Installation Manual: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 07:29, 17 April 2021

Client-only installation instructions

This is useful if you only want to quickly try out MSP Challenge, or if you are an end user getting ready to join an MSP Challenge session. This is because you will only install the client application, i.e., the application that end users use. After installation you can log on to one of our demo servers. Note that this is suitable for demonstration purposes only (so not full-on sessions) as the demo servers are accessible to anyone anywhere in the world and reset themselves daily.

Instructions for Windows 10

You have two options:

Download the ZIP file from the Download page, unpack the MSP Challenge folder contained in it to a location of your choice (e.g. the Documents folder or the Desktop), open that folder, and run msp.exe. If you like, you can create a Shortcut to msp.exe and put it on your Desktop or your Start Menu.
Or download the latest client-only installer from the Download page and run it. Depending on your Windows 10 security settings, you might get a blue Windows Defender SmartScreen notice. If you do, you'll have to click on More Info, check the box (if present) to indicate you want to continue, and click on Run Anyway. You'll be presented with an installation wizard. Just follow the steps. The installer will add a shortcut to your Start menu, and optionally one on your Desktop (depending on whether you selected that option during installation).

If you are upgrading to any newer version, we advise you to uninstall the older version first (go to Settings > Apps, and scroll down the list to find MSP Challenge and click Uninstall).

Instructions for macOS

Simply download the latest client-only ZIP from the Download page, and allow macOS to unpack it first. If you like, you can then drag the MSP Challenge app over to Applications and/or your Dock.

Opening MSP Challenge the very first time is a little tricky. You'll have to do it from the Finder. First press and hold the Control key, then click on MSP Challenge and select Open. You will get a warning that won't allow you to continue. If so, then close the warning, and again hold the Control key, click on MSP Challenge and select Open. Yes, you might have to do the exact same thing twice. The second time you should definitely get the option to Open the file regardless of the warning. The default security settings of macOS will not allow you to start MSP Challenge any other way the first time.

Next time you can just click on it to open it from your Dock or Applications as you would normally do. All of the above will no longer be necessary, thankfully.

Full platform installation instructions

Only install the full platform if you intend to turn your computer into a server, i.e., a computer open to participants with the client to connect to, thus a computer open to outside connections. The full platform is Windows 10 or Windows Server 2016/2019 only. Just download the full-platform installer from the Download page and run it.

Depending on your Windows security settings, you might get a blue Windows Defender SmartScreen notice. If you do, you'll have to click on More Info, check the box (if present) to indicate you want to continue, and click on Run Anyway.

You'll be presented with an installation wizard. Just follow the steps. The installer will add the following shortcuts to your Start menu, and optionally on your Desktop (depending on whether you selected that option during installation):

MSP Challenge Client: the same client application as you would get with client-only installation
MSP Challenge Server Manager: the web application with which you set up your MSP Challenge sessions
MSP Challenge Server Configuration Editor: an application with which you can create or alter session configurations

The server-side of MSP Challenge functions as a web application. The full platform therefore also installs and configures XAMPP, specifically a bundle of Apache2 web server, MariaDB database server and PHP7. It sets up a random root password for your MariaDB root user. Finally, it schedules a reoccurring task in the Windows Task Scheduler.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-#REDIRECT [[Download and install]]On this page you will learn how to install the MSP Challenge on your computer using 2 options: the installer or the ZIP file.
+==Client-only installation instructions==
+This is useful if you only want to quickly try out MSP Challenge, or if you are an end user getting ready to join an MSP Challenge session. This is because you will only install the client application, i.e., the application that end users use. After installation you can [[Connecting to a server|log on to one of our demo servers]]. Note that this is suitable for demonstration purposes only (so not full-on sessions) as the demo servers are accessible to anyone anywhere in the world and reset themselves daily.
-==MSP Challenge client installation==
+===Instructions for Windows 10===
-Please note that the MSP Challenge client is a Windows-only application developed in Unity, for Windows 10 specifically.<br>
+You have two options:
-You can either [[Download|install the client through the installer, or manually through the ZIP file]].<br>
-For more information about how to actually use the MSP Challenge client, please consult the tutorial videos about [[Connecting to a server|connecting to an MSP Challenge server]] and using all the [[Using the main features|software features]].
-===Option 1: using the installer===
-#You '''will''' need to have administrator privileges / installation rights on your computer to use the installer.
+#Download the '''ZIP''' file from the [[Download]] page, unpack the MSP Challenge folder contained in it to a location of your choice (e.g. the Documents folder or the Desktop), open that folder, and run msp.exe. If you like, you can create a Shortcut to msp.exe and put it on your Desktop or your Start Menu.
-#Simply run the downloaded installer file and complete the Wizard.
+#'''Or''' download the latest client-only '''installer''' from the [[Download]] page and run it. Depending on your Windows 10 security settings, you might get a blue Windows Defender SmartScreen notice. If you do, you'll have to click on More Info, check the box (if present) to indicate you want to continue, and click on Run Anyway. You'll be presented with an installation wizard. Just follow the steps. The installer will add a shortcut to your Start menu, and optionally one on your Desktop (depending on whether you selected that option during installation).
-#Afterwards, you'll be able to start the MSP Challenge client through the shortcut added to your Start menu and/or Desktop (depending on your chosen options during installation).
-===Option 2: using the ZIP file===
-#You '''won't''' need to have administrator privileges / installation rights on your computer for this option.
+If you are upgrading to any newer version, we advise you to '''un'''install the older version first (go to Settings > Apps, and scroll down the list to find MSP Challenge and click Uninstall).
-#Open the ZIP file and move the 'MSP Challenge' folder it contains to your Desktop or a folder in My Documents if you prefer.
-#Open the 'MSP Challenge' folder (wherever you put it - Desktop, My Documents, ...) and double-click on the 'MSP Challenge' shortcut to run the client.
-#Windows (Defender) SmartScreen might warn you not to open an unrecognised application downloaded from the internet such as this one (see screenshot). You'll have to ignore any such warning to continue: Click on 'More info' and 'Run anyway'.
-==MSP Challenge server installation==
+===Instructions for macOS===
-(Under development.)
+Simply download the latest client-only ZIP from the [[Download]] page, and allow macOS to unpack it first. If you like, you can then drag the MSP Challenge app over to Applications and/or your Dock.
-{{Category|name=InProgress}}
+Opening MSP Challenge the very first time is a little tricky. You'll have to do it from the Finder. First press and hold the Control key, then click on MSP Challenge and select Open. You will get a warning that won't allow you to continue. If so, then close the warning, and again hold the Control key, click on MSP Challenge and select Open. Yes, you might have to do the exact same thing twice. The second time you should definitely get the option to Open the file regardless of the warning. The default security settings of macOS will not allow you to start MSP Challenge any other way the first time.
+Next time you can just click on it to open it from your Dock or Applications as you would normally do. All of the above will no longer be necessary, thankfully.
+==Full platform installation instructions==
+'''Only install the full platform if you intend to turn your computer into a server, i.e., a computer open to participants with the client to connect to, thus a computer open to outside connections.''' The full platform is Windows 10 or Windows Server 2016/2019 only. Just download the full-platform installer from the [[Download]] page and run it.
+Depending on your Windows security settings, you might get a blue Windows Defender SmartScreen notice. If you do, you'll have to click on More Info, check the box (if present) to indicate you want to continue, and click on Run Anyway.
+You'll be presented with an installation wizard. Just follow the steps. The installer will add the following shortcuts to your Start menu, and optionally on your Desktop (depending on whether you selected that option during installation):
+*MSP Challenge Client: the same client application as you would get with client-only installation
+*[[Setting_up_your_own_server|MSP Challenge Server Manager]]: the web application with which you set up your MSP Challenge sessions
+*[[Customise_your_session|MSP Challenge Server Configuration Editor]]: an application with which you can create or alter session configurations
+The server-side of MSP Challenge functions as a web application. The full platform therefore also installs and configures XAMPP, specifically a bundle of Apache2 web server, MariaDB database server and PHP7. It sets up a random root password for your MariaDB root user. Finally, it schedules a reoccurring task in the Windows Task Scheduler.