How to install Elgg with Softaculous

What are Elgg and Softaculous?

Elgg is free software for building your own social network. Members can make profiles, post updates, join groups and send messages. It is like building a small, private version of a social media site.

Softaculous is an app installer. Think of it as an app store for your website. It puts the files in place and creates the database for you. Ask Hostvento support if your plan does not show Softaculous.

Steps

1. Log in to your hosting control panel. Your login details are in your welcome email. The client area is at https://secure.hostvento.com/clientarea.php.
2. Open Softaculous Apps Installer.
3. Type Elgg in the search box.
4. Click Elgg in the results. You may find it under the Social Networking group.
5. Click Install Now.
6. Choose the protocol. Pick https:// if you have an SSL certificate, which keeps the connection private. If not, pick http://.
7. Choose your domain name.
8. In In Directory, leave the box empty to use the main address. Type a name such as community to use a folder.
9. Type the Site Name and your Site Description.
10. In the Admin Account area, type an admin username, a strong password and your email.
11. Click Install.
12. Wait for the progress bar to end. Softaculous then shows the links to your site and to the admin area.

First things to do

1. Open your admin link and log in.
2. Go to the Administration area. Look under Configure for settings such as site name, language and who may register.
3. Check the Plugins list. Plugins are add-ons that give Elgg new features, like blogs, files or chat. Turn on the ones you need.
4. Create a test post to see how the site works.

Quick recap

• Elgg builds a social network. Softaculous installs it for you.
• Search for Elgg in Softaculous and click Install Now.
• Choose domain, folder, site name and admin details.
• Click Install.
• Log in to the admin area and switch on plugins.