <Directory /var/www/html/dolphin/>
          Options FollowSymlinks
          AllowOverride All
          Require all granted
     </Directory>

     ErrorLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/error.log
     CustomLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/access.log combined

</VirtualHost>

Save the file and exit.

After configuring the VirtualHost above, please enable it by running the commands below.

Enable the Dolphin Site

After configuring the VirtualHost above, please enable it by running the commands below, then restart the Apache2 server.

sudo a2ensite dolphin.conf
sudo a2enmod rewrite
sudo systemctl restart apache2.service

Next, open your browser, go to the URL., and continue with the installation.

http://example.com

You should see the Dolphin installation wizard page. Start the installation and confirm all requirements are met. Then continue by completing the database connection info and creating an admin account. When done. You should be able to use Dolphin.

After installing, you should be able to access the site and backend.

To login to the backend, type the URL below:

http://example.com/admin

Enjoy!