source: main/waeup.kofa/branches/uli-stud-utils-cleanup/docs/INSTALL.txt @ 13599

Installation of Kofa
####################

These are generic installation instructions for the WAeUP_ ``Kofa``
student information portal and customized versions thereof.

For specific aspects of this package please refer to the local README
file.

Please note, that **only Linux-based installs** are described and actively
supported. We recommend use of Debian_ / Ubuntu_.

.. note:: This means we do not actively support Windows(tm)!

.. contents::


Prerequisites
*************

The Kofa packages are based on `Grok`_, which is a Python_
framework for agile webapplication development. Grok_ itself is based
on `Zope`_.

Both, Grok_ and Zope_, are written in the `Python`_ programming
language (with parts written in C). You therefore have to have
`Python`_ installed (including `Python`_ headers).


Preparing the System
====================

For a `Kofa` install we need of course `Python`_ installed as well as
some standard developer tools like C compilers, C libraries, etc.

What you need (Debian/Ubuntu package names in brackets):

* Python 2.7 (``python2.7``)

* Python 2.7 development files (``python2.7-dev``)

* A C-Compiler with basic C developer libraries (``build-essential``)

* A subversion client (``subversion``)

* XML and XSLT development libraries (``libxml2-dev``, ``libxslt1-dev``)

* enscript (``enscript``) [optional]

  This is only needed if you want test coverage reports.

All these packages can be installed on Debian systems like this::

  $ sudo apt-get install python2.7 python2.7-dev subversion \
                         build-essential enscript libxml2-dev libxslt1-dev

Afterwards you should be able to enter::

  $ python2.7

at the commandline and get a Python_ prompt. Quit the interpreter
pressing <CTRL-D>.


Installing `virtualenv`
=======================

We strongly suggest use of `virtualenv`_ to create Python_ sandboxes
where you can run your code without touching any other installations.

`virtualenv`_ is also the only possibility to build a `Kofa` install
without the need of superuser permissions. In short: `virtualenv`_
will make your life easier. Use it.

Detailed install instructions for `virtualenv`_ can be found on
http://www.virtualenv.org/en/latest/virtualenv.html#installation.

The short way for a user install (no superuser perms required) is like
this::

  $ curl -O https://pypi.python.org/packages/source/v/virtualenv/virtualenv-1.11.4.tar.gz#md5=9accc2d3f0ec1da479ce2c3d1fdff06e
  $ tar xvfz virtualenv-1.11.4.tar.gz
  $ cd virtualenv-1.11.4
  $ python virtualenv.py py27

Superusers can install `virtualenv`_ system-wide much easier. On
`Debian`_/`Ubuntu`_ systems where you have superuser permissions, you
can install `virtualenv`_ via::

  $ sudo apt-get install python-virtualenv

*Or*, if `pip` is installed already (superusers can install it via
 ``sudo apt-get install python-pip`` on `Debian`_/`Ubuntu`_)::

  $ sudo pip install virtualenv


Creating a Sandbox
==================

After installing `virtualenv`_ you can install local sandboxes like
this (if `virtualenv` is installed system-wide)::

  $ virtualenv --no-site-packages py27

*or* like this::

  $ python /path/to/my/virtualenv.py --no-site-packages py27

where ``py27`` is a directory in the filesystem where your sandbox
will be created. `virtualenv` will also create this directory for
you. While you can pick any sandbox name you want, it is recommended
to use a sandbox name that is short and at the same time reflects the
Python version used (here: Python 2.7).

By passing the ``no-site-packages`` switch we tell `virtualenv` to
provide a clean environment without any extra-packages installed
systemwide. More recent versions of `virtualenv`_ have this option set
by default.

Another often used option of `virtualenv`_ is ``-p``. With ``-p`` you
can tell `virtualenv`_ which Python executable to use as base for the
new sandbox.

You now can activate the sandbox by doing::

  $ source py27/bin/activate
  (py27)$

You will notice that the input prompt changes, indicating the name of
the sandbox activated.

To deactivate the sandbox at any time, enter::

  (py27)$ deactivate

and the prompt will be the same as before the activation.

For the following steps make sure the sandbox is active.


Getting the Sources
===================

Now, as the sandbox is activated (see above, if not), we can fetch the
sources for Kofa.

As Kofa is currently available from the Subversion_ repository only,
we use the Subversion_ client `svn` and checkout the main devel branch
of the `waeup.kofa` package like this::

  (py27)$ svn co https://svn.waeup.org/repos/main/waeup.kofa/trunk

The command should fetch the Kofa base package sources for you and
will put everything in a new directory ``trunk/``.

Now enter the new directory::

  (py27)$ cd trunk/

and you can start building the real package.

.. note:: If you not want to work with the `waeup.kofa` package but a
          customized package (like ``waeup.aaue`` or similar), then
          you can use the above checkout command but with
          ``waeup.kofa`` replaced by the name of the customized
          package::

            (py27)$ svn co https://svn.waeup.org/repos/main/<PKG-NAME>/trunk

          For the exact link, please refer to the README.txt file in
          your package.


Bootstrapping the Build
=======================

After `Creating a Sandbox`_ and `Getting the Sources`_ we have to
initialize the newly created development environment::

  (py27)$ python bootstrap.py

This should create a local ``bin/`` directory with at least a script
``buildout`` in it.

If bootstrapping fails, chances are, that you need the `distribute`
package installed. In a virtual environment you can install it without
interfering with other packages installed on your server::

  (py27)$ pip install --upgrade distribute

Afterwards you have to retry the bootstrapping, until you get a
working ``buildout`` script in the local ``bin/`` directory.

Once the ``buildout`` script exists, you do not have to activate the
virtual envronment any more (although you can).


Part 1: Single Client Setup
***************************

You can run ``Kofa`` with a single client (useful for evaluation,
development, etc.) or with multiple clients running in parallel. The
latter setup is useful in productive environments with many thousands
users and called a ``ZEO`` install. We will cover both setup
types. The first is covered here, the latter one is covered in `Part
2: ZEO Install`_.


Building the Package
====================

In the sources directory (``trunk/``) you have to prepare the
project to fetch needed components (eggs), compile C-code parts,
etc. This is done by a single command ``buildout``::

  $ ./bin/buildout

If this is your first install of some Grok-related project, this step
will need some time as lots of sources have to be fetched, many
components must be compiled, etc.

This step must be redone whenever you change something in
``buildout.cfg``, ``buildout-zeo.cfg``, or ``setup.py``.

Note that if you have more than one sandbox for a Zope-based web
application, it will probably make sense to share the eggs between the
different sandboxes.  You can tell ``zc.buildout`` to use a central
eggs directory by creating ``~/.buildout/default.cfg`` with the
following contents::

  [buildout]
  eggs-directory = /home/bruno/buildout-eggs

where the given directory should be exist beforehand. All eggs of all
`buildout` projects will then be stored in this directory (and not
fetched anew if already existing there).


Start the Instance
==================

You should be able now to start the created instance by doing::

  $ ./bin/kofactl fg

Alternatively you can do::

  $ bin/paster serve parts/etc/deploy-themed.ini

The port numbers where Kofa is running on your server are defined in
`buildout.cfg` under ``[kofa_params]``.

If you now point a browser to the right port on your server, for example::

  localhost:8080

you should get a login pop-up, where you can login as superuser with
``grok`` and ``grok`` as username/password (Kofa base package only!).

You can stop the instance by pressing <CTRL-C>.

If you are connected and logged in,
you should be able to add the grok-based applications
(such as ``University``) from the menu.

Add an instance of ``University`` and click on the link next to the
then visible entry in the list of installed applications.

Running the Tests
=================

All WAeUP_ packages come with comprehensive test suites ensuring the
software quality also after changes and updates.

The package tests are easily run by executing the test runner
from the ``bin`` directory::

  $ ./bin/test

Use the ``-c`` option to get coloured output. Use the ``--pdb`` option
to start the Python_ debugger when a test fails.


Part 2: ZEO Install
*******************

Each ZEO install consists of at least one ZEO server and normally two
or more ZEO clients. While the ZEO server is meant to manage the ZODB
database for clients, the clients connect to the outside world, listen
for request and do the real dataprocessing.

We prepared a `buildout` configuration that sets up one server
configuration and two client configs. This configuration is in
``buildout-zeo.cfg``.

Generating the ZEO Setup
========================

To install Kofa ZEO-based you can run `buildout` with the given
(or your own) configuration file like this::

  $ ./bin/buildout -c buildout-zeo.cfg

This should generate all scripts necessary to run servers, clients,
etc.

Starting ZEO Servers and Clients
================================

First start the server::

  $ ./bin/zeo_server start

Clients can be started by doing::

  $ ./bin/zeo_client1 start
  $ ./bin/zeo_client2 start

This will start both clients in daemon mode.

Instead of ``start`` you can, as usually, start an instance in
foreground (``fg``), etc. You know the drill.


Manually Starting ZEO Clients
=============================

This is normally not neccessary.

``zeo_clientN`` scripts are basically wrappers around calls to
``bin/paster``. You can bypass this wrapper and start a client
'manually' like this::

  $ ./bin/paster serve --pid-file var/zeo1.pid --daemon \
        pars/etc/zeo1.ini

It is important to give a pid-file as `paster` otherwise can not start
different clients (they would all refer to the same pid file
`paster.pid` and refuse to start after the first client was started).


Setup (paramters, ports, etc.)
==============================

By default the server will listen on port 8100 for requests from
localhost (not: from the outside world).

You can change ZEO server settings in the ``[zeo_server]`` section
of ``buildout-zeo.conf``. Run `buildout` afterwards.

The clients will listen on port 8081 and 8082. You can change settings
in ``etc/zeo1.ini.in`` and ``etc/zeo2.ini.in`` respectively. Run
buildout after any change.

If you want to change the paster wrapper for any zeo client, you can
edit ``etc/zeo1.conf`` and/or ``etc/zeo2.conf``. Run buildout
afterwards.


Stopping ZEO Servers and Clients
================================

Given everything was started in daemon mode, first stop the clients::

  $ ./bin/zeo_client1 stop
  $ ./bin/zeo_client2 stop

Then stop the ZEO server::

  $ ./bin/zeo_server stop


Creating New ZEO Clients
========================

You want more ZEO clients to be created by `buildout`? Easy. Three
steps are neccessary.

1. Create config files in `etc/`
--------------------------------

Each client needs two configuration files:

  - ``etc/zeoN.conf``
       configuring the paster wrapper

  - ``etc/zeoN.ini``
       configuring the runtime config, ports, etc.

Just copy over these files from the already existing zeo1/zeo2 files
and replace ``zeo1`` or ``zeo2`` with your new name.

2. Update buildout-zeo.cfg
--------------------------

Here, inside ``buildourt-zeo.cfg`` also three steps are needed.

* 2.1. Create new .ini and .conf entries

  The .conf and .ini files in etc/ are only templates that have to be
  generated in their really used final location. In buildout-zeo.cfg
  you can care for this by creating a new ``[zeoN_ini]`` and
  ``[zeoN_conf]`` option (replacing ``N`` with a number, of course).

  Just copy over existing entries and replace the mentions of ``zeo1``
  or ``zeo2`` by your ``zeoN``.

* 2.2. Create a new ``zeo_clientN`` entry

  Then you have to create an entry that will generate the
  ``zeo_clientN`` script. Again, just copy over an existing
  ``[zeo_client1]`` entry and replace ``1`` withg your client number.

* 2.3. Register the new sections in ``[buildout]`` section

  When done with the above: add the new section in ``[buildout]``::

    [buildout]
      ...
      <old entries...>
      ...
      zope_conf_zeo_5
      zeo5_ini
      zeo_client5

  depending on how you named your new sections.

3. Rerun ``buildout``
---------------------

When adding or removing client/server instances, make sure to stop all
running servers/clients before rerunning buildout.

To activate the new setup, rerun buildout::

  $ bin/buildout -c buildout-zeo.cfg

This should generate any new clients and remove older ones or just
update configuration files.


Considerations
==============

There are some things in the current buildout-zeo.cfg we might do not
want. It extends the regular ``buildout.cfg`` so that we do not have
to repeat most sections but the ``parts`` in ``[buildout]`` have to be
listed.

We need, however, not everything with a ZEO-deploy that is listed in a
default buildout. We might do not need docs, no profiling, etc. Also a
regular non-ZEO kofactl might not make to much sense. Therefore all
this might be subject to changes.

.. _Debian: http://www.debian.org/
.. _Grok: http://grok.zope.org/
.. _Python: http://www.python.org/
.. _Subversion: http://subversion.apache.org/
.. _Ubuntu: http://www.ubuntu.com/
.. _virtualenv: http://www.virtualenv.org/en/latest/
.. _WAeUP: https://www.waeup.org/
.. _Zope: http://www.zope.org/
.. _zc.buildout: http://cheeseshop.python.org/pypi/zc.buildout