June 2009

iNoticeboard v2.1.1

Getting Started Guide

Contents


Introduction

This guide covers obtaining a copy of iNoticeboard, installing and starting it.

iNoticeboard is a network (client-server) application. It is installed once, on a server computer, and can then be used from any other computer on the network, including wireless laptops, via a web browser.

Network diagram

iNoticeboard is installed once on the server computer and then used from all other computers on the network


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How to Get iNoticeboard

The latest version of iNoticeboard is available for download from our website here

If you have problems downloading from the above link, there is a direct link to the setup file here

Note: A browser popup blocker or network firewall may prevent you from downloading the setup file. Check you web browsers popup blocker settings or see if the web browser is setup to prevent file downloads. If the network firewall is preventing the download, you would have to see your network technician about this.

If all else fails, you can obtain a copy of iNoticeboard on CD-ROM. Please email us and give the name and address where it is to be posted to. You can start an email from this link here to request a CD-ROM.


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Where to Install

For iNoticeboard to work properly, it is important to install it on the right computer. It only needs to be installed once and then every other computer on the network can use iNoticeboard.

iNoticeboard needs to be installed on a server computer. This is a computer where shared software and files are stored, which are then accessible from other computers on the network. Server computers are usually stored in a secure location and may only be accessible by the network technician.

If there is no server computer available, any computer on the network that is reasonably secure and is running all day will do.

The following diagram shows a typical network setup. iNoticeboard is installed on the server computer and can then be used on all the other computers on the network, even on wireless laptops connected by Wi-Fi.


Network diagram

Network Diagram


If you are installing iNoticeboard for just one person to try, you can install it on any computer, such as one of the client computers in the diagram above (e.g. a desktop computer or a laptop). However it might not be useable from other computers on the network.

IMPORTANT: The computer that iNoticeboard is install on needs to have a static IP address. If you are installing on a server computer that is left running all the time, then it most probably will have. If you install on a computer that is turned off at night then it might not be setup to have the same IP address the next day.

Your network technician will be able to make sure the computer has a static IP address. If you need any help with this, please contact us. You can start a new email from this link.




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Installation

iNoticeboard should ideally be installed on a server computer (see above). There are just 2 or 3 configurable settings during installation, most can usually be left at their default value. These settings are:

The installation is very straight forward and in most cases you can just keep pressing the Next button at each setup screen.

To start the installation double click the setup.exe file you have downloaded or found on the CD-ROM:


Install screen 1

1. On the first screen click Next to proceed with the installation.



Install screen 2

2. After reading the Licence Agreement details and selecting the "I accept..." option, click Next again



Install screen 3

3. This screen allows you to choose the folder where iNoticeboard will be installed to. You can probably use the default location, which is in the Program Files folder on the hard drive where Windows is installed.

If you normally install programs in a different place, e.g. on a different hard drive, press the Change button and choose the folder where you want iNoticeboard to be installed to.

e.g. if you normally install your programs on the D: drive rather than on the C: drive, choose:

  D:\Program Files\iNoticeboard

Note: if you choose a different location, you must ensure it contains the name of the iNoticeboard folder. When you choose a different location, e.g. D:\Program Files you will have to type \iNoticeboard manually to complete the location folder.

Once you have chosen the installation folder press the Next button to proceed.


Install screen 4

4. It will take a few moments for the installer to run. The installer will then proceed to the next screen automatically when it has finished.


Install screen 5

5. Here you have the option to choose the port numbers that the iNoticeboard server program will use. Normally you can leave them set to their default values.

The port numbers are used by other computers on the network to communicate with the iNoticeboard server program.

Only change the port numbers if you know that either or both are being used by some other program. Each port number must be between 1024 and 65535 and they must not be the same number.

For more information on the server ports and how to change them at a later date, click here.

Press the Next button to proceed.


Install screen 6

6. You will only see the Choose IP Address screen, if the computer has more than one network card. If not proceed to the next step.

If the computer does have more than one IP address you need to choose which address iNoticeboard will use. The address needs to be visible to other computers on the network. The network technician or the person who setup this computer should know which address to use.

Once you have selected the IP address to use, press Next to continue.



Install screen 7

7. On the last screen press the Finish button to complete the installation.



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Starting iNoticeboard

Once iNoticeboard has been installed, there should be a new shortcut on the server computers desktop:

iNoticeboard desktop shortcut

iNoticeboard Client Startup

This will start iNoticeboard by opening the iNoticeboard login screen in a web browser window. If you already have a browser open, it may start in a new tab within that window.

You can also start iNoticeboard from the Start menu.

  Start -> Programs -> iNoticeboard -> Client Startup

Start iNoticeboard from the start menu

Starting iNoticeboard form the Start menu


Note: If the Client Startup shortcuts do not work, it may be because the computer has been moved to a different network and now has a different IP address.

You can still start iNoticeboard on this computer by using the Local Startup option from the start menu.

The Local Startup option will only work on the computer on which iNoticeboard has been installed.

  Start -> Programs -> iNoticeboard -> Local Startup
Start iNoticeboard from the start menu

Starting iNoticeboard form the Start menu


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Using iNoticeboard from other Computers on the Network

To access iNoticeboard from other computers on the network you just need the address of the iNoticeboard server computer.

An easy way to pass this address to other people, is to email the iNoticeboard Client Startup shortcut from the desktop of the computer on which iNoticeboard was installed.

To do this:

  1. Click with the right mouse button on the iNoticeboard Client Startup shortcut on the desktop.
  2. Select Send To
  3. Select Mail Recipient from the sub-menu that appears
  4. This should start your email program and you can choose the emails of the people to send the shortcut to
Send startup shortcut via email

The iNoticeboard Client Startup shortcut will be sent as an attachment. This can be saved to the desktop and then used to run iNoticeboard from that computer.

Another way to send the iNoticeboard server address to other people, is to start iNoticeboard on the computer it is installed on and then copy the address from the browser, before you login to iNoticeboard.

Start address (URL)

The address (URL) is similar to this:

  http://ServerIP:8124/iNoticeboard/NoticeServlet?request=start


Where  ServerIP  will be the IP address of the iNoticeboard server computer and 8124  is the port number.


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User Login

iNoticeboard ships with 4 default user accounts. These allow varying levels of access to iNoticeboard.

To prevent unauthorised access to iNoticeboard, please change the passwords on these accounts once iNoticeboard has been installed.

Username Default Password Description
admin admin The admin user has full access. They can add, edit and delete notices and can change the various administration settings.
create create The create user can add, edit and delete both noticeboards and notices.
write write The write user can add, edit and delete notices.
read read The read user has read only access and is only able to view existing notices.


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Configure the iNoticeboard Server


Server Ports

The iNoticeboard server requires 2 free port numbers in the range 1024 to 65535.

The Main Port is used by the client part of iNoticeboard to communicate with the server to load data, such as notices, and to make changes to that data.

The Notification Port is used by the server to communicate with the client to inform it when changes are made by another client, e.g. when a new notice is added, or when an instant message has been sent.

The default port numbers are 8124 and 8125. If either or both of these are already in use by another program, please choose different numbers during the installation. The following 2 sections show how to change the port numbers at a later date if required.

Changing the Main Port Number

The main port number can be changed after installing iNoticeboard, but if this is done, the URL used by each client computer will have to be updated with the new number.

Change the main port as follows:

1. Stop the iNoticeboard server. This can be done by running the iNoticeboard Tools program from the start menu on the server computer, and choosing the Stop Server option.

2. Edit the following file:

  C:\Program Files\iNoticeboard\Tomcat\conf\server.xml

3. Find the following section and change the 'port' entry to some other value in the range 1024 - 65535:

  <Connector className="org.apache.coyote.tomcat4.CoyoteConnector" port="8124"

5. Start the iNoticeboard server using the iNoticeboard Tools program.


Changing the Notification Port Number

The notification port number can be changed as follows:

1. Stop the iNoticeboard server. This can be done by running the iNoticeboard Tools program from the start menu on the server computer, and choosing the Stop Server option.

2. Edit the iNoticeboard.ini file which is located at:

  C:\Program Files\iNoticeboard\Tomcat\webapps\iNoticeboard\iNoticeboard.ini

3. The Notification port number is found under the Messaging section of the ini file:

  [Messaging]
  Port=8125

4. Choose another unused port number in the range 1024 - 65535

5. Start the iNoticeboard server using the iNoticeboard Tools program.

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Licencing

The demo version of iNoticeboard will run with full functionality for 30 days. After this the application will revert to read only mode for all users. It will not be possible to add, edit or delete notices or access the administration functions until the product is fully licenced.

Licencing involves sending the demo licence key that is generated when the application is installed and receiving back a full licence key to replace it. The licence key can be accessed from the About tab in the Options dialog. Select the current key with the mouse and press CTRL-C to copy it to the Windows clipboard. This can then be pasted into an email.

Once a full licence key is received, this can be copied and pasted over the exiting key. Press the "Update" button to activate the new licence key. The text above the key will change to show the number of days remaining on the new licence.

To request a new licence key you can start a new email by clicking here.


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System Requirements

The requirements for iNoticeboard are minimal. Any computer that can run the latest version of Java (v6.0 or above) will be suitable.

The iNoticeboard server has the following minimum system requirements:

The iNoticeboard client has the following minimum system requirements:

The client part of iNoticeboard runs in a web browser and requires the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) version 1.6 or above to be installed as a browser plug-in. If this is not already present it will be downloaded and installed automatically from the Java web site the first time iNoticeboard is run. However many computers now have Java installed from new or you may have Java installed as part of some other program.

The Java JRE can be downloaded from here and installed manually if required.

The Adobe Acrobat PDF viewer is required to view the iNoticeboard Help document and to view and print the PDF files that can be exported from iNoticeboard. It can be downloaded from here if needed, but many computers have it installed already.

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