Introduction
Welcome to the Smartend CMS installation guide!
This resource is designed to help you set up and configure your Smartend CMS quickly and easily. Whether you are an experienced developer or just starting with content management systems, this guide offers clear, step-by-step instructions to ensure a seamless installation experience.
System Requirements
Before installing Smartend CMS, ensure that your server meets the following requirements:
- Compatible web server (Apache, Nginx, etc.)
- PHP version 8.1 or higher
- MySQL Database Server
- PDO PHP extension
- OpenSSL PHP extension
- mbstring PHP extension
- fileinfo PHP extension
- xml PHP extension
- Ctype PHP extension
- JSON PHP extension
- Tokenizer PHP extension
- cURL PHP extension
- zip PHP extension
- iconv PHP extension
- Ensure the mod_rewrite module is enabled in Apache
Installation via Wizard
To install Smartend CMS follow the following steps:
-
Upload Smartend CMS Files
Begin by uploading the Smartend CMS project files to the root directory of your website. You can typically do this via an FTP client or your hosting control panel's file manager. -
Create a Database
In your hosting control panel (such as cPanel), create a new database specifically for Smartend CMS. Take note of the database name, username, and password as you’ll need these in the next step. -
Run the Installation Wizard
Open your website in a browser to launch the installation wizard. The wizard will guide you through the setup process, including entering your database connection details. Follow each step carefully to complete the installation. -
Log In to the Admin Dashboard
After installation complete, log in to the Smartend CMS Admin Dashboard using the default administrator email and password:
Email: admin@site.com
Password: admin
Watch the video tutorial to see how to install Smartend CMS
Installing on a Subdomain or Subfolder
You can install Smartend CMS on a subdomain without any issues. However, if you choose to install it in a subfolder, please note that the file manager functionality will not work correctly in this setup.
Installation via Command Line
- Open the /core/.env file and configure your credentials, including 'APP_URL' and database connection details.
- Run the following command to set up the database structure and add initial data:
php artisan migrate --seed
-
To disable redirection to the installation wizard, rename the file at
/core/storage/_installed to installed.
-
Start the development server:
php artisan serve
Visit http://localhost:8000 to view the homepage.
-
Access the Admin Panel
- URL: http://localhost:8000/admin
-
Default login credentials:
- Email: admin@site.com
- Password: admin
Manually Installation
- Upload Project Files: Copy the entire project folder to your website’s root directory.
- Set Up the Database:
- Create a new database on your server.
- Import the appropriate SQL file:
- For MySQL: Download SQL file
- For PostgreSQL: Download SQL file
-
Configure Database Connection:
Open the /core/.env file and add your database connection details as shown below:
For MySQL:DB_CONNECTION=mysqlDB_HOST=127.0.0.1DB_PORT=3306DB_DATABASE=smartend_dbDB_USERNAME=rootDB_PASSWORD='password'DB_CONNECTION=mysqlDB_HOST=127.0.0.1DB_PORT=3306DB_DATABASE=smartend_dbDB_USERNAME=rootDB_PASSWORD='password' -
Disable Installation Redirect:
Rename /core/storage/_installed to installed to prevent redirection to the installation wizard.
License Activation
Once the installation is complete, log in to the admin dashboard. To activate your license, click the "License Now" button in the top bar. You’ll be prompted to enter your purchase code to complete the activation.
Once activated:
- Your website will be fully functional and licensed.
- You’ll receive free, unlimited updates.
To manage updates, go to System Settings => System Update. Here, you can check for and install any new updates. Be sure to review and accept the terms for each new version before proceeding. For more details, refer to the update guide.
Need Help Activating Your License?
If ModSecurity or similar security modules are configured too strictly, they might block the HTTP request sent for license activation.
If you encounter any issues or are unable to activate your license, please contact our support team.
They’ll assist you in completing the activation process for your website.
If ModSecurity or similar security modules are configured too strictly, they might block the HTTP request sent for license activation.
If you encounter any issues or are unable to activate your license, please contact our support team.
They’ll assist you in completing the activation process for your website.
License details
- The Regular License allows activation on a single domain only.
- The Extended License permits activation on unlimited domains.
- You can transfer your license to a new domain at any time without complications.
- Feel free to activate your license on a local development environment and then seamlessly migrate it to a live site.
Troubleshooting
If you encounter any issues during the installation of Smartend CMS, you can contact our support team to assist you.
Check steps below to help resolve common problems.
Check steps below to help resolve common problems.
-
Installation wizard not started
Problem: The installation wizard isn’t displaying and you see a loading issue!Solution: It could indicate that the .htaccess file wasn’t uploaded to the root directory. Since this file may be hidden on your system, ensure hidden files are visible, then upload .htaccess to the root directory to resolve the issue.
-
Server Requirement Issues
Problem: Errors indicating missing PHP extensions or incompatible PHP versions.Solution: Make sure your server meets all minimum requirements, including PHP 8.1+, Apache/Nginx, and the required PHP extensions (OpenSSL, cURL, mbstring, etc.). Contact your hosting provider if you need assistance.
-
Database Connection Errors
Problem: Database connection failure during the installation wizard.Solution: Verify that your entered the correct `DB_HOST`, `DB_PORT`, `DB_DATABASE`, `DB_USERNAME`, and `DB_PASSWORD`. Ensure your database server is running and accessible.
-
File Permission Issues
Problem: Errors when uploading files or saving changes.Solution: Ensure appropriate permissions are set for folders like `/core/storage`, `/core/bootstrap/cache`, and `/uploads` (e.g., `755` or `775` permissions). If the issue persists, check your server’s user permissions.
-
Installation Wizard Redirection
Problem: Installation wizard reappears even after completing the setup.Solution: Double-check the admin URL (e.g., `yourdomain.com/admin`) and ensure you’re using the correct default credentials. If you’ve changed the path, verify the settings in the `/core/.env` file.
-
Issues Accessing Admin Dashboard
Problem: Can’t access the admin dashboard after installation.Solution: Rename the `/core/storage/_installed` file to `installed` (without the underscore). This will prevent the installation wizard from reopening.
-
License Activation Issues
Problem: Problems activating the license.Solution: Double-check your purchase code. If you continue experiencing issues, please contact our support team for assistance.
-
Loading Issue any time
Problem: The website is shows a loading issue.Solution: Check the configuration file at /core/.env. Ensure that there are no unintended line breaks, as these can disrupt the configuration and cause loading problems.
-
API Not Functioning Correctly
Problem: Issues with RESTful API functionality.Solution: Ensure the API is activated from the System Settings in the dashboard and that your API key is correctly configured.
If you continue to encounter issues, feel free to contact our support team, and we’ll assist in troubleshooting the problem.