What Is XOOPS and How Do You Install It? | Hostvento Knowledge Base

What is XOOPS?

XOOPS stands for eXtensible Object Oriented Portal System. That is a long name for a simple idea. It is a CMS, which is a program for building websites without much code. XOOPS is written in PHP. PHP is a language that web servers understand.

XOOPS uses modules. A module is a small add-on that gives the site a new skill, such as a forum, news, downloads or a photo gallery. You turn on only what you need.

What can it do?

Run a community site with member accounts
Show news and articles
Control who may see what, with groups and permissions
Change the look with themes, which are ready-made designs
Work in many languages

What you need

Hosting with PHP and a MySQL database. A database is where the site keeps its content.
The XOOPS ZIP file from its official website.
Your cPanel login from your welcome email.

Ask Hostvento support whether a one-click installer exists on your plan.

Steps to install

Download the XOOPS ZIP and unzip it on your computer.
Open the folder inside called htdocs. This holds the site files.
Log in to cPanel and open MySQL Databases. Create a database and a user. Give the user All Privileges.
Open File Manager and go to public_html.
Upload the contents of the htdocs folder. You can zip them first and use Extract.
Upload the xoops_data and xoops_lib folders too. For better safety, place them above public_html, if your host allows it. The installer asks for the paths.
Open your domain in a browser. The installer starts.
Pick a language and click Next through the checks.
Enter your database name, user and password.
Create the admin account with a strong password.
Choose the modules you want.
Finish the wizard.

After you install

Delete the install folder from your site. XOOPS may rename it for you.
Make mainfile.php read-only if the installer says so.
Log in as admin and open System Admin.

Warning: Do not leave the install folder in place. Anyone could rerun it.

Tip: Back up often, and update modules when new versions come out.

Quick recap

XOOPS is a PHP CMS built from modules.
Create a database, upload the files and open the site.
Follow the installer, then remove the install folder.
Keep it updated and backed up.