InstaMT

InstaMT is a self-contained, dependency-free collection of Apache, MySQL server, ActivePerl, and MTOS 4.1. Everything is preinstalled in a single directory, so once it's unpacked (or run directly from a thumbdrive), no further installation or configuration or required. An included launcher program will start the required services and bring up the MT Dashboard.

Version for USB Thumbdrives

  1. Download InstaMT-USB.zip
  2. Unpack it into the root directory of your thumbdrive.
  3. Afterwards, when the key is newly inserted, a menu of actions will pop up, the first of which will run the InstaMT launcher and load the Dashboard.

Installable version

  1. Download and run InstaMT-install.exe
  2. Use the default C:\ installation directory (this restriction should be relaxed eventually)
  3. Once the install is finished, allow it to run the InstaMT launcher.
  4. The launcher then loads the Dashboard.

Caveats

  • This is not intended for production use. Several factors make this method slower and less secure than a normal MT installation. Please treat it as a demo for users who would otherwise be unwilling to try out MT.
  • Things will refuse to work if you already have MySQL server or Apache (or any web server) running on the same machine. No need to uninstall them, just make sure their services are off.
  • Running off a USB key starts instantly and runs anywhere, but operation is slow. Alternatively, the installed version is snappier but takes a minute or two to unpack and is less likely to work non-ideal environments.
  • So far I've only tested either version on XP Pro as an administrative user. Success/failure reports in other environments are welcome.
  • Sometimes the Windows Firewall dialog will pop up asking if you want to allow Apache to connect to the internet. This is odd since it doesn't need to (it only accepts local connections), so it should work even if you block it.
  • The Apache and MySQL installs are automatically updated by the launcher if the InstaMT directory moves, but Perl and MT are not (yet). The USB version will work as long as it's installed in any root directory; the installed version currently only works in C:\.
  • This version of Perl strongly recommends against trying to put it in a path containing weird characters, including whitespace. So I wouldn't be surprised if that doesn't work.
  • Sometimes the launcher decides to open the dashboard multiple times. Just close the extras.
  • If the dashboard doesn't open at all, try this link.
  • The launcher logs you in, but in you somehow get logged out the username and password are MTUser and mt.
This page was last updated on 2008-03-10, 11:49.  

1 Comment

This is SO great!

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