Web+Center Installation Debugging Tools
(Linux Platform)

Introduction:
If you have experienced problems getting the Web+Center application running properly, please follow the steps below to help identify some possible Configuration issues.

Internet Software Sciences has worked to develop a web application that should work across a variety of Windows and Linux-based Environments.

This version of Web+Center is designed to use MySQL as the backend database. With the combination of Web server versions, ODBC drivers, database versions some users experience problems during initial installations although these problems can be easily diagnosed and fixed by the tests and recommendations listed below.

To best analyze the problem, please follow the instructions and sequential links below. Each steps will require more Configurations and it may cause the web server to create an error. When an error occurs, then review the possible related documentation in the installation guide and perform any additional Configuration steps or additional tests necessary. It also may require that the web server or the machine be re-booted to clear up any Configurations or reset Access Control Lists (ACL's) before testing a new Configuration is started. If you still experience problems with the installation, please check out web based support FAQ and knowledge base for exact problems and solutions on our Web+Center support page.

Test 1: Test Settings of certain critical environmental variables.

Description: To operate correctly in the Linux environment, certain critical environmental variables must be set. This test checks to see whether the system has correctly detected that it is running under Linux and has set these variables appropriately.

Instructions: Click on the "Test Settings of Environmental Variables" link below. If you see a page that says " Settings OK, click the back button", your settings are probably ok. If you get a diagnostic message, this indicates that something critical is not being set correctly for this environment

Test Settings of Environmental Variables
Test 2: Simple Database Connectivity Test

Description: This test will do a very basic connect to the database without attempting to read or write any data to it. If this fails, then check your ODBC settingsm and the database connect string in the DB_define.inc file located in the techcenter directory.

Instructions: Click on the Simple Database Connectivity Test link below. If you see a page that says " Database Connectivity OK, ", the database can be found. If you get an error then, confirm your ODBC settings and your database access string in DB_define.inc file.

Simple Database Connectivity

Test 3: Multiple Connections Database Test

Description: This test will do attempt to open and close 3 database connections to the database within a short time interval. Also check the security permissions settings for the Web+Center 4.0 folder and all sub folders. It should be set for just Everybody with full control permissions set. Refer to the Install guide instructions on how to set these file security permissions. A complete machine reboot is require after the permissions have been reset.

Instructions: Click on the Multiple Connections Database Test link below. If you see a page that says " Multiple Database Connectivity OK, ", the database can be opened and closed with mulitple connections successfully.

Multiple Connections Database Test

Test 4: Database Read Connectivity Test

Description: This test will do a database connect and database read operation. There are Cases when the database can be read by not updated based on user rights. If this fails, then check your ODBC settings and the database connect string in the DB_define.inc file located in the techcenter directory.

Instructions: Click on the Database Read Connectivity Test link below. If you see a page that says " Database Read OK", the database can be found and read. If you get an error then, confirm your ODBC settings and your database access string in DB_define.inc file.

Database Read Connectivity Test

Test 5: Database Read/Write Connectivity Test

Description: This test will do a database connect and database read and write operations. There are Cases when the database can be read but not updated based on user rights. If this fails, then check your ODBC settings and the database connect string in the DB_define.inc file located in the techcenter directory.

Instructions: Click on the Database Read/Write Connectivity Test link below. If you see a page that says " Database Read/Write OK", the database can be found and read. If you get an error then, confirm your ODBC settings and your database access string in DB_define.inc file.

Database Read/Write Connectivity Test

Test 6: TechCenter Application Login

Description: This test will attempt to log into the Tech+Center application using one of the default Tech Username and passwords that the system initially installs as part of the setup. If you setup is configured correctly, it will directly log into the Tech+Center 3 frame document.
If a 3 frame window document appears, then you can connect to the database properly using the techcenter application. You can also turn on Display Cookie notification on the browser and verify that the cookie is being set. If this fails, then check your ODBC settings and the database connect string in the file called db_define and the file css_access.dat which is located in the techcenter directory.

Instructions: Click on the Tech+Center Login button below. If you enter directly into the 3 frame tech+center document, the database can be found and read. If you get an error then, confirm your ODBC settings. If you have changed your defaults accounts, you may not be able to successfully log into the Tech+Center with this test below.

Test 7: Email Configuration

Description: This test will attempt to send an email to the SMTP mail server you configure using the system Configuration options available under the administration panel. Before running this test, please ensure the correct setting of the SMTP Host Address before running this test.

The page that is returned will attempt to send an email and give some other debugging information. If you do not get an email, there may be problems with the webserver automatically sending out messages to your mail gateway. With increasing security and SPAM prevention filters in place, some users may experience problems getting If this fails, then check your SMTP host setting. Also verify that you have installed the CDONTS/Chili!Mail mail component properly that is included with the ChiliSoft package. If you get an ASP error that identifies an create object ASP error, then you have not properly installed your this component on your system.

Instructions: Enter a valid email address where you want to receive a test message to verify that emails can be properly sent.

Email Address:

Test 8: Cookie Settings

Description: This test will attempt to send an Web+Center cookie to your browser and then it will verify that is was properly set.

The Web+Center product uses browser based cookies as the method to identify users once they have logged into the Tech+Center or the Customer+Center application. If browser cookies are disabled, users will not be able to properly use either the Customer+Center, Tech+Center or the Business+Center. An invalid user page may appear or other ASP errors.

To test whether your browser (and any possible server settings) are properly configured to enable sending and receiving of cookies, click on the Test Cookie Operation link below.

If the test does not pass, then check the cookies setting in your browser and verify that cookies are enabled. Another possible check to perform is to run this InstallTest (installtest.htm) page again with a different browser, such as Netscape and determine if cookies are enabled with that browser and not the first browser then your browser stills needs additional Configuration changes.

Some users have experienced problems with cookies and IE when the website is referenced through a domain name. If this happens, try referencing the Web+Center with an IP based web address (like http://204.102.45.34/tech40/ )instead to see if this solves cookie setting problem. This seems to only occur after upgrading certain IIS web server patches.

Test Cookie Operation