Installation Instructions for K7AR Web Scripts for AR Cluster

Installation Instructions for K7AR Mobile Cluster Software

Version 1.03
by Al Rovner, K7AR
k7ar@arrl.net
Aug 15, 2006

Introduction

Following these instructions will allow you to display DX and WWV data from your AR Cluster on cell phones and smartphones that support broswing.

Assumptions/Requirements

These instructions are specific to Windows 2000 or XP. (Windows 2003 is also OK, I just don't run it here).
You will be installing a web server on your AR Cluster PC. You should have some familiarity with the operation and maintenance of a web server.
Your AR Cluster PC has sufficient speed, hard drive storage, and memory to host and run AR Cluster and a web server.
To run the Mobile Cluster, you must have the Microsoft .NET Framework, Version 2.0 installed on your AR Cluster PC.
Unless you run Windows 2003 Server, the web server capacity of your AR Cluster PC will be limited. This is because the web server provided with Windows 2000 and XP Professional is for example use only. If you expect to have more than 15 or 20 web users connected at one time, you should consider switching to Windows 2003 Server for your cluster PC, as its server capacity is essentially unlimited.
Note: If you run my Web Cluster software on your node, it is OK to have both the Microsoft .NET Framework versions 1.1 and 2.0 installed on the same PC. They play OK together.

Step 1 - Install the Microsoft .NET 2.0 Framework

If you already have the .NET 2.0 Framework installed, you may skip this step. Click here to download the framework from the Microsoft web site. Install the framework following the provided instructions from Microsoft.

Step 2 - Install Internet Information Services (IIS)

If you already have IIS installed, you may skip this step.

Select Add/Remove Programs from the Control Panel.
Select Add/Remove Windows Components from the left side of this dialog.
In the next dialog, check Internet Information Services and go through the remaining steps in the wizard. You may need to place your Windows 2000/XP CD-ROM in the drive at this point.

Step 3 - Install the Mobile Cluster Software

First, you need to understand the concept of a root directory for a web server. This is the / directory for your web site. So if you want to go to somesite/index.htm this file index.htm is located at the web server's root level, but not your hard drive's root level. A lot of new web designers find this concept confusing. In the case of IIS, the web server's root level is located at C:\Inetpub\wwwroot by default. All files we use below will be placed in this directory. The mobile cluster software will be placed in a directory called MobileCluster below wwwroot.

Copy the provided installation file to C:\Inetpub\Wwwroot.
Unzip the installation file using Winzip or similar program.
Display the IIS administration tool by selecting Administrative Tools --> Internet Services Manager from the Control Panel.
Expand the Default Web Site node. Notice the MobileCluster icon.
Right-click the MobileCluster icon and select Properties. The following dialog box will be seen.
Click the Create button. This will create a web project. When done properly, the MobileCluster icon will change from a regular folder to the icon shown above (for Windows 2000) or to something that looks like a gear and shaft (on Windows XP and 2003).
In the above dialog box, click the Documents tab. Delete any default documents that are displayed. Add a new document called Default.aspx. The dialog should look like this when you're done.

Also, make certain the Enable Default Document box is checked.
In the above dialog box, click the ASP.NET tab. Verify the ASP.NET version is shown as 2.0.xxx. It should already be set, but change it if not. Press OK to dismiss the Properties dialog.
Close the IIS Administrtaion tool.

Step 4 - Customize the Settings for Your Environment

In the MobileCluster directory, edit the file web.config with an ASCII editor like Notepad. In here you will find directory paths, and settings you can change to meet your needs. Each value is clearly commented.
Edit these values in web.config: They are located in the <appSettings> block near the top of the file.

Name	Description
title_msg	The text to display at the top of each page. You may change this to anything you like, but it is best to keep it short. Feel free to add your node callsign, etc.
ar_database	Location of your AR Cluster database files. This is set to C:\Program Files\AR-Cluster\Database by default.
num_spots	The number of DX spots to display on the main screen.

Step 5 - Verification of MobileCluster Site

Using your local browser go to: http://localhost/MobileCluster
The cluster web site should display.
Follow a few of the buttons on the page to make sure all pages display correctly.

Step 6 - What URL Do I Publicize To My Users?

Your mobile cluster site is officially located at http://<your external address>/MobileCluster

This is what your users should connect to. From there, they can create Bookmarks, etc.