Hi,

I am new here and new to DNN. I have setup a server which I have installed Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard 32 bit.

I have installed IIS 7 and have a simple HTML page running on the DefaultWebSite which I will use a link to DNN. I am trying to install DNN, which I downloaded the file, ran it, and when it says it has completed successfully, when I visit the DNN install page, I get a messgae that says "No valid database connection detected. Standard database setup is unavailable."

I cannot continue the DNN Installation.

I have done this process twice now, reloading the server from scratch.

Any idea why no standard database connection is not available since the DNN package installed MS SQL Express 2008 R2 SP2?

Bruce

Bruce,

if you did not already I would suggest to use the Web Platform Installer for installing DNN.

Otherwise (I assume you install DNN on your local machine, and SQL Server is installed there as well):

1. Create a folder on your computer, e.g. C:\DNN
2. In IIS Manager, create a new Application Pool, e.g. DnnAppPool. Use the .Net 4.0 or .Net 4.5 framework and integrated pipeline mode. Make sure the Application Pool Identity is set to "ApplicationPoolIdentity". (in the application pool's Advanced Settings).
3. Set the permissions for the directory created in Step 1 for the Application Pool (e.g. "IIS AppPool\DnnAppPool") to Modify.
4. Unblock the DNN installation pack ZIP file, and then unzip it to the folder.
5. In IIS Manager, create a new WebSite, e.g. "DnnWebSite". Set the Application Pool to the application pool created in step 2 (e.g. DnnAppPool). Assign the folder created in Step 1, and add a host header, eg. "dnn.local"
6. Select the created Web Site and double click "Authentication" (under "IIS"). Select "Anonymous Identification" and click "Edit..." on the right hand side. Select "Application Pool Identity" from the given options.
7. If you have not already installed MS SQL Server Express do so. Then open SQL Server Management Studio and connect to your SQL Server Instance.
8. Create a new database, e.g. DnnDatabase.
9. Under Security :: Logins, create a new login. Use Windows Authentication, and add the Application Pool Identity (e.g. "IIS AppPool\DnnAppPool"). Assign dbo permissions for this login to the database created in Step 8.
10. Open the file C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts (without any extension, note that the folder "etc" is hidden in newer Windows version, so I rcommend to copy and paste the path to Windows Explorer), using a text editor. Add the line
    127.0.0.1   dnn.local
    (or whatever hostname you assigned in Step 5). Save the file.
11. Now open your browser and type http://dnn.local in the address line. The installation process should start.
12. When it comes to the database selection, select the custom installation method. Use "SQL Server/SQL Server Express Database". Enter the Server name (e.g. ".\SQLEXPRESS") and the database name (e.g. "DnnDatabase"), use Integrated Security and check "Run Database as: [x] Database owner". If you want to setup the web site for development purposes, I would highly recommend to use an Object Qualifier, e.g. "dnn".
13. Click "Continue".

I hope this helps.

Best wishes
Michael

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Bruce,

I'm going to go against the grain and suggest you do most of the installation manually. Maybe I'm unlucky but I rarely get good results with the automated install.

Here's how I install my DNN sites:

1) Set up a new folder called "DNN" under c:\inetpub\wwwroot
2) Unzip the DNN install to this new folder
3) Open SSMS and create a new database. Call it "DNN" to match the new folder created above
4) Create a new SQL user and make it owner of the database created in the previous step
5) Launch IIS and create a new web site pointing to the new folder created in step 1. Call the new web site "DNN" to match the folder name
6) Make sure it creates a new apppool using .net 4.0
7) Launch the web site and follow the install steps. When you get to the point where it asks for the database info, select the option to provide the details and supply your server name, database, user and password and continue.

It sounds like a lenghty install process but I never have problems doing everything myself.

Mark