Install Problem with J 2.5.4 and CiviCRM 4.1.2

[slimm]

I've been reviewing the boards and doesn't seem to be anything on this issue, so my apologies, if this is already covered.

I've been through about 6 installation attempts so far and here's the results:

I do a clean install of J 2.5.4 - and log into admin - everything's great - no sample data (tried that later w/ same result)
- Upload CiviCRM to tmp dir and unzip from cpanel - got the tmp\com_civicrm folder
- Extension manager ->Install from Dir
- White screen w/ a bunch of error messages (here's an excerpt-I'll post the whole thing if you wish - about 15 lines of error messages) -- "Cannot execute CREATE TABLE `civicrm_option_value` ( `id` int unsigned NOT NULL AUTO_INCREMENT COMMENT 'Option ID', `option_group_id` int unsigned NOT NULL COMMENT 'Group which this option belongs to.', .........."
- I follow the troubleshooting guidelines "If the CiviCRM component does not install correctly (for example you get a blank screen instead of the confirmation page), delete the ~/components/com_civicrm and ~/administrator/components/com_civicrm and ~/media/civicrm directories manually and then try each of the following before attempting to reinstall:"
- I delete the three folders and re-install and - Installation Successful! - but maybe not.
- Go to components --> civicrm - now have a white screen error message "Fatal DB error, exiting, seems like your schema does not have civicrm_setting table"
- Look in SQL, sure enough, no civicrm_setting table.
- I've also made sure the htaccess and php.ini have the declarations specified in the Installation to increase memory to 128 M (my hosting service default and 600 for max execution time.

Since I started on this a yesterday I've tried various things, including deleting the three re-installing again - reinstalling J 2.5.4 with clean install, deleting the entire database and starting form scratch again. I also tried deleting the Civicrm prefixed tables, to try to make Civicrm setup the structure again - and I've just ended up with worse issues and have to re-install J 2.5.4 and delete the database again.

I haven't tried the uninstall before manually deleting the three folders. 

Curious however, each install creates another component with a different ID number, so I have had up to 3 Civicrm components - none of which work.  I even went into the SQL tables and deleted those entries so they wouldn't show in the menu, but that also seemed to cause other database problems - those entries must be linked elsewhere - and had to re-install joomla again.

Sorry for the long post, but that's it ... I'm at a loss of where to go from here, and the support seems like its still pretty thin on J2.5.4.  I'm considering going back to 1.7 to install Civicrm, then upgrade joomla, to see if it works - there goes another 1/2 day of fritzing around.

Any help or suggestions would be appreciated. 

Thanks!

[Donald Lobo]

if i had to guess you are most likely running into some limit at your hosting provider.

The install takes a fair bit of time and memory and the error message seems somewhere in the middle of the install

lobo

[Hershel]

Do you actually have MySQL 5.0.32 ? That version is not supported. CiviCRM requires "MySQL 5.1.x+ with InnoDB support" as per http://civicrm.org/aboutcivicrm

[slimm]

Thanks for the replies Lobo and Hershel,  I really appreciate any help!

Lobo, I've set the max execution time to 600 as suggested per the Install notes - I could try higher but I don't want to get any  red flags from the server.  Memory limit was already set at 128M which is double the recommendation on the CiviCRM Installation page.  As for any other limits on my hosting service such as storage space etc. - I'm no where near those limits.  Any other thoughts?

Herschel, good catch on the Mysql.  the setting on my hosting service says
- "Server version: 5.0.32-Debian_7etch5~bpo31+1"
- "Apache/2.2.11 (Unix) mod_ssl/2.2.11 OpenSSL/0.9.7e"
- "MySQL client version: 5.0.32"
- "PHP extension: mysql"

Perhaps this is the problem...I might have to contact the tech support as I can't see any way to change it in cpanel.

Any other suggestions would be appreciated.

<edit> I also just found a message on my hosting service that it doesn't support innodb.  wtf!  I guess that explains this further.

Is there any work around for Innodb?  Here's the official statement on my hosting provider:

"InnoDB is a popular storage engine for the MySQL database system. It has some advantages over the storage engine MyISAM (most notably, the support for "foreign keys" and transactions). However, MyISAM is the default and also the most popular storage engine for MySQL. MyISAM is considered a better choice for web applications than the InnoDB storage engine due to its higher speed in read operations.

Usually a client does not have the need to use InnoDB, unless they are going to install a software application that requires InnoDB. A notable example for such software is the Magento ecommerce software - it requires the InnoDB storage engine to operate. InnoDB is not supported on our servers and you will not be able to use InnoDB and to install the Magento ecommerce software."

Slimm

[slimm]

Just got a reply from the hosting service that they will not be upgrading the MySQL as it will affect everyone on their servers.
They probably won't support Innodb either.

Off to find a new host service ...

Thanks for the help guys!

[Hershel]

Memory limit was already set at 128M which is double the recommendation on the CiviCRM Installation page.

What installation page? The About CiviCRM page says "128mb PHP memory limit recommended."

Is there any work around for Innodb?

No.

[slimm]

Hey Guys,

Got a new hosting service and the install of J2.5.4 and CiviCRM 4.1.2 worked first time without any problems whatsoever. 

In the process I found several other hosting services don't support Innodb, and are not in any rush to do so, and some don't even know what it is.  (I'm no expert, but I can take a few minutes to read a wiki and figure it out a bit.  This is supposed to be their business and they don't know what INNODB is!)

My recommendation to anyone having problems with installing is to DO YOUR HOMEWORK, and follow the first piece of advice on the Installation Page
"Before beginning the install process, please verify that your server meets the requirements for CiviCRM 4.1." ... my bad, I just assumed my host would have the requirements.    So I hope my experience helps someone else!


Here's the results of my homework:
I didn't find ANY hosting service that posted the specs that you *NEED* to know if you want to run CiviCRM.  You have to contact them!
Most sites that I emailed to try to get info regarding their specs, did not actually read my email and just gave me a blanket "yeah we do that stuff" kind of answer.

You have to press them with specifics - I had to email back to several and tell them "They didn't read my first mail and I need to know..." 
One host was still running MySQL 4.x and wanted an extra $5/month to upgrage!!!    WTF!?? Go pound sand!
Another hosting service response to my inquiry about INNODB was (and I quote) "Thanks for your email, we have checked and we do not have INNODB.  We also do not have any experience with this particular program, and unfortunately, have no suggestions.  My apologies for the inconvenience." (end quote)
"...that program "   I bet they run that other program too! what's it called ... Linux or something!  Jeez, I'd have a lot of confidence contacting their support department! 

Anyway, I finally found a hosting service that had all the requirements, answered my questions intelligently, and cost less than the $5 "upgrade" for MySQL 5.1.x that one company wanted.  The install of J2.5.4 and CiviCRM went smooth as silk!
Final word.
DO YOUR HOMEWORK!

Oh ... Herschel, I think there's two pages out there that give different mem requirements.  This one:
http://wiki.civicrm.org/confluence/display/CRMDOC41/Joomla+Installation+Guide+for+CiviCRM+4.1
says 64M in the "Trouble Shooting Resources" section.  I did see the other one that says 128 M but I can't seem to find it again at the moment.

Thanks again guys!

[Hershel]

Oh ... Herschel, I think there's two pages out there that give different mem requirements.  This one:
http://wiki.civicrm.org/confluence/display/CRMDOC41/Joomla+Installation+Guide+for+CiviCRM+4.1
says 64M in the "Trouble Shooting Resources" section.  I did see the other one that says 128 M but I can't seem to find it again at the moment.

Here http://civicrm.org/aboutcivicrm it says "128mb PHP memory limit recommended"

You were right about http://wiki.civicrm.org/confluence/display/CRMDOC41/Joomla+Installation+Guide+for+CiviCRM+4.1 it did say 64. I edited it to say 128.

Thank you.

[slimm]

Herschel - Yup, that was the one I saw.  Always good to have consistency!