Using a Web Hosting Company to run Moodle

Using a Web Hosting Company to run Moodle

by Bruce Holladay -
Number of replies: 5
My wife and I both currently use Moodle EXTENSIVELY in our classes. Love it! But, I've been wanting to install Moodle on a web host (Dot 5 Hosting www.dot5hosting.com) so that we can also use it for other courses we teach.

I've been looking around the boards here trying to see how easy this is to do. I'm not a programming expert, but if I new what I needed, I could probably work with support at the company to get them to install it.

Any thoughts on how to do this? Thank you!
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In reply to Bruce Holladay

Re: Using a Web Hosting Company to run Moodle

by Ken Wilson -

Hi Bruce

One of the first things to do is to make sure that the dot5hosting servers meet the requirements for installing Moodle. Take a look at the software section of http://docs.moodle.org/en/Installing_Moodle#Requirements and double-check that all is OK with their support dept - they have a live chat, so use that to check things line-by-line with a support person wink. Pay careful attention that they provide the correct version of PHP5 and MySQL and that PHP does not run in strict mode.

As for the mechanics of installing Moodle, they should provide you with an FTP account so that you can upload the files from your PC to the server. There should also be a control panel or some way of creating the Moodle database. Check that all these are in place before signing-up, then follow the instructions starting from http://docs.moodle.org/en/Installing_Moodle#Download_and_copy_files_into_place.

Hope this helps!

Ken

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In reply to Ken Wilson

Re: Using a Web Hosting Company to run Moodle

by Richard Enison -
KW & BH,

Or better still, make sure MySQL is not run in strict mode nor PHP in safe mode. And it would help if they support either custom php.ini or .htaccess files for setting PHP and Apache options.

Also, I would not have the host's personnel install Moodle. I have seen some outrageous things reported in these forums, like host tech support people who don't know diddly about Moodle claiming that the Moodle code is totally buggy when they can't get it to work because their server s/w doesn't meet the requirements. Please! Spare me.

RLE
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In reply to Bruce Holladay

Re: Using a Web Hosting Company to run Moodle

by Just H -
Hi Bruce

Ken has already covered all bases, but if you're feeling a little braver, ask if dot5 allows shell access. If so, have a look at installing via cvs.

Once you figure it out, and it's not as daunting as it looks, life is a lot easier when it comes to maintenance/upgrading.

Regards
H
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In reply to Bruce Holladay

Re: Using a Web Hosting Company to run Moodle

by Marc Grober -
If you are not married to your current selection you may want to look at Dreamhost. There are already quite a few folks using dreamhost for moodle, dreamhost supports a one-click install and ju7st about everything you might want. If you in moodle for "dreamhost" you will find quite a bit about using moodle there.
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In reply to Marc Grober

Re: Using a Web Hosting Company to run Moodle

by Richard Enison -
Whoever is looking for a host,

Here is more than you want to know about Moodlers' experiences with various hosts as reported in this forum:

http://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=42688
also http://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=74789#p341332
http://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=80523#p357343 (former 1and1 cust.)
http://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=85344#p378170
http://tracker.moodle.org/browse/MDL-11743 (on Unicode problem at bluehost & hostmonster)
http://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=64066#289234
http://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=66651#p299941
http://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=66651#p304553
http://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=67930#p305566
http://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=67930#p305577
http://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=74789#p341281 (anti-Siteground) http://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=89528#p396433
http://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=91939#p407350

RLE
Average of ratings: Useful (1)