This guide walks you through installing APG vNext on a Windows web server running IIS and SQL Server.
System Requirements
- Windows Server 2003/2008/2012 or Windows XP/Vista/7/8
- IIS 6.0 or later with ASP.NET 2.0+ enabled
- SQL Server 2005, 2008, 2012 or later (Express editions supported)
- .NET Framework 2.0 or later
- Minimum 50MB disk space for application files
Step 1: Download APG vNext
Download the latest version of APG vNext from the Downloads page. The package includes the application files and database scripts.
Step 2: Create the Database
- Open SQL Server Management Studio and connect to your server.
- Create a new database named APGvNext (or any name of your choice).
- Run the
Install.sqlscript from the downloaded package to create all required tables and stored procedures. - Create a SQL Server login with db_owner access to the new database.
Step 3: Configure the Web Application
- Extract the downloaded ZIP to your web server (e.g.,
C:\inetpub\wwwrootorum). - Open
web.configand update the connection string with your SQL Server credentials. - Set the correct ApplicationPath if installing in a virtual directory.
Step 4: Configure IIS
- Create a new IIS Application or Virtual Directory pointing to the forum folder.
- Set the application pool to use ASP.NET 2.0 or later.
- Ensure the application pool identity has read/write access to the forum folder.
- Enable URL Rewriting if you want SEO-friendly URLs.
Step 5: Complete the Setup
- Browse to
http://yourdomain.com/forum/to launch the setup wizard. - Enter your administrator username, email, and password.
- Configure your forum name, description, and timezone.
- Click Complete Installation — your forum is ready!
For detailed troubleshooting, visit the Support & Services FAQ or post in the APG vNext Support Forum.