I've tried to install TestLink 1.8 beta on CentOS 5.1.
It took me a while to get all the needed packages (I got unexplained errors in the installation script - missing mysql- for example - mysql-what? )
but after that I hoped I managed to get everything installed.
Nevertheless, I am now getting a blank screen in the login screen.
The HTTPd error log says:
PHP Notice: Use of un
defined constant TL_ABS_PATH - assumed 'TL_ABS_PATH' in /var/www/html/testlink/c
fg/const.inc.php on line 51
I'm also unable to re-run the installation: I'm again getting a blank screen, in the http://<server>/testlink/install/installNewDB.php page...
Installation issues - clean install
Moderators: Amaradana, TurboPT, TL Developers
Installation issues - clean install
Hello from Canada,
As a newcomer, TestLink's 'How to start' page sounded simple. With limited PHP/Apache experience, it was a struggle.
The process is not simple if you don’t have a clear map. It requires database and server administration skills. If you have these skills and this knowledge, give yourself a pat on the back. If you don’t and have been struggling with setups, don’t be too tough on yourself. We all want less painful tools. TestLink looks good, once you get by the setup.
Here are the steps I found necessary to get 1.8 started on Windows XP. These were notes to myself so they may be a tad cryptic.
David
1. Download EasyPhp for windows
2. Install EasyPhp using defaults
3. Stop EasyPhp
4. Replace program files/EasyPhp/php5 with php-5.2.6 (keep directory name php5)
- 5.2.0 triggered server errors
5. Download TestLink
6. Extract
7. Comment out the log line in TestLink\Lib\general\mainpage.php
- // tlog("mainpage.php: Memory after common> ...
8. Copy to TL c:\Program files\EasyPhp\www
9. Start EasyPhp
10. EasyPhp Administration (right mouse icon in sys bar) or (http://127.0.0.1/home/)
11. [mysql_manager]
12. Privileges
13. Add 2 new Users with localhost access
- TL_Admin,
- TL_Norm
14. For TL_Admin Grant admin privileges
- (grant TL_Norm admin privileges to get sarted,
reduce privileges later)
15. http://localhost
16. Folder - testlink_beta/
17. New installation
18. Enter db accounts (TL_Admin, TL_Norm) & passwords
19. Setup Button
20. Agree to license terms
21. Proceed
22. Installation was successful
23. Testlink (using login name:admin / password:admin ...
As a newcomer, TestLink's 'How to start' page sounded simple. With limited PHP/Apache experience, it was a struggle.
The process is not simple if you don’t have a clear map. It requires database and server administration skills. If you have these skills and this knowledge, give yourself a pat on the back. If you don’t and have been struggling with setups, don’t be too tough on yourself. We all want less painful tools. TestLink looks good, once you get by the setup.
Here are the steps I found necessary to get 1.8 started on Windows XP. These were notes to myself so they may be a tad cryptic.
David
1. Download EasyPhp for windows
2. Install EasyPhp using defaults
3. Stop EasyPhp
4. Replace program files/EasyPhp/php5 with php-5.2.6 (keep directory name php5)
- 5.2.0 triggered server errors
5. Download TestLink
6. Extract
7. Comment out the log line in TestLink\Lib\general\mainpage.php
- // tlog("mainpage.php: Memory after common> ...
8. Copy to TL c:\Program files\EasyPhp\www
9. Start EasyPhp
10. EasyPhp Administration (right mouse icon in sys bar) or (http://127.0.0.1/home/)
11. [mysql_manager]
12. Privileges
13. Add 2 new Users with localhost access
- TL_Admin,
- TL_Norm
14. For TL_Admin Grant admin privileges
- (grant TL_Norm admin privileges to get sarted,
reduce privileges later)
15. http://localhost
16. Folder - testlink_beta/
17. New installation
18. Enter db accounts (TL_Admin, TL_Norm) & passwords
19. Setup Button
20. Agree to license terms
21. Proceed
22. Installation was successful
23. Testlink (using login name:admin / password:admin ...
and then what..?
I got up to the same step, in Linux, and then... when logged in, I found nothing I could do - specifically create a project, and so on!
Installation issues - clean install
ykaul, I had problems earlier, when TestLink 1.8 ran, before getting server error messages. I hadn't had time to try the new install, just knew the server messages disappeared.
Your message clued me in this morning. I saved the EasyPHP directory before doing anything.
When I changed the e-mail on the admin.admin account, Testlink displayed the message:
'You do not have permissions to perform this action! Please contact your administrator.'
Then TestLink kicked the admin account into guest role. At the top it displayed 'TestLink 1.8.0 BETA1 : admin Role :: [ guest ].'
Logging in again , admin.admin stayed in guest role.
I shutdown EasyPhp, copied back the MySql directory from the EasyPHP save, then set up a new account with an admin role. After that I was able to add users, TestSuites and TestCases from the new admin account.
I won't have time to fully test before tomorrow.
David
Your message clued me in this morning. I saved the EasyPHP directory before doing anything.
When I changed the e-mail on the admin.admin account, Testlink displayed the message:
'You do not have permissions to perform this action! Please contact your administrator.'
Then TestLink kicked the admin account into guest role. At the top it displayed 'TestLink 1.8.0 BETA1 : admin Role :: [ guest ].'
Logging in again , admin.admin stayed in guest role.
I shutdown EasyPhp, copied back the MySql directory from the EasyPHP save, then set up a new account with an admin role. After that I was able to add users, TestSuites and TestCases from the new admin account.
I won't have time to fully test before tomorrow.
David
Guys, thank you for your feedback. I hope that we will add more system checking into initial procedure ... so users will be better informed about problems.
Easyphp is not good solution these days. They are not able to create a stable version with PHP5
I used it before, but I switch to XAMPP the last year.
I wonder why you need to disable
maybe wrong permission for logs directory?
You should not create DB users account - installation procedure do it for you. You only need to specify admin to create a new testlink DB user with appropriate rights (limited to edit own DB).
Easyphp is not good solution these days. They are not able to create a stable version with PHP5
I used it before, but I switch to XAMPP the last year.I wonder why you need to disable
Code: Select all
tlog("mainpage.php: Memory after common> ... You should not create DB users account - installation procedure do it for you. You only need to specify admin to create a new testlink DB user with appropriate rights (limited to edit own DB).
Installation issues - clean install
havlatm,
Thinking about what you said here.
The DB users account that you are referring to is, TL_Norm in my install list. I created that because it was asked for in the New Installation page. If it's not needed, I expect someone will probably remove it on the full release. I'm new to TestLink so I don't know who does what.
This list is how I got TestLink to work. Without current PHP experience, it was a struggle to get the install working.
When you know what you are doing, the issues seem trivial and, in the end, they were. When you don't know what you are looking for, it feels like you are poking through the bowels of the beast.
Since EasyPHP is problematic, I might be nice to have a step by step procedure that works 100% with other tools. TestLink worked well as a high level tool, but the install was troublesome. Not everyone who comes to your site will have the patience to learn Apache, PHP, Mantis, etc. Difficulties installing will limit your community of users.
Working with 1.8 Beta, TestLink did everything I tried. I followed the 1.7 user's guide for project, users, requirements, testsuites, and testcases. TestLink worked easily and smoothly. It worked smoother than a top selling test manager that I watched people use a couple of years ago during a QA investigation. Best sellers are not always the best choices.
Which reminds me of another time, years ago. I was attending a seminar at that big computer company in Toronto. As I walked by another conference room, the guy at the front was telling employees, "The message we're getting is, 'We're number one but we're not very good.'"
Thanks to everyone who contributed. Keep it up, TestLinkers.
Thinking about what you said here.
The DB users account that you are referring to is, TL_Norm in my install list. I created that because it was asked for in the New Installation page. If it's not needed, I expect someone will probably remove it on the full release. I'm new to TestLink so I don't know who does what.
This list is how I got TestLink to work. Without current PHP experience, it was a struggle to get the install working.
When you know what you are doing, the issues seem trivial and, in the end, they were. When you don't know what you are looking for, it feels like you are poking through the bowels of the beast.
Since EasyPHP is problematic, I might be nice to have a step by step procedure that works 100% with other tools. TestLink worked well as a high level tool, but the install was troublesome. Not everyone who comes to your site will have the patience to learn Apache, PHP, Mantis, etc. Difficulties installing will limit your community of users.
Working with 1.8 Beta, TestLink did everything I tried. I followed the 1.7 user's guide for project, users, requirements, testsuites, and testcases. TestLink worked easily and smoothly. It worked smoother than a top selling test manager that I watched people use a couple of years ago during a QA investigation. Best sellers are not always the best choices.
Which reminds me of another time, years ago. I was attending a seminar at that big computer company in Toronto. As I walked by another conference room, the guy at the front was telling employees, "The message we're getting is, 'We're number one but we're not very good.'"
Thanks to everyone who contributed. Keep it up, TestLinkers.
>> The DB users account that you are referring to is, TL_Norm in my >>install list. I created that because it was asked for in the New >>Installation page. If it's not needed, I expect someone will probably >>remove it on the full release. I'm new to TestLink so I don't know who >>does what.
As havlat have tried to explain, is TL installer that will create DB user
for TL normal operation. To Allow the installer to do this, you need to provide an user and password with root rights on DB.
THis is explained in the install page
>>This list is how I got TestLink to work. Without current PHP experience, >>it was a struggle to get the install working.
No surprise at all, you will face same problem with any other PHP web based application.
Have you ever try to install mantis ?
>>Since EasyPHP is problematic, I might be nice to have a step by step >>procedure that works 100% with other tools.
Procedure is:
1. check prerequisites
2. use TL installer.
>>TestLink worked well as a >>high level tool, but the install was >>troublesome.
Completely disagree, our installation procedure is as hard as mantis one.
>> Not everyone who comes to your site will have the patience to learn >>Apache, PHP, Mantis, etc.
Installation is not and end user tasck, but normally a sysadmin guy taks,
that normally has these knowledge.
>>Difficulties installing will limit your community >>of users.
But with a commercial Web based application you never faced this type
of problems?
Anyway on tl sourceforge you can get a xampp preinstalled with TL and mantis
>>Working with 1.8 Beta, TestLink did everything I tried. I followed the >>1.7 user's guide for project, users, requirements, testsuites, and >>testcases. TestLink worked easily and smoothly. It worked smoother >>than a top selling test manager that I watched people use a couple of >>years ago during a QA investigation. Best sellers are not always the >>best choices.
>>Which reminds me of another time, years ago. I was attending a >>seminar at that big computer company in Toronto. As I walked by >>another conference room, the guy at the front was telling >>employees, "The message we're getting is, 'We're number one but >>we're not very good.'"
We want TL be a good one, and may be in the future one of Top 10.
Regards
Thanks to everyone who contributed. Keep it up, TestLinkers.
As havlat have tried to explain, is TL installer that will create DB user
for TL normal operation. To Allow the installer to do this, you need to provide an user and password with root rights on DB.
THis is explained in the install page
>>This list is how I got TestLink to work. Without current PHP experience, >>it was a struggle to get the install working.
No surprise at all, you will face same problem with any other PHP web based application.
Have you ever try to install mantis ?
>>Since EasyPHP is problematic, I might be nice to have a step by step >>procedure that works 100% with other tools.
Procedure is:
1. check prerequisites
2. use TL installer.
>>TestLink worked well as a >>high level tool, but the install was >>troublesome.
Completely disagree, our installation procedure is as hard as mantis one.
>> Not everyone who comes to your site will have the patience to learn >>Apache, PHP, Mantis, etc.
Installation is not and end user tasck, but normally a sysadmin guy taks,
that normally has these knowledge.
>>Difficulties installing will limit your community >>of users.
But with a commercial Web based application you never faced this type
of problems?
Anyway on tl sourceforge you can get a xampp preinstalled with TL and mantis
>>Working with 1.8 Beta, TestLink did everything I tried. I followed the >>1.7 user's guide for project, users, requirements, testsuites, and >>testcases. TestLink worked easily and smoothly. It worked smoother >>than a top selling test manager that I watched people use a couple of >>years ago during a QA investigation. Best sellers are not always the >>best choices.
>>Which reminds me of another time, years ago. I was attending a >>seminar at that big computer company in Toronto. As I walked by >>another conference room, the guy at the front was telling >>employees, "The message we're getting is, 'We're number one but >>we're not very good.'"
We want TL be a good one, and may be in the future one of Top 10.
Regards
Thanks to everyone who contributed. Keep it up, TestLinkers.
> TestLink installer that will create DB user for TestLink normal operation.
I think I finally got this. Only the admin account needs to be created in MySql. The user account gets created from the information on the install page.
> No surprise at all, you will face same problem with any other PHP web based application. Have you ever try to install mantis ?
I tried installing the latest Mantis today. It installed, logged on once, and then gave me trouble. Now I’m reinstalling TestLink 1.8. When I find time, I’ll backup and take another whack at it.
> Anyway on tl sourceforge you can get a xampp preinstalled with TestLink and Mantis
I hadn’t seen this before - another problem with being new. It worked very well but with TestLink 1.7.1. Seems to be a few improvements in beta 1.8. I tried a number of things with the auto install 1.7.1 before going back to EasyPHP. I tried replacing the 1.7 folder with the 1.8 before installing. I tried to upgrade TestLink1.7.1 to beta 1.8. I’m having trouble finding the information I need on xmapp and don’t have time to fight it.
EasyPHP works with 1.8. TestLink 1.8 works well as a test manager on my laptop, which is what I was trying to do. I’m not sure I’ll need mantis or another bug tracker immediately.
The user manual for 1.7 doesn’t show close coupling between Mantis and TestLink. I didn’t see mention of any data moving from TestLink to Mantis. Mantis doesn’t appear to send results back to TestLink. The workflow described a manager entering test results from the tracker into TestLink, I believe.
Perhaps I missed something. Perhaps the coupling changed in 1.8 and will be documented later. Is it loosely coupled? If it’s not tightly coupled, any tracker might do. For now, I’ll get comfortable using TestLink 1.8.
Thank you for your help.
David
I think I finally got this. Only the admin account needs to be created in MySql. The user account gets created from the information on the install page.
> No surprise at all, you will face same problem with any other PHP web based application. Have you ever try to install mantis ?
I tried installing the latest Mantis today. It installed, logged on once, and then gave me trouble. Now I’m reinstalling TestLink 1.8. When I find time, I’ll backup and take another whack at it.
> Anyway on tl sourceforge you can get a xampp preinstalled with TestLink and Mantis
I hadn’t seen this before - another problem with being new. It worked very well but with TestLink 1.7.1. Seems to be a few improvements in beta 1.8. I tried a number of things with the auto install 1.7.1 before going back to EasyPHP. I tried replacing the 1.7 folder with the 1.8 before installing. I tried to upgrade TestLink1.7.1 to beta 1.8. I’m having trouble finding the information I need on xmapp and don’t have time to fight it.
EasyPHP works with 1.8. TestLink 1.8 works well as a test manager on my laptop, which is what I was trying to do. I’m not sure I’ll need mantis or another bug tracker immediately.
The user manual for 1.7 doesn’t show close coupling between Mantis and TestLink. I didn’t see mention of any data moving from TestLink to Mantis. Mantis doesn’t appear to send results back to TestLink. The workflow described a manager entering test results from the tracker into TestLink, I believe.
Perhaps I missed something. Perhaps the coupling changed in 1.8 and will be documented later. Is it loosely coupled? If it’s not tightly coupled, any tracker might do. For now, I’ll get comfortable using TestLink 1.8.
Thank you for your help.
David