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 will look and how they 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 social networking websites for your school, company, or for any groups 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. so install it, since Dolphin needs it. To install Apache2 HTTP on the Ubuntu server, run the commands below. 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. 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.

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. After installing MariaDB, the commands below can be used to stop, start and enable the MariaDB service to always start up when the server boots. Run these on Ubuntu 16.04 LTS Run these on Ubuntu 17.10 and 18.04 LTS After that, run the commands below to secure the MariaDB server by creating a root password and disallowing remote root access. 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 To test if MariaDB is installed, type the commands below to logon to the MariaDB server Then type the password you created above to sign on. if successful, you should see MariaDB welcome message

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 Then update and upgrade to PHP 7.2 Next, run the commands below to install PHP 7.2 and related modules. After installing PHP 7.2, run the commands below to open the PHP default config file for Apache2. Then make the changes on the following lines below in the file and save. The value below is great setting to apply in your environments. After making the change above, save the file and close. After installing PHP and related modules, all you have to do is restart Apache2 to reload PHP configurations. To restart Apache2, run the commands below To test PHP 7.2 settings with Apache2, create a phpinfo.php file in the Apache2 root directory by running the commands below Then type the content below and save the file. Save the file. then browse to your server hostname followed by /phpinfo.php You should see the PHP default test page.

Create Dolphin Database

Now that you’ve installed all the packages that are 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. Then create a database called dolphin Create a database user called dolphinuser with a new password Then grant the user full access to the database. Finally, save your changes and 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. Next, run the commands below to change the root folder permissions.

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 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. Save the file and exit. After configuring the VirtualHost above, enable it by running the commands below

Enable the Dolphin Site

After configuring the VirtualHost above, enable it by running the commands below, then restart the Apache2 server. Next, open your browser and go to the URL. and continue with the installation. 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: Enjoy!