Extreme Newbie Help

[neumannu47]

I have a shared server (no root access), so as I understand the installation process, here is the sequence of events that have to be followed:

1) Unzip Serendipity on my local Windows hard drive.
2) Create a serendipity folder under public_html on the server.
3) Manually create a MySQL database
4) FTP the unzipped files to the serendipity folder
5) Run index.php in the serendipity folder from my browser
6) Enter the database information into the proper fields in Serendipity

Is there a way to unzip the installation files on the server without having root access? I don't think so.

Does the MySQL database have to be created manually?

I just tried an installation, and it appears to be working. It took me a while to figure out how to create a MySQL database.

[garvinhicking]

Is there a way to unzip the installation files on the server without having root access? I don't think so.

Sure, you can do that with FTP access to your htdocs / public_html folder. That is standard on about 100% of all webspace providers.

Does the MySQL database have to be created manually?

Yes. It would be a larger security risk if any PHP application could create a MySQL database on its own, thus serendipity depends on user interaction there. On most webspace providers you already have your database created, so one usually just enters the name.

Regards,
Garvin