Installation and Setup

Install MiniPortal by downloading and running the executable (.exe) installation file. The first time MiniPortal is run, a setup screen is displayed in a browser window with instructions for the most common configurations, and a bypass link for advanced users.

The system requirements for running MiniPortal, and detailed instructions for downloading, installing, starting, and setting up MiniPortal are shown below. Uninstallation instructions are also included.

Minimum Requirements

• PC running Windows 2000, XP, or 2003
• 128MB memory (in addition to operating system memory requirements)

Downloading

MiniPortal can be downloaded directly from the InstantServers web site. Click on the main download link, or go to the ‘Downloads’ area and click on the download link to start downloading.

A pop-up screen will appear which will request that you save the MiniPortal application to the default folder, e.g. "C:\My Documents." Click on Save. The download can take up to several minutes over a DSL line.

Installation

MiniPortal is installed by executing the downloaded file. From the Windows Start menu, select Programs, then click on Windows Explorer.

In Windows Explorer, go to the default folder (e.g. "C:\My Documents"). Click on the mpepxxx.exe file, which will unpack and install MiniPortal (the ‘xxx’ is the version of MiniPortal which was downloaded. So, ‘mpep100.exe’ would be V1.0.0).

Wait until the InstallShield unpacking operation has completed. Then click on Next . Read the Software License Agreement, and click on Yes if you wish to accept the Agreement and continue.

You will then be prompted to choose the destination folder for the MiniPortal application. It is recommended that you use the default folder which is displayed, C:\Program Files\InstantServers\MiniPortal. Click on Next.

The final step takes a few moments. The MiniPortal program files are being copied and an icon is being installed on your desktop. Wait until the hourglass disappears, indicating that installation is complete. Then, click on Finish¹.

Startup

The installation places a shortcut icon, ‘InstantServers MiniPortal’, on your desktop screen, which is used to start MiniPortal (it can also be started using Start->Programs->MiniPortal->MiniPortal Manager). Double click on the desktop icon, and a smaller green icon will appear in the lower right-hand corner of your screen, indicating that MiniPortal is running (the icon actually starts out red, indicating that MiniPortal is starting but none of the servers are running, then goes green once the servers are up).

Rolling the mouse over the green icon will display your current IP address(es). This may take a few moments after MiniPortal has started.

Use the right-hand mouse button to click on the green icon, and you will see options for controlling MiniPortal.

When the MiniPortal servers are stopped, the icon in the lower right-hand corner of your screen will turn red.

Initial Setup

The first time you start the MiniPortal web server, a web browser is automatically opened to a setup page. Follow the instructions there to finish setting up MiniPortal. You can always return to the setup page by entering the URL: http://127.0.0.1/admin/setup into your browser.

Uninstallation

To uninstall MiniPortal, make certain that you have first exited the program. Place your mouse pointer over the MiniPortal icon on the lower right-hand side of your screen, click the right-hand mouse button, and select Exit.

Then go to the Windows Start Menu, and select Programs->MiniPortal->Uninstall MiniPortal (or select Settings, then Control Panel, then Add/Remove Programs and select the MiniPortal program from the listing, and select Add/Remove).

Windows may not allow you to remove all of MiniPortal's files (usually log files), so you may receive the message, "Cannot Remove Locked File." Check the box, "Don't show me message again." Then, click Ignore.

You will then see the message, "Uninstall complete."

Uninstallation does not remove web site content that you have published or certain MiniPortal files, such as site access logs. To remove these remaining files, you must delete the InstantServers folder. From the Windows Start menu, select Programs, then click on Windows Explorer. Under Program Files, select the InstantServers folder, then press the delete key and confirm the deletion.

The uninstall is now complete.

Notes:

1. You do not need to reboot your machine after installation.