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==Advice for SME Server Users==
==Advice for SME Server Users==
The following page details some general good advice for new and existing SME Server Users.
The following page details some general good advice for new and existing SME Server Users.
* SME Server is Open Source and Free to Use, but please [[:Donate|Donate]] to [http://contribs.org SME Server] running costs.
* SME Server is Open Source and Free to Use, but please [[:Donate|Donate]] to [http://contribs.org SME Server] running costs.
* To enhance your understanding and user experience of [http://contribs.org SME Server], DO participate in the [[SME_Server:Community|Community]]
* To enhance your understanding and user experience of [http://contribs.org SME Server], DO participate in the [[SME_Server:Community|Community]]
* Verify a bug or two for the next release ie SME8.
* Verify a bug or two for the next release ie SME9.
* Have a reasonable & respectful attitude when using the [http://forums.contribs.org Forums].
* Have a reasonable & respectful attitude when using the [http://forums.contribs.org Forums].
* Post bugs or potential bugs to [http://bugzilla.contribs.org Bugzilla] first (rather than the forums).
* Post bugs or potential bugs to [http://bugzilla.contribs.org Bugzilla] first (rather than the forums).
*Even read [[:Category:Howto|Howto]] and [[:Category:Contrib|Contribution]] wiki articles that you are not interested in, as they give wonderful clues as to approaches to take when making customisations to your server.
*Even read [[:Category:Howto|Howto]] and [[:Category:Contrib|Contribution]] wiki articles that you are not interested in, as they give wonderful clues as to approaches to take when making customisations to your server.
===General Advice===
===SME Server - General Advice===
* Try to keep your SME Server as "bog standard" as possible, as you will likely have less problems when upgrading.
* Try to keep your SME Server as "bog standard" as possible, as you will likely have less problems when upgrading.
* Preferably use only customisations that are well proven and available on the [http://contribs.org SME Server] site.
* Preferably use only customisations that are well proven and available on the [http://contribs.org SME Server] site.
* Read the advice for [[SME Server:Adding_Software|Adding New Software]]
* Install less add on's rather than more
* Install less add on's rather than more
* Only install add on's that you absolutely need to have.
* Only install add on's that you absolutely need to have.
* There is a default backup to workstation option based on Dar, that will backup to a USB. Other backup options exist.
* There is a default backup to workstation option based on Dar, that will backup to a USB. Other backup options exist.
===SME Server Usage===
===SME Server - Configuration===
* SME Server uses an automated template system for much of its configuration
* SME Server uses an automated template system for much of its configuration
* Do not change configuration files directly.
* Do not change configuration files directly.
* Learn about the templating system, and how it creates the configuration files. In particular see the [[SME_Server:Documentation:Developers_Manual|Developers Manual]] and [[:Template_Tutorial|Template Tutorial]] for some understanding
* Learn about the templating system, and how it creates the configuration files. In particular see the [[SME_Server:Documentation:Developers_Manual|Developers Manual]] and [[:Template_Tutorial|Template Tutorial]] for some understanding
* Do not change template fragment files directly, always create custom template fragments.
* Do not change template fragment files directly, always create custom template fragments.
* Learn about the db commands as many (not all) settings can be configured with a db command. See [[DB_Variables_Configuration|DB Variables Configuration]] for further information.
* Learn about the db commands as many (not all) settings can be configured with a db command. See [[Db_command_tutorial|DB Command Tutorial]] for further information.
* If you cannot do something in the ''server-manager'' GUI, look to see if there is a command line [[DB_Variables_Configuration|DB Variables Configuration]] available to achieve what you want. If not then you probably need to create custom templates.
* If you cannot do something in the ''server-manager'' GUI, look to see if there is a command line [[DB_Variables_Configuration|DB Variables Configuration]] available to achieve what you want. If not then you probably need to create custom templates.
* Realize that the web based ''http://yourdomain.tld/server-manager'' is the GUI control panel for SME and that all changes made there interact with many different functional systems within SME eg on a gateway server, enabling a secure mail server component will also open the appropriate port in the firewall.
===And Finally...===
===And Finally...===
Have fun using SME Server !
Have fun using SME Server !
<noinclude>[[Category:Howto]]</noinclude>
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<noinclude>[[Category:Howto]][[Category:SME Server]]</noinclude>
