cattaSearch backend requirements

cattaSearch is web/cloud-based: The user needs a browser. The rest is on the backend server - and all is open source.

The backend server side of cattaSearch consists of a web server with PHP and a relational database, MySQL.

cattaSearch 1.0 has been tested with MySQL 5.7 and 8.0 as well as PHP 7.0 and 7.4.

MySQL database

All cattaSearch information is stored in a database, MySQL.

The use of full-text search requires MySQL 5.6 or higher.

Download MySQL

MySQL is included in most Linux distributions and can easily be installed using a Linux package manager, e.g. YAST in OpenSUSE or apt in Ubuntu.

MySQL was first acquired by Sun Microsystems and then Oracle, but you can still download the free open source MySQL database from dev.mysql.com, the socalled Community Edition.

Web server

cattaSearch has been tested on Apache as well as Microsoft Internet Information Server (IIS).

Apache
Apache is open source and is included in most Linux distributions or can easily be installed using a Linux package manager, e.g. YAST in OpenSUSE or Synaptic Package Manager in Ubuntu.

The open source Apache web server can be downloaded from httpd.apache.org, e.g. for Windows.

Microsoft IIS
Microsoft includes a web server with Windows, i.e. it is free for all Windows users, but not installed by default on desktop or workstation editions of Windows.

Here is what you do to install it - make sure you have the Windows installation CD:

1. Open Control Panel -> Programs and Features -> Turn Windows features on or off
• In Windows XP it is: Open Control Panel -> Add or Remove Programs -> Add/Remove Windows Components
2. Select Internet Information Services (IIS)
3. Click on Details... and make sure that World Wide Web Service is selected
4. Click OK -> Next and follow the instructions

After installation of Internet Information Services you might have to reapply the latest Windows service pack in order to ensure that you have the latest patches and security fixes for IIS.

PHP

PHP is the scripting language that cattaSearch is based on.

Download PHP

PHP is open source and is included in most Linux distributions or can easily be installed using a Linux package manager, e.g. YAST in OpenSUSE or apt in Ubuntu.

Two Windows PHP packages are available in a number of different versions, including 32-bit and 64-bit.

gettext
cattaSearch requires one specific add-on to PHP: gettext

Gettext - part of the GNU project - is an open standard for supporting different languages in an application, e.g. an English, a Danish, a French, etc. user interface.

The gettext functions implement an NLS (Native Language Support) API which can be used to internationalise applications.

Note: gettext is operating system-specific and is therefore NOT included in the cattaSearch download file.

In earlier version of PHP, gettext was not included in the installer package, but this seems to be history now.

Enable gettext

In Windows, gettext is a separate DLL (dynamic link library) file:

• php_gettext.dll

Install and / or enable gettext in Windows:

1. Extract the gettext DLL file from the PHP zip package. It is in the ext sub-folder
2. Copy php_gettext.dll to the extensions subfolder for the PHP installation, e.g. C:\PHP\ext
3. Edit the PHP configuration file, php.ini, e.g. C:\PHP\php.ini, to include gettext support by removing the semicolon in front of the line:
   extension=php_gettext.dll
4. Make sure that the extensions folder is correctly defined in php.ini, e.g.:
   extension_dir = C:\PHP\ext
5. In php.ini, adjust the maximum file size for cattaSearch documents, e.g. 10 MB:
   upload_max_filesize = 10M
6. Restart your web server

cattaSearch runs with the PHP.INI parameter register_globals = Off - but of course also with register_globals = On.