Why DNN

With DNN, it doesn’t need any programming experience to build a decent web portal. DNN supports multiple portals through one application. Users can customize at every level – pages, whole site. This feature is important because it provides personalization, a required element as a portal. Also it has a large open source community that’s constantly improving it.

When DNN

It boils down to cost-benefit analysis. Although the application itself is free, the cost can come from supporting a database-driven portal. The rule of thumb is: if you only need a homepage, then you don’t want to use DNN. What’s the difference between a homepage and a portal? A portal requires elements such as personalization, search, channels and links. Desirable elements include customization, role-based models and workflow.

Download

DNN is only downloadable from official site: www.dotnetnuke.com. One must simply register to download. Current versions include DotNetNuke 4.x (ASP.NET 2.0) DotNetNuke 3.x (ASP.NET 1.1). There is no automatic upgrade from 3.x to 4.x.

Install

Prerequisite: .Net, IIS and SQL Server

Steps:

1. Download the “Install” file and unzip it
2. Create a virtual directory that points to the unzipped folder
3. Create a SQL database with a user that has db_owner privileges
4. Give the ASP.NET worker process the appropriate Security access to the folder
• Win2K – XP / IIS5: {Server}\ASPNET
• Win2K3 / IIS6: NT AUTHORITY\NETWORK SERVICE

5.      Modify web.config

• Rename release.config to web.config
• Modify connection string:

<appSettings>

<add key="SiteSqlServer" value="Server=(local);Database=DotNetNuke;uid=wu;pwd=wenyi;" />

6.      Visit localhost/{virtual directory} to start installation process

Modules

DNN comes with 19 built-in modules. For more modules 1)Download from hundreds of modules available on the Internet (Google) or 2)Create your own modules (Google for tutorials)

Skins

Download or create your own.

Language Packs

Download

(See links on the right for download sites)

Recommended Sites

Official Site

www.dotnetnuke.com

Net Book Design

http://www.netbookdesign.com/DotNetNukeEnglish/tabid/484/Default.aspx

WWWCoder (Patrick Santry)

http://www.wwwcoder.com/main/Default.aspx?tabid=68&action=cat&parentID=214

Books

“DotNetNuke Portals for Dummies”

Shows DNN newcomers step by step how to install and deploy rich interactive portals using the latest DNN version. Amazon price $15.74, 384 pages.

“Professional DotNetNuke ASP.NET Portals”

It is written by the DotNetNuke creators and core development team. Coverage includes new features such as support of Web farms and using DotNetNuke in shared hosting settings (such as GoDaddy and Pipex). Amazon price $25.19, 500 pages