Transana-MU Setup Instructions

Setup Instructions for Linux Network Servers

The first step is to install MySQL. Transana 2.2-MU requires MySQL 4.1.x or later. We have tested Transana 2.2-MU with 5.0.27-max on Fedora Core 6 Linux, (also MySQL 4.1.13-max on Windows 2000, and 4.1.14-max on Mac OS X 10.3.9,) though it will likely work with other versions of MySQL and other Linux distributions as well. Please note that MySQL 4.0.x does not support the UTF-8 character set, so should not be used with Transana 2.2-MU.

Install MySQL

Follow these directions to set up MySQL.

1. Download the "Max" version of MySQL for your particular Linux distribution, not the "Standard" version. It is available at http://www.mysql.com. (Note that your Linux distribution may come with MySQL installed. If so, you will need to ensure that it is version 4.1.x or later, and that it is the "Max" version rather than the "Standard" version.)

NOTE: The extensive MySQL documentation available on the MySQL Web Site can help you make sense of the rest of these instructions. I strongly recommend you familiarize yourself with the MySQL Manual, as it can answer many of your questions.

2. You probably want to download and install the MySQL Administrator as well. It's the easiest way to create and manage user accounts.

3. Install MySQL from the Disk Image file. Follow the on screen instructions. Be sure to assign a password to the root user account. (This prevents unauthorized access to your MySQL database by anyone who knows about this potential security hole.)

4. You need to set the value of the "max_allowed_packet" variable to at least 8,388,608. For my setup, using MySQL 5.0.27-max on Fedora Core 6, I edited the "my.cnf" file in /etc, adding the following line to the [mysqld] section:

     max_allowed_packet=8500000

Exactly what you do may differ, of course.

Set up MySQL User Accounts

You have two options for how to set up your MySQL User Accounts. One option is to allow only the database administrator (you) to create databases and to explicitly assign privileges to databases on an account-by-account basis. In this case, use the MySQL Administrator to create databases (called Catalogs in the Administrator) and user accounts, and to assign "Schema Privileges" for each account to each database manually. The advantage to this approach is greater control over user privileges and greater security.

The other option is to use the MySQL Query Browser to edit account privileges globally. To do this, go into the "mysql" database's "user" table and assign global priveleges to specific accounts. The advantage to this approach is that users can then create new databases from within Transana-MU.

It is, of course, possible to use one approach for some users and the other for other users, allowing you to create a few "power user" accounts but to maintain tighter control over most user accounts.

You will probably want to create the main project database (schema) using the MySQL Administrator at this point.

Set up the Transana Message Server

Once you've set up MySQL user accounts, you should set up version 2.20 of the Transana Message Server, preferably on the same server where you installed MySQL.

The following directions for setting up the Message Server work on Fedora Core Linux 6 for me. If you are using a different Linux distribution and they don't work for you, I'm afraid I can't help you. However, if you figure out something that works, please let me know and I'll be happy to post it here for others to follow.

1. If your server is running an earlier version of the Transana Message Server, you need to remove the old Message Server before installing the new one. See the Transana Message Server 2.20 Upgrade guide.

2. Download TransanaMessageServer220Linux.zip from the Transana web site.

3. Create a /usr/local/TransanaMessageServer folder and unzip the archive there. Please read the License Agreement, included in the archive, as installing the software indicates that you accept the agreement's terms.

4. Make the MessageServer.py Python Script executable. The following command should work:

chmod a+x MessageServer.py

This can also be accomlished through the GUI File Browser through the Permissions Tab of the file's Properties screen.

5. If you want the Transana Message Server to start automatically when the server starts up, follow these instructions:

Locate the /etc/rc.d/rc.local file and edit it. Add the following on a single line:

/usr/bin/python /usr/local/TransanaMessageServer/MessageServer.py &

Don't overlook the "&" character at the end of the line, or your server may lock up on restart. Reboot your computer now so that the Transana Message Server will start.

5. If you don't want the Transana Message Server to start automatically, you will need to open a Terminal window and start the Transana Message Server manually when you want to use Transana. type:

python /usr/local/TransanaMessageServer/MessageServer.py

Configure the Firewall

If you will have Transana-MU users connecting to the MySQL and Transana Message Server instances you just set up from outside the network, you need to make sure port 3306 for MySQL and port 17595 for the Transana Message Server are accessible from outside the network. This will probably require explicitly configuring your firewall software to allow traffic through to these ports. Consult your firewall software's documentation to learn how to do this.

Creating a Shared Network Volume for Video Storage

Finally, you must create a shared network volume where users can store any video that will be shared with all Transana-MU users. Be sure to allocate sufficient disk space for all necessary video files. This volume may be on your Linux Server or on another computer, but it must be accessible to all Transana-MU users on your network.

If you will have Transana-MU users connecting to the MySQL and Transana Message Server instances you just set up from outside the network, they will need to set up their own parallel Video Storage volumes.

Now configure the client computers

Each user will need the following information to connect to the server programs you have just set up:

• Username and password. (Don't create a single user account for users to share. The analytic process flows more smoothly when users can tell who else is interacting with the data, who has locked a record, and so on.)
• The DSN or IP address of the MySQL Server computer.
• The name of the database set up for the project.
• The DSN or IP address of the Transana Message Server computer, if different from the MySQL Server computer.
• Instructions on how to connect to the local network's common video storage folder.

Once you have this information, you are ready to start setting up client computers for the members of the project.

Wait, you lost me. Take me back to the overview.

Click here for client computer setup instructions.