Old:4.0-Mona: Introduction
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4-Mona: Introduction | Install | Security features | Enable SSL | Multi-Servers | UniController | UniTray | Security and passwords | Known Issues | Support
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| The Uniform Server 4-Mona |
Uniform Server 4.0-Mona
Uniform Server’s architecture is resilient and has stood the test of time; 4.0-Mona enhances this by offering several installation options along with integrated SSL support. All main components have been upgraded to the latest stable versions.
New features
- Integrated SSL support
- Automated self-signed Certificate and Key generation
- Name/password access to secure server
- UniController V2 includes diagnostics
- MySQL Password recovery
- All main components upgraded
- Root drive installation (does not require a virtual drive)
- Automatic free-drive detection
- Two new batch files for root drive control.
- Running multi-servers on same PC
- New UniTray plugin
- Apanel updated.
The following provides an overview of each new feature before looking at these; I have provided a list of older Uniform Server versions for comparison.
Uniform Server releases
For reference, I have shown the current Uniform Server stable releases and their main components.
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V4.0-Mona Structure Overview
The following provides a quick overview of V4.0-Mona's main server areas.
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A) Top-Level
C) CGI Scripts
E) Secure Web Root Folder
H) Web Root Folder
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B) USB Disk-root
D) Plugins Folder
F) Bin Folder
G) Local Folder
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UniController V2
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UniController: Has a minimal user interface and built in diagnostics. Checks server ports in use Has the capability to run multi-servers. Includes auto-drive detection with option to manually override. Independent control of Apache and MySQL servers Apache configuration syntax check. Option to open a MySQL CMD (command) window. |
Apart from test all buttons perform what’s displayed.
Test hides its functionality because it supports options that are rarely used.
- The initial click checks server port status.
- Then offers a choice to check Apache configuration syntax.
- Finally offers a choice to run a MySQL prompt.
UniTray and Apanel
UniTray and Apanel now have menu options supporting SSL and MySQL password recovery.
Creating a new personal server certificate and key are initiated by a single mouse click.
Note: The MySQL password should always be set using Apanel setting it with phpMyAdmin results in MySQL lockout. In this situation use the new MySQL password recovery feature.
Apanel:
The two new menu items are found under the Plugin Manager section
- Restore MySQL password
- Server Key & Cert Gen
UniTray:
UniTray tracks 4.0-Mona's installation modes; Basic, Disk-Root or Service and offers menu items appropriate to that mode.
Server_Start.bat and Stop.bat
These perform the same function as for 3.5-Apollo in that they start and stop the servers.
Server_Start.bat now supports auto-drive detection this can be overridden to provide a fixed drive letter by either modifying the batch file or passing parameters to the batch file.
New batch files usb_server_start.bat usb_server_stop.bat
These new batch files perform an identical function to the above however they have been configured to run from a drive’s root (top level). The drive can be a hard disk or USB stick this removes the need for a virtual drive. It also offers a small increase in speed.
Note: UniController 2 tracks its location allowing it to run from either disk root or a sub-folder hence only a single version of UniController required.
Running multi-Servers on same PC
Uniform Server's architecture has always supported running multi-servers however 4.0-Mona makes this task easier that said you do need to edit some files covered in detail here.
Related Information
- UniController is based on Unicon with a few enhancements.
Note:UniController uses my.cnf while Unicon uses my-small.cnf hence are not interchangeable.
If you wish to recompile UniController2 the instructions are comatible. Source code can be found in folder *\udrive\docs\SRC.
How to install some popular applications
Please note all these applications can be installed and run from a USB memory stick.
Some require a small amount of editing to removed hard coded paths.
Packages that require Cron jobs to be run are catered by a portable-cron this requires three additional files.
| Package | Installed Size | ||
| Drupal 6.9 | 51.1 MB | - Run from a USB memory stick - Portable cron | |
| Joomla 1.5.9 | 64.5 MB | - Run from a USB memory stick | |
| MediaWiki 1.13.3 | 79.4 MB | - Run from a USB memory stick | |
| Moodle Moodle 1.9.4+ | 102 MB | - Run from a USB memory stick - Portable cron | |
| WordPress 2.7 | 52.3 MB | - Run from a USB memory stick | |
| Xoops 2.3.2b | 62.6 MB | - Run from a USB memory stick |
Other Topic Links
Zend Optimizer Pugin - Download and install
Perl CGI Hello World - Short snippets to get started with Perl
USB self-contained server - How to avoid the hosts file. Uses V4.0-Mona, Firefox and PAC
Summary
Uniform Server 4.0-Mona is a significant upgrade including several enhancements it reminds me of a classic from “Only Fools” where Trigger claims that he's had his road sweeper's broom for 20 years.
Then he adds a little gem, that the broom has had 17 new heads and 14 new handles.
Yep! Applies to 4.0-Mona however it still has the look and feel of Uniform Server 3.5 even down to its file structure hence remains familiar and easy to use. The wealth of material for 3.5 is transferable to 4.0-Mona.