Tiki Wiki (commonly known as TikiWiki or simply Tiki) is an open-source, all-in-one content management system (CMS) and groupware application. It is designed for collaborative creation and management of web content, integrating multiple features such as wikis, forums, blogs, file sharing, and project management. Tiki Wiki is highly extensible, allowing users to build a wide variety of web applications without needing additional software.

Key Features of Tiki Wiki

1. Wiki Collaboration: At its core, Tiki is a powerful wiki tool that enables collaborative creation and editing of content. It allows multiple users to contribute, making it ideal for building knowledge bases, community documentation, or intranets.
2. Content Management: Tiki Wiki provides extensive content management features, including categories, tags, permissions, and multilingual support, making it easy to organize, control, and translate content.
3. Integrated Features: Tiki Wiki stands out for integrating a wide variety of tools within a single package. This includes:
   • Forums: Built-in forums for community discussions.
   • Blogs: Blog functionality that supports individual or group blogs.
   • File Galleries: File sharing and storage within the platform, with version control.
   • Calendars and Events: Shared calendars and event management tools.
   • Project Management: Task assignment, tracking, and project management tools.
4. Permissions and Security: The software offers detailed permission controls that allow administrators to set different roles for users, including editors, viewers, and contributors, making it suitable for both public and private use.
5. Customizable Modules: Tiki provides customizable modules that allow users to add functionality according to their needs, including polls, surveys, quizzes, and FAQs. Users can activate or deactivate features as needed to keep the interface clean and tailored to their requirements.
6. Page and Content Editing: Tiki offers a rich text editor and support for wiki syntax, making it easy for users of all skill levels to contribute content. The WYSIWYG editor simplifies formatting and makes content creation more accessible.
7. Search and Indexing: Tiki Wiki includes a powerful search engine, allowing users to easily locate content across different modules like forums, blogs, and pages.
8. Analytics and Statistics: The platform offers built-in analytics and reports to help administrators understand user behavior and improve content based on audience preferences.

Use Cases for Tiki Wiki

• Corporate Intranets: Tiki is well-suited for creating corporate intranets where employees can collaboratively create and manage internal documentation, announcements, and knowledge bases.
• Community Portals: Because of its integrated approach, Tiki can be used to create community portals with wikis, forums, and blogs, fostering a collaborative online community.
• Knowledge Base: Tiki is ideal for creating public or private knowledge bases, especially in environments where multiple contributors need to create, edit, and maintain information.
• Educational Platforms: Schools and universities can use Tiki Wiki for e-learning, allowing teachers to create course content, share files, and interact with students via forums and blogs.

Getting Started with Tiki Wiki

To get started with Tiki Wiki, you can install it on a web server that supports PHP and MySQL. The installation process is similar to other CMS platforms and involves uploading the files to the server, configuring the database, and running the installation script. Once installed, the administrator can enable or disable features and begin building content. The platform’s flexibility means you can configure it as a simple wiki, a fully functional CMS, or an all-in-one groupware solution.

Advantages of Tiki Wiki

1. All-in-One Solution: Tiki Wiki’s biggest advantage is its integration of multiple features, which reduces the need for multiple plugins or external software to achieve functionality.
2. Flexibility: The wide variety of tools available allows users to configure Tiki to fit their specific needs, whether it’s a wiki, CMS, project management system, or a mix of all.
3. Community Support: Being an open-source platform, Tiki Wiki has a strong community of developers and users, providing support, documentation, and plugins for extending the functionality.

Limitations

• Complexity: With its wide range of integrated features, Tiki can be overwhelming for new users, especially if only a few of the features are needed.
• Interface Customization: Compared to other modern CMS platforms, customizing the user interface can be challenging without some technical knowledge, as it requires understanding the Tiki templating system.

Tiki Wiki is a versatile solution for creating collaborative environments, allowing organizations to unify their content management, communication, and groupware needs into a single platform. It is particularly useful for those looking for an all-in-one tool that covers a broad spectrum of collaborative features without relying on numerous third-party plugins.

Step 1: Create an Instance

• Access the Dashboard: Log in to your Shape.Host account and navigate to your Dashboard.
• Click Create: Click on the “Create” button located in the top-right corner.
• Select Instances: From the dropdown menu, choose “Instances” to begin creating a new cloud server.

• Select Location: Choose a data center location for your instance closest to your target audience for optimal performance.

• Choose a Plan: Scroll through the available pricing plans. Select a plan based on your project requirements, such as Standard, CPU-Optimized, or Memory-Optimized.
• Choose an Image: Select Ubuntu 24.04 as the operating system for your instance.

• Authentication and Finalize: Choose your authentication method, either via SSH keys or password. Once done, click Create Instance to launch your server.

Obtain IP Address

• Once your instance is created, return to the dashboard.
• Find your instance’s IP address under the Resources section and use it to access your server.

Connect to Your Instance

To connect to your instance on Shape.Host, follow these steps:

1. Get the Instance IP: After creating your instance, find the public IP address in the Shape.Host dashboard under Resources.
2. Open SSH Client: Use an SSH client like Terminal (Linux/macOS) or PuTTY (Windows).
3. SSH into the Instance: Run the following command in your terminal:

   ssh root@<your-instance-ip>

Replace <your-instance-ip> with your actual instance IP address.

4. Enter the Password: If prompted, enter your instance’s root password or use your SSH key if configured.

You are now connected to your instance.

Step 2: Update and Upgrade System Packages

Update your system package list and upgrade all packages to the latest version:

apt update && apt upgrade -y

Step 3: Install Apache, Unzip, and Git

Install Apache web server and other necessary utilities:

apt-get install apache2 unzip git gnupg

Step 4: Verify PHP Version

Check the PHP version installed on your system:

php -v

Step 5: Install MySQL Server

Install MySQL server to manage your database:

apt install -y mysql-server

Step 6: Install PHP and Required Extensions

Install PHP 8.3 and the required PHP extensions for Tiki Wiki:

apt install php8.3 php8.3-tidy php8.3-gd php8.3-xmlrpc php8.3-mbstring libapache2-mod-php8.3 php8.3-mysql php-apcu php8.3-curl php8.3-intl php8.3-sqlite3 php8.3-zip php-memcache php8.3-pspell php8.3-memcached php-pear php8.3-common php8.3-opcache php8.3-xml

Step 7: Set Up MySQL Database for Tiki Wiki

Log in to the MySQL shell to create a new database and user for Tiki Wiki:

mysql -u root -p

Run the following SQL queries to create a database and user:

CREATE DATABASE tiki_db;
CREATE USER 'tiki_user'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'strong_password';
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON tiki_db.* TO 'tiki_user'@'localhost';
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
EXIT;

Step 8: Create Apache Virtual Host for Tiki Wiki and Download Tiki Wiki:

Navigate to the /tmp directory:

cd /tmp
wget https://sourceforge.net/projects/tikiwiki/files/latest/download -O tikiwiki.zip

Extract the downloaded archive

unzip tikiwiki.zip -d /tmp/tikiwiki

Move the extracted files to the web server root directory

mv /tmp/tikiwiki/* /var/www/html/tikiwiki

Create a new Apache virtual host configuration file:

nano /etc/apache2/sites-available/tikiwiki.conf

Add the following configuration, replacing example.com with your actual domain:

<VirtualHost *:80>
    ServerAdmin admin@example.com
    DocumentRoot /var/www/html/tikiwiki
    ServerName example.com
    ServerAlias www.example.com

    <Directory /var/www/html/tikiwiki/>
        Options Indexes FollowSymLinks
        AllowOverride All
        Require all granted
    </Directory>

    ErrorLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/tikiwiki_error.log
    CustomLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/tikiwiki_access.log combined
</VirtualHost>

Step 9: Enable the Tiki Wiki Site and Required Modules

Enable the new Tiki Wiki site configuration and the Apache rewrite module:

a2ensite tikiwiki.conf
a2enmod rewrite

Restart Apache to apply changes:

systemctl restart apache2

Step 10: Set Permissions for Tiki Wiki Directory

Set the correct ownership and permissions for the Tiki Wiki directory:

chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/html/tikiwiki
chmod -R 755 /var/www/html/tikiwiki

Step 11: Complete Tiki Wiki Installation in Browser

Open your web browser and navigate to http://example.com (replace with your domain or server IP). Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the Tiki Wiki installation, providing the database details you configured earlier.

Step 12: Welcome

Welcome to the Tiki Installer 28.0 alpha. This step introduces you to the Tiki installation process. You can use this script to install a new database or upgrade your existing one.

Helpful resources:

• Check the Release Notes for the latest updates.
• Refer to the documentation for detailed information.
• Visit tiki.org for more insights into Tiki CMS.

Select your language to proceed:

• English (en) (Dropdown)

Click Continue to proceed to the next step.

Step 13: License

In this step, you are presented with the License Agreement for Tiki Wiki CMS Groupware. Tiki is software distributed under the LGPL (Lesser General Public License), which is a free software license that allows for both private and commercial use, modification, and distribution.

Please read through the terms and conditions carefully to understand your rights and responsibilities when using Tiki.

After reviewing the terms, click the Continue button to accept the license and proceed to the next step of the installation.

Step 14: Mail and Image Processing Configuration

In this step, you configure email settings and verify the image processing capabilities of Tiki.

1. Mail Configuration:
   Tiki uses the PHP mail function to send email notifications and messages. You can input an email address to send a test message to ensure that your server’s email functionality is correctly configured.
   • Enter a test email address in the provided field and click Send Test Message to verify.
2. Image Processing:
   Tiki requires image processing for certain features, such as CAPTCHA support and image galleries. The system checks for the GD library, which is used for these purposes.
   • The green success message indicates that GD 2.3.3 is detected, and Tiki is capable of creating images, meaning that all image-related functionalities will work correctly.

Click the Continue button to proceed to the next step.

Step 15: Database Connection Setup

In this step, you’ll need to configure the database connection details for Tiki.

1. Database Host:
   • Host: Enter the host name or IP address for your database. For local installations, this is usually set as localhost.
2. Database Name:
   • Provide the Database Name that Tiki will use. If the database does not exist, Tiki will attempt to create it if permissions allow. In this example, the database name is tikidb.
3. Database User:
   • Enter a username and password that have administrative permissions for the Tiki database. In this example, the username is tikiuser.
   • Optionally, you can check the box to create this database user just for this Tiki installation if permissions allow.
4. Character Set:
   • It is recommended to Always force connection to use UTF-8. This ensures that your database is using a consistent character encoding, which helps prevent issues with special characters.

After filling in these details, click Continue to move forward in the installation process.

Step 16: Install

In this step, you will populate the Tiki database.

1. Database Engine Selection:
   • Choose your preferred database engine. In the example shown, InnoDB is selected, which is a good choice for most installations due to its support for transactions and reliability.
2. Success Notification:
   • The system checks and confirms that you are using the correct database encoding and legacy collation, which is necessary for a successful installation.
3. Proceed:
   • Click the Install button to begin populating your Tiki database.

Once you click Install, Tiki will proceed to create the necessary database tables and structures.

Step 17: Review the Installation

In this step, you will review the completion status of the installation process.

1. Review Status:
   • You should see the Installation complete message, indicating that your Tiki database has been successfully configured.
2. Confirmation Details:
   • The confirmation also tells you that your initial admin password is set to admin. You can use this username and password to log in and begin configuring Tiki.
3. Success Notification:
   • You will see a note indicating that 953 SQL queries were executed successfully. This confirms that all required database structures have been created properly.
4. Proceed:
   • Click Continue to proceed to the next step and begin setting up your Tiki configuration.

This step ensures that the installation process has been executed smoothly and that the Tiki platform is ready for further configuration.

Step 18: Configure General Settings

In this step, you need to configure the general settings for your Tiki site. Here’s what each field means and what you should enter:

1. Server Domain Name:
   • Enter the domain name of your Tiki site, e.g., tutorials.shape.host.
   • Warning: Make sure this is correct, as an incorrect value could prevent you from accessing your Tiki site without manual intervention.
2. Browser Title:
   • This is the title that will appear in the browser tab. For example, you can enter Shape Host Tiki.
3. Sender Email:
   • Enter the email address that will be used to send messages from your Tiki site. This is usually an email associated with your domain, e.g., contact@shape.host.
4. Secure Log In:
   • To enable better security, it’s recommended to require secure (HTTPS) login.
   • Set HTTPS Login to Allow secure (HTTPS) login.
   • Set HTTPS Port to 443.
5. Logging and Reporting (Optional):
   • You can configure error reporting and log visibility, but this is mostly relevant for debugging or development purposes.
6. Administrator Email:
   • Provide the email address for the site administrator. This is typically the same as the sender email.
7. Set Up htaccess File:
   • Select the method to set up your .htaccess file, which is used for URL rewriting and improving security.
   • You can leave it as Automatic for most cases.

Once you’ve filled in all the fields, click Continue to proceed to the next step. This step is crucial to ensure your site’s basic configuration is correct and that it can function smoothly once it’s up and running.

Step 19: Configure Security, Logging, and Administrator Settings

In this step, you will set up security, logging, and administrator settings for your Tiki site. Here is how you can proceed:

• Secure Log In:
  • HTTPS Login: Choose whether to allow secure (HTTPS) login. For increased security, select Allow secure (HTTPS) login.
  • HTTPS Port: The default value is 443. This is the standard port for HTTPS.
  • SSL Settings:
    • You can choose to allow users to remain in SSL mode after logging in or switch between secure and standard modes. These options are optional depending on your security requirements.

Step 20: Last Notes Before Finishing Installation

This final step provides some useful recommendations and tips to ensure your new Tiki site runs smoothly and securely:

1. Subscribe to Tiki Releases Newsletter:
   • It is highly recommended to subscribe to the Tiki newsletter for important updates and security notices.
   • Use the link provided to subscribe: Tiki Releases newsletter.
2. First Wizards, Then Control Panels:
   • Tiki contains a lot of features and preferences, which can be overwhelming for a new user. To simplify configuration, start with the Wizards.
   • Once the initial configuration is done, you can use the Control Panels for full access to all options.
   • Use the Preference Filter to switch between Basic, Advanced, and Experimental options.
3. Storing Uploaded Files:
   • By default, Tiki saves uploaded files (documents, images, PDFs, etc.) in the database, which is convenient for smaller installations.
   • If you expect a large number of uploaded files, consider changing the storage setting from “Store to database” to “Store to directory” in the Configuration Wizard. This change will help manage and store large files more efficiently.
4. Tiki Community:
   • The Tiki community is available to help you grow and maintain your site:
     • Join the Community
     • Get Help with Tiki
     • Hire a Tiki Service Provider
     • Contribute to Tiki by helping improve the Code and the Documentation.

Click “Continue” to proceed and finalize the installation. Your Tiki setup will be ready for use!

Step 21: Enter Your Tiki

Congratulations! Your Tiki installation is now complete, and your site is ready to go. You have two options to finalize the installation:

1. Enter Tiki and Lock Installer (Recommended):
   • This is the secure option. It ensures that the installer is locked, preventing unauthorized changes or re-installations.
   • By clicking this button, you will lock the installer and enter the Tiki CMS as the admin user.
2. Enter Tiki Without Locking Installer (Not recommended due to security risk):
   • This option lets you proceed without locking the installer. It is not recommended because it leaves your site vulnerable to potential unauthorized modifications.

If this is your first installation, you can log in using the default admin credentials:

• Username: admin
• Password: admin (make sure to change this immediately after logging in for security reasons).

Click “Enter Tiki and Lock Installer” to start configuring and securing your new Tiki site.

Step 23: Set Your Admin Password

Congratulations! Your account has been validated. Now it’s time to secure your admin account by setting a strong password.

• Username: The default username is admin.
• New Password: Enter a new, secure password for the admin account.
• Repeat Password: Re-enter the password to confirm.

Once you’ve entered your new password, click the “Apply” button.

Password Strength Tip:

• To ensure your Tiki CMS is secure, it’s important to create a strong password. A combination of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters is recommended.

After setting your password, you’ll be ready to start configuring and managing your new Tiki site with full administrative privileges.

Step 24: Configuration Wizard & Control Panels

After setting up your password, you will see several options to help you configure your Tiki CMS. Here are the next steps to get started with customizing and configuring your Tiki platform:

1. Configuration Wizard:
   • Click “Start Configuration Wizard” to begin customizing your site. This wizard will guide you through the most essential settings, such as:
     • Language, date, and time preferences.
     • User login settings, themes, website title, logo, etc.
   • This step is recommended for first-time users to set up the core aspects of your Tiki site easily.
2. Changes Wizard:
   • If you have already been using Tiki and want to upgrade your settings or apply new ones, click “Start Changes Wizard”.
   • This wizard guides you through updating existing configurations or adding new features.
3. Control Panels:
   • If you prefer more hands-on configuration, click “Go to the Control Panels”. Here, you will have access to all available preferences to:
     • Enable features not active by default.
     • Manually browse through the complete list of settings.
     • Make adjustments to suit your needs.
   • Tip: To avoid getting overwhelmed by the number of available settings, Tiki provides a filter for Basic and Advanced features. Use this to focus on the preferences most relevant to your needs.
4. Server Fitness Check:
   • Before going live, it’s essential to verify your server’s compatibility with Tiki.
   • Click “Go to the Tiki Server Compatibility Check” to make sure your environment meets all the requirements for running Tiki CMS efficiently. It will help identify any potential issues that might affect the functionality of your site.

Recommendation:

• Start with the Configuration Wizard if you’re a new user.
• If you are comfortable with more in-depth customization, proceed to the Control Panels to explore further options.
• Make sure to check Server Fitness to guarantee everything is ready before you begin using your Tiki CMS.

Step 25: Admin Dashboard Overview

After completing the Configuration Wizard, you are now in the Admin Dashboard, which allows you to access and manage all settings of your Tiki installation.

1. Preference Filters:
   • You can use the Preference Filters on the top left side to customize what settings you see. By default, you are in Basic mode, which displays the most common options.
   • You can toggle the switch to Advanced mode to see all available settings.
2. Admin Dashboard Tips:
   • The dashboard may show hints, such as enabling/disabling Tiki features through Control Panels rather than configuring them here. Pay attention to these tips for easier navigation and setup.
3. Add Default Modules:
   • You can click “Add default modules” to quickly set up some commonly used modules that help enrich the functionality of your site.
4. Automatic Updates:
   • You can choose to check for updates automatically to keep your Tiki installation up-to-date.
   • Set the frequency of these checks (e.g., weekly) to ensure you receive timely updates.
5. Menu on the Left:
   • The side menu gives you quick access to different configuration areas, such as:
     • Global Setup: General configurations for your site.
     • Main Features: Enable or disable core features.
     • Miscellaneous: Access additional settings for various Tiki components.
     • Users & Community: Manage user accounts, roles, and permissions.
     • Advanced: Advanced configuration options for those experienced with Tiki.

Recommendations:

• Spend some time exploring each section of the left menu to familiarize yourself with all the features available in Tiki.
• Use Basic mode if you are just starting out, then switch to Advanced mode as you grow more comfortable with Tiki’s capabilities.
• Regularly check for updates to keep your Tiki installation secure and stable.

For hosting your Tiki Wiki, consider using Shape.host’s Linux SSD VPS services. Shape.host provides robust and scalable cloud solutions tailored to various needs, ensuring high performance and reliability for your Tiki Wiki instance. With their Cloud VPS, you can easily scale resources as your application grows, providing an optimal user experience.