Alfresco is an open source Content Management System(CMS) built on top of Java.

Alfresco Modules:

Document Management Web Content Management Collaboration Content Platform and Repository Content Management Interoperability Services (CMIS) Records Management Image Management

Alfresco features:

Smart Spaces Desktop File Access Auditable Content Workflow Categories Advanced Search Administration

Alfresco installation:

Install Java JDK “jdk-6u13-windows-i586-p.exe”. It installs JDK (including JRE).

Then download “Alfresco-Labs-3Stable-Full-Setup.exe” from Alfresco for windows.

This will install application server (Tomcat), OpenOffice, Derby database.

For production we need mysql database. For evaluating Derby built-in java database is enough.

After installing Alfresco.exe

Double click on alf_start.bat file. No need to edit anything in this file if (installed in default path c:\Alfresco doubt).

It makes Apache Tomcat application server runs.It takes time to run all the commands in that bat file)

If the screen is flickering and disappearing very fast it means there is a problem in starting the given Tomcat Server.

On double click of Alf_start.bat file it should run Tomcat and the screen should be like the below.

On double click of alf_start.bat file if it is throwing error like JAVA_HOME or JRE_HOME was not configured like the below error

then check the environment variables like the below.

Right Click on “My Computer”- Select Properties. System Properties window opens. Go to Advanced tab.

Click “Environment Variables” button. Set the below environment variables

JAVA_HOME : [Installation Drive]\Program Files\Java\jdk1.6.0_07

JRE_HOME : [Installation Drive]\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_07

Press Ok and Apply Ok.

Installation steps:

Select Language.

Press Ok. “This will install Labs on your computer. Continue?” alert comes.

Press ok.

InstallJammer Wizard opens.

Press Next

Select Typical as Setup Type screen.

Click Next

Choose Destination Location. Default path C:\Alfresco is recommended for Tomcat Application Server to identify it.

Press Next

Start Copying Files screen comes

Press Next

Installation starts.

Java installation screen comes and automatically starts.

Open Office Installation screens automatically comes

Press Next

Database selection comes. Select built-in java database ( for evaluation purposes this is sufficient)

Press Next

InStallJammer Wizard Complete screen opens which indicates Alfresco was successfully installed.

Alfresco uses 8080 port for Tomcat server.

Type http://localhost:8080/alfresco in the browser.

Click on Login (default values)

Username: admin

Password: admin

Language: English

Admin screen opens

Click on Navigator dropdown at the left top most corner: It contains Navigator, Shelf, OpenSearch, Categories

From here you can find different modules given out of the box.

Start -> Programs -> Alfresco Labs: It has

Start Alfresco Server Start Virtual Server Stop Alfresco Server Stop Virtual Server

Start Alfresco Server (is similar to double clicking alf_start.bat file)

For shutting down Tomcat server use Stop Alfresco Server.

References:

Java JDK is available at:

https://cds.sun.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/WFS/CDS-CDS_Developer-Site/en_US/-/USD/ViewFilteredProducts-SingleVariationTypeFilter

Download Alfresco Windows version:

http://wiki.alfresco.com/wiki/Labs_3_Final_download_files

Features tour:

http://www.alfresco.com/products/ecm/tour/tour.html

Difference between Enterprise and Free open source products:

http://www.alfresco.com/products/networks/compare/

Alfresco forums:

http://forums.alfresco.com/en/