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How to Install and Use a Self-Hosted Wiki (DokuWiki, TikiWiki)

Self Hosting December 08, 2024

 



In today’s digital world, having a self-hosted wiki can be an invaluable tool for managing knowledge, collaboration, and documentation. Whether you're running a small business, managing a team, or simply want a personal knowledge base, self-hosted wikis such as DokuWiki and TikiWiki offer flexible and scalable solutions. These platforms allow users to organize, edit, and share content in a centralized manner, without relying on third-party services.

This comprehensive guide will walk you through the process of installing and using two of the most popular self-hosted wiki platforms: DokuWiki and TikiWiki. These platforms are open-source, free to use, and easy to set up on your own server or hosting provider.

Table of Contents

  1. What is a Self-Hosted Wiki?
  2. Why Choose a Self-Hosted Wiki?
  3. Introduction to DokuWiki
    • Features of DokuWiki
    • Benefits of Using DokuWiki
  4. Installing DokuWiki
    • Requirements for DokuWiki
    • Step-by-Step Installation Guide
  5. Introduction to TikiWiki
    • Features of TikiWiki
    • Benefits of Using TikiWiki
  6. Installing TikiWiki
    • Requirements for TikiWiki
    • Step-by-Step Installation Guide
  7. How to Use DokuWiki
    • Creating and Editing Pages
    • Adding Plugins and Extensions
    • User Management
  8. How to Use TikiWiki
    • Creating and Editing Pages
    • Customizing Your Wiki
    • Managing Users and Permissions
  9. Conclusion
    • Which Wiki is Right for You?

1. What is a Self-Hosted Wiki?

A self-hosted wiki is a platform where you store, organize, and edit documentation on your own web server or hosting provider. Unlike cloud-based wikis, where data is hosted on external servers, a self-hosted wiki gives you full control over your content, allowing for complete customization and privacy.

Self-hosted wikis are ideal for organizations, teams, or individuals who need to manage large amounts of information, create knowledge bases, or collaborate on projects. They can be installed on any server that supports PHP and MySQL, making them a flexible solution for various types of users.

2. Why Choose a Self-Hosted Wiki?

There are many reasons to choose a self-hosted wiki, including:

  • Complete Control: You own the data and have full control over how it is stored and accessed.
  • Customization: You can tailor the wiki to fit your specific needs by adding themes, plugins, and other customizations.
  • Security: By hosting your wiki yourself, you reduce the risk of third-party breaches and have full control over security measures.
  • No Subscription Fees: Unlike cloud-based wikis, self-hosted wikis are free to use (aside from hosting fees).
  • Collaboration: A wiki makes it easy for teams to collaborate and share information in a structured and efficient way.

Now, let’s dive into two of the most popular self-hosted wiki solutions: DokuWiki and TikiWiki.

3. Introduction to DokuWiki

DokuWiki is a lightweight and easy-to-use open-source wiki software that doesn’t require a database. It stores all content in plain text files, making it simple to install, back up, and manage. DokuWiki is known for its user-friendly interface, flexibility, and large library of plugins and extensions.

Features of DokuWiki

  • No Database Required: Unlike many other wiki platforms, DokuWiki does not require a MySQL or PostgreSQL database, which simplifies the installation and management process.
  • Text-based Storage: All pages are stored as plain text files, making them easy to back up and migrate.
  • Access Control: DokuWiki offers built-in access control, allowing you to manage who can view and edit content.
  • Extensible: DokuWiki has a large selection of plugins, themes, and extensions to enhance its functionality.
  • Version Control: DokuWiki includes built-in version control to track changes and revert to previous versions of pages.

Benefits of Using DokuWiki

  • Simplicity: DokuWiki is straightforward to set up and use, even for beginners.
  • Customization: You can easily extend and modify DokuWiki with plugins and themes.
  • Collaboration: Perfect for team collaboration with features like user permissions and page version history.

4. Installing DokuWiki

Before installing DokuWiki, ensure that your server meets the following requirements:

Requirements for DokuWiki

  • A web server (Apache, Nginx, etc.)
  • PHP 7.2 or higher
  • Access to a file system (DokuWiki stores pages as files, so a writable directory is required)
  • Optional: SSL for secure access

Step-by-Step Installation Guide

  1. Download DokuWiki:

  2. Upload Files to Your Server:

    • Extract the DokuWiki files from the archive and upload them to your web server’s root directory.

  3. Set Permissions:

    • Make sure that the data/ and conf/ directories are writable by the web server. You can set the permissions using the following command:
      bash
      chmod -R 777 data/ conf/

  4. Run the Installer:

    • Open your browser and navigate to http://yourdomain.com/install.php. The DokuWiki installer will guide you through the setup process.
    • Follow the prompts to configure basic settings like the site name, admin account, and more.

  5. Access Your Wiki:

    • After installation is complete, you can access your wiki by visiting http://yourdomain.com.

5. Introduction to TikiWiki

TikiWiki, often referred to as just Tiki, is another powerful open-source wiki platform that includes more advanced features than DokuWiki. TikiWiki is designed for teams, offering tools for documentation, project management, and collaboration.

Features of TikiWiki

  • Multi-purpose: TikiWiki is not only a wiki platform, but also includes features like forums, blogs, and task management tools.
  • User Permissions: You can create custom user roles with different levels of permissions, making it easy to manage access.
  • Integrated Features: TikiWiki has built-in support for file management, calendars, and more.
  • Customization: TikiWiki allows extensive customization through themes, plugins, and modules.

Benefits of Using TikiWiki

  • All-in-One Solution: TikiWiki is more than just a wiki – it’s a complete collaboration suite.
  • Feature-Rich: It offers everything from project management tools to forums and blogs.
  • Scalability: TikiWiki is suitable for small teams as well as large organizations, with the ability to scale as your needs grow.

6. Installing TikiWiki

Before installing TikiWiki, make sure your server meets the following requirements:

Requirements for TikiWiki

  • A web server (Apache, Nginx, etc.)
  • PHP 7.2 or higher
  • MySQL or PostgreSQL database
  • 200 MB of disk space (minimum)

Step-by-Step Installation Guide

  1. Download TikiWiki:

  2. Upload Files to Your Server:

    • Extract the TikiWiki files and upload them to your web server.

  3. Create a Database:

    • Create a MySQL or PostgreSQL database for TikiWiki. You can do this through your hosting provider’s control panel or via command line:
      bash
      CREATE DATABASE tikiwiki;

  4. Run the Installer:

    • Navigate to http://yourdomain.com/tiki-install.php in your browser to begin the installation.
    • Enter your database details, configure the admin account, and follow the prompts to complete the installation.

  5. Access Your Wiki:

    • Once installation is complete, you can access your TikiWiki at http://yourdomain.com.

7. How to Use DokuWiki

Once you have DokuWiki installed, it’s time to start using it. Below are some essential tasks to help you get started.

Creating and Editing Pages

  1. Create a New Page: To create a new page, simply type the desired page name in the search box. If the page doesn’t exist, DokuWiki will prompt you to create it.
  2. Edit a Page: To edit a page, click the "Edit" button at the top. DokuWiki uses a simple markup language for formatting, similar to Markdown.

Adding Plugins and Extensions

DokuWiki offers a wide variety of plugins to extend its functionality. To install a plugin:

  1. Go to the DokuWiki admin panel.
  2. Navigate to "Extension Manager" and search for the plugin you need.
  3. Click "Install" to add it to your wiki.

User Management

To add or manage users:

  1. Go to the "Admin" section and select "User Manager."
  2. From here, you can create new users, assign roles, and set permissions.

8. How to Use TikiWiki

TikiWiki offers more features than DokuWiki, making it a great choice for those who need advanced collaboration tools.

Creating and Editing Pages

  1. Create a New Page: Navigate to the "Wiki" section and enter the title of the page. If the page doesn’t exist, you’ll be prompted to create it.
  2. Edit a Page: TikiWiki provides a rich text editor as well as markup options to format your content.

Customizing Your Wiki

You can install new modules, plugins, and themes from the TikiWiki admin panel to extend functionality and change the appearance of your wiki.

Managing Users and Permissions

TikiWiki offers a comprehensive user management system. You can create user groups, assign roles, and set permissions for various wiki features.

9. Conclusion

Choosing between DokuWiki and TikiWiki depends on your needs. If you require a simple, lightweight wiki for documentation, DokuWiki is an excellent choice. It’s easy to install, easy to use, and has a strong community behind it.

However, if you need a more comprehensive collaboration suite with project management features, TikiWiki is a better fit. With its robust set of features and scalability, TikiWiki can grow with your team’s needs.

Both platforms are powerful, open-source solutions for managing knowledge and collaboration. By following the installation and usage instructions above, you can quickly set up and begin using your self-hosted wiki to manage your content efficiently.

Happy wiking!

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