1. Go to Wordpress.org and download Wordpress 2.8.4. If the file doesn't automatically extract leaving you a folder called "Wordpress" be sure to extract it.

screengrab of wordpress.org

 2. Using Fetch or another FTP application log into the ITP server. Note, the host is itp.nyu.edu, your login is your NetID, and your password is the password you are currently using on all NYU systems. Be sure to select Secure FTP.

screen grab of FTP server login

 3. At the root level of your directory Nancy has created a file called "sqlpw". This contains your database password. Copy this file to your hard drive.

screengrab sqlwd

 4. On your desktop return to the wordpress folder you have just downloaded. There is a file called wp-config-sample.php. Rename it to wp-config.php.

screengrab of wordprss folder

 5. We now need to edit this file. You can use any text editor to do it. Try downloading TextWrangler. Once this file is open you will need to make several changes.
  • define('DB_NAME', 'yourNetID'); // The name of the database, on ITPs server this should be your NETID

  • define('DB_USER', 'yourNetID'); // Your MySQL username, again, this should be your NETID

  • define('DB_PASSWORD', 'password'); // ...and password.. Not your NETID password, this is the file Nancy gave you. (see step 3)

  • define('DB_HOST', 'localhost'); // You won't need to change this value on ITPs server

  • // You can have multiple installations in one database if you give each a unique prefix. $table_prefix = 'wp_'; // Only numbers, letters, and underscores please! For security purposes change this. Even if it is mywp_ or wp1

    screengrab of config file

    6. Go back to your FTP application. Inside the public_html directory upload the contents of the wordpress directory. You can rename this directory to something more meaningful (see below - wordpress has been renamed to "myblog")

    screengrab of upload

    7. You will now want to change permissions on the wp-config.php file. As the owner of the file you will want access to read and write to it. But, no one else should.

    screengrab of permissions change

    8. Now you will need to log into Wordpress and complete the installation. Return to your web browser and go to the path of your blog (i.e. http://itp.nyu.edu/~mp51/myblog)

    screengrab wordpress install

    9. Wordpress will automatically create a username of "Admin" and give you a password.

    screengrab wordpress install

    10. Log into wordpress with your username of admin and the password assigned to you. Be sure to log into your profile page and change your password to something meaningful immediately.

    screengrab wordpress

    11. The next thing to do will be to create a new Administrator (we don't want to use the "admin" username for security reasons). Under Users create a new user and be sure to assign it a role as Administrator.

    wordpress screengrab

    12. Now you should have two administrators

    wordpress screenrab

    13. Delete the original admin user.

    wordpress screengrab

    14. You're ready to start posting!