UniServer USB: Introduction

UniServer USB plugin Uniform Server 4.1-Mona Uniform Server 5.5-Nano Uniform Server 5.6-Nano

UniServer USB

Uniform Server lacks true USB portability so what’s the problem? In a nutshell it relies on a hosts default browser and “hosts” file. This plugin resolves these two issues by integrating portable Firfox and a PAC file into Uniform server’s structure.

This produces a completely independent Apache, MySQL and PHP server with all browsers settings contained in portable Firefox and local Internet address resolution performed by a PAC file.

Uniform Server’s portable architecture is retained allowing it to be run from any folder either on a hard disk or USB stick. Alternatively be run at the top-level dispensing with the need for a virtual drive.

Strictly speaking it’s not a true plugin because it irreversibly modifies the original server into a dedicated USB development system.

Overview

Portable Firefox has been integrated into this plugin providing a consistent method for displaying content and removing the need to use a host PC's browser.

Similarly the need to use a host PC,s "hosts" file to resolve local Internet addresses has been replaced with a PAC file (my_hosts.pac). Firefox has been pre-configured to look in the root folder www for this file.

The development system is fully portable copy folder UniServer and all its content to any location on a hard drive or USB memory stick and you are ready to continue development from that new location. A virtual drive is created to run the servers.

Alternatively copy the content of folder udrive to the top-level of either a hard drive or USB memory stick no virtual drive is required to run the servers.

Download and Install

The following applies to Uniform Server 4.1-Mona installation details for Uniform Server 5.5-Nano can be found on this page UniServer USB V55

Options 1:

1. Unpack a new copy of Uniform Server 4.1-Mona.
2. Download file UniServer_USB_1.0.exe from Sourceforge
3. Save it to folder UniServer.
4. To extract files, double click on file UniServer_USB_1.0.exe, no need to change the path.
5. New files are added to folders UniServer and udrive.
   Note: Several Uniform Server files are updated.
   Portable Firefox is extracted to folder udrive.
6. Navigate to folder UniServer and run CLEAN.bat, this removes all unnecessary files including UniController which is replaced by UniTray.

Options 2:

1. Unpack a new copy of Uniform Server 4.1-Mona.
2. Download file UniServer_USB_1.0.zip from Sourceforge
3. Save to any folder
4. Extract files, navigate to folder UniServer_USB_1.0
5. Copy its entire contents to the installed Uniform Server folder UniServer
6. New files are added to folders UniServer and udrive.
   Note: Several Uniform Server files are updated.
   Portable Firefox is extracted to folder udrive.
7. Navigate to folder UniServer and run CLEAN.bat, this removes all unnecessary files including UniController which is replaced by UniTray.

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Development

With the plugin installed Uniform Server becomes a complete independent development system.

Install packages as required, procedure is identical to a standard installation of Uniform Server.

• Start Servers: To start the servers use Server_Start.bat this also runs UniTray
• Stop Servers: Use UniTray to stop the servers (alternatively use Stop.bat)

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USB

Copy the entire content of folder udrive to the top-level of a USB memory stick

Start Servers:

Inserting the memory stick a pop-up is displayed click ok to run.

Alternatively double click on file AutorunPro.EXE this removes the need for re-inserting the memory stick.

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Conflicts

The servers will fail to start if the host machine has servers running on the standard ports. In addition if the host is running PHP with eAccelerator again Uniform Server will fail.

A solution is to close all running servers on the host PC. However this may be inconvenient hence preferred solution is to move Uniform Server to different ports.

Move Servers

Uniform Server has a pre-installed plugin that moves the servers to different ports. An option to disable eAccerator it also updates portable Firefox to these new ports.

1. Navigate to folder UniServer\udrive\plugins\move_servers and run Run.bat
2. To accept proposed values press enter at all prompts or enter new values as required.

Note: Run the script before adding applications, take a note of each new value displayed these will be required when installing new application.

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Service provider compatibility

If you are just exploring packages then use localhost as the server name and install packages to the root folder www.

However if you intend to publish your website on a service providers server always use your real domain name when installing applications on Uniform Server. This will avoid compatibly issues.

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Summary

Although UniServer USB is complete you may want to tailor the system for your specific use. The next page describes components used and how to modify or update them.

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