I can't call myself a newbie yet. I am sub-newbie, because I am not a user yet. My company is looking at DNN for our CMS. However, I am having a little difficulty understanding the very basic concepts of the application.

My best understanding is that DNN is an application that resides on the DNN servers; it's accessed by users through a web browser; DNN has access to the company's website to make the changes. Am I close?

There is so much information about DNN that it's very difficult to drill down to just the simplest description, which is all I need right now. Any help here is greatly appreciated. More questions will come later, I am sure.

Welcome OKC_Bill to the DNN Community!

DNN is much more than an application, it is a development framework for ASP.Net and can also be used as a CMS (well - I suspect this is the usecase for it in 99%, so the sentence should be: It is much more than a CMS). It can be installed on a Windows server (even Windows Azure), and it needs IIS, the .Net Framework, and an SQL Server as a database. Depending on the DNN version there are minimal requirements which are dokumented in the Wiki (here on the site).

It is very extensible, most of the stuff is based on a provider model. Extensions are (among others)

- Skins (for the layout)
- Modules (for different functions like Forum, Blog, Form....)
- Authentication Providers (for logging in, like Active Directory, Live ID, etc.)
- Language Packs (for internationalization)
- etc. etc.

There are different editions (Community - which is free and available on Codeplex, Professional, Enterprise) and a commercial product (DNN Social).

A big ecosystem has been arising around DNN. You can find all types of extensions in the DNN Store, on CodePlex and on the pages of independent software developers and companies.

And if you have a question: The community is very helpful, just ask here in the forum, or in Community Exchange.

Have fun using it!

Best wishes
Michael

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