Install XpressDox Server

This document contains instructions on how to install your XpressDox Server. Before you start, please note:

• We assume you have the authority and rights to add and configure a website on your network
• We assume you have experience working with website and database configuration in a Windows environment.
• By default, the application is installed as HTTP. Detailed instructions are provided here on converting from HTTP to HTTPS.

Your XpressDox Server can be opened to the internet to allow remote access if required.

Hardware Recommendations

Based on our experience we recommend your own hosted server has these, or higher, hardware specifications. Below is suitable for an environment where there are 30 to 50 concurrent users.

True Server Environment

• Processor: Intel XEON CPU 1.8 Ghz or faster. 4 Core with Hyperthreading (Minimum)
• RAM: 32 GB ECC Ram
• Hard drives: Minimum of 4 Hard drives configured in Raid 10. (Enterprise SSDs are recommended, but Enterprise SAS drives should suffice)
• Ethernet Connection: 1 GB port or faster
• Bandwidth: 50 Mbps or faster internet connection (Full Duplex) 50 Mbps Download and 50 Mbps Upload speed. (It will work on slower connections but with degraded performance)

Desktop Server Environment

• Processor: Intel Core i5 CPU 2 Ghz or faster. 4 Core with Hyperthreading (Minimum)
• RAM: 32 GB Ram
• Hard drives: Minimum of 4 Hard drives configured in Raid 10. (Enterprise SSDs are recommended, but Enterprise SAS drives should suffice)
• Ethernet Connection: 1 GB port or faster
• Bandwidth: 50 Mbps or faster internet connection (Full Duplex) 50 Mbps Download and 50 Mbps Upload speed.

Virtual Environments

• 4-8 vCPU (Depending on underlying CPU speed) If 1.8-2.0 Ghz we recommend 8 vCPU’s. With 2.4 Ghz and faster 4 vCPU should suffice.
• 32Gb vRAM
• 150 GB Minimum Storage for Operating System and supporting software.
• 500 GB Storage for XDOX data. These can be on one virtual drive or separate virtual drives, but it is important that the underlying hard drive infrastructure must have at least 6 drives in Raid 10, SSDs are also recommended here.

Software Requirements

• Microsoft Windows Server 2012, or higher
• Microsoft .Net Framework v4.5.2, or higher
• Internet Information Services (IIS) v7, or higher
• Microsoft SQL Server [Express] 2012, or higher, if XpressDox WinAuth Server or XpressDox Cloud Server (i.e. not XpressDox API Server) is being installed
• Optional: Access to your Windows network, only if Windows Active Directory user authentication is required

1. Configure Windows Server

Using Server Manager, configure the roles and features of your Windows Server. In addition to the defaults ensure these values are set:

• Server Role Web Server Role
• Web Server (IIS) > Web Server > Security, enable Basic Authentication (WinAuth Only) or Windows Authentication (WinAuth Only)
• Web Server (IIS) > Web Server > Performance, enable Static and Dynamic Content Compression
• Features, .NET Framework 4.5 WCF Services -> HTTP Activation

2. Add or Configure Application Pool

Using IIS Manager, add or configure an application pool for your XpressDox Server processes. In particular ensure these values are set:

• .NET CLR version, set to .NET CLR Version v4.0
• Managed pipeline mode, set to Integrated
• Identity, select Custom User Account and supply the details of an existing user, or create a new user if required. (If the templates will be stored on a different server to the software)

The selected or created user must have rights to access the XpressDox Shared Settings and XpressDox-configured Shared folders. (WinAuth Only)

3. Add or Configure Website Application

Using IIS Manager, add or configure a website application to host your XpressDox Server. In particular ensure these values are set:

• IIS Authentication as required – Anonymous Authentication (All Server Versions) and Forms Authentication (Cloud Server Only) or Basic Authentication (WinAuth Server Only) or Windows Authentication(WinAuth Server Only)
• Optional: Bindings, add https binding only if you require HTTPS access to your XpressDox Server and have an appropriate SSL certificate.
• By default, the application is installed as HTTP. Detailed instructions are provided here on converting from HTTP to HTTPS.

4. Install XpressDox Server Application Files

Run the installation file called [unzipped directory]\Setup-xpressdox-[winauth OR api]-[Vx.x.x].exe. Ensure these steps are taken:

• Destination Directory, set to the physical path of your website application configured in IIS
• When the application installation finishes, the Microsoft Office Access database engine installation launches automatically. Install the database engine. This is required by XpressDox Server to use Microsoft Excel files as data sources.

To install a licence key, create a text file [Installation_Directory]\License\XpressDoxServerLicense.lic and paste the provided key into this file.

5. Add or Configure Application Database

Required only for NEW XpressDox WinAuth Server OR XpressDox Cloud Server installations

Using your SQL Server database management tool:

Run the XpressDox.sql script to configure the database for your server type:

• Cloud: [Installation_Directory]\DatabaseScripts\XpressDox_Cloud_Creation.sql
• WinAuth: [Installation_Directory]\DatabaseScripts\XpressDoxData_WinAuth_Creation.sql

Please note that the database modification scripts, which are necessary in some updates, will be executed automatically by the program.

6. Configure XpressDox Server

Open HomeConfiguration\DocumentAssembly.config.xml and edit this setting: (WinAuth Only)

• SharedSettingsConfigurationFolder, set to the path as configured in XpressDox Desktop Author for the Shared Settings Folder

Open Web.config and ensure your preferences are set for these values:

• Set the ServerUrl property with your domain base url
• XpressDoxApplicationDatabase, set to the connection string for your SQL Server application database
• AdministratorEmail, set the email address of your System Administrator (WinAuth Only)
• Email server settings, set your email server credentials if you require outbound email support
• Replace all placeholders indicated by Square Brackets to match your desired configuration. A commented explanation text is included above each property.

7. Run XpressDox Server

Navigate to http[s]://[host name OR ip address]/xpressdox/protected/explorer.aspx to launch your XpressDox Server.

If you are using Windows Active Directory to authenticate users on your XpressDox Server, please note:

• Users sign in to your XpressDox Server using their Windows domain network username and password
• Your Windows network file and folder read/write permissions are used by your XpressDox Server to allow or deny a user access to files and folders

For further information on any errors, all detail is logged at [Installation_Directory]\logs\XpressDoxApplicationLogging.log

Support

Send support requests to XpressDox Support support@xpressdox.com