Can't get modx to install on mediatemple gs

Just got a Mediatemple account, and they’ve already left me with a bad experience. I’m having a problem getting modx to install on their gs server.

I was able to upload the newest modx evolution installation files (took forever - had to FTP each folder, as they do not support extraction of tar files from what I know), and created a mysql db. Everything seems fine when I visit the install page, but when I enter the MYSQL db info and click on "Test database server connection and view collations", nothing happens. I’ve tried this process with Chrome, and Firefox, but I’m pretty sure its something to do with MT.

I know many of you are fans of MT, any thoughts?

ps. Just to add: my MT grid server was down for over 2 hours today, restricting a client’s business from using email svc or ftp svc, supposedly a widespread issue that took forever for MT to fix. Not cool, Mediatemple!

The database servers on MT’s gs service are separate machines with their own hostnames. Did you change the default localhost value for the database hostname to the name of your database server?

Thanks for the reply.

Yeah I tried it with the external database address they listed, as well as the internal one. I’m kind of puzzled, the install page doesn’t execute the test when I click on the "test.." link, usually it works with other servers I’ve used.

I’m including an image of the link that doesn’t work for me. I uploaded a fresh install, still not working. The browser status bar says "waiting for www.(mydomain).com" for one second but then says "done".

Please help!

i’ve been able to install modx no problem on my grid server with no problems.

when you’re entering your host information it’s like this, right: internal-db.sXXXXX.gridserver.com (where XXXXX = your account number)? if that doesn’t work - or your already tried that post back here and i’ll try doing an install again and let you know what browser/etc all that i use to get it to work. i remember having some initial troubles with stuff on the gs, so you’re certainly not alone, once i got everything figured out though it’s worked quite well for me.

also - the grid server is pretty good most of the time, i haven’t noticed any 2 hour downtimes (yet - knock on wood), but if you have businesses who are relying on the server you might want to look into bumping up one level to the virtual dedicated service they have, it’s twice as much per month, but then you won’t have to worry as much about the grid being down for maintenance. it’s better for re-selling than the gs.

I think Slushpuppie is right on the money with this. Even after SO many MODx installs, sometimes I mess up the install checks part - I end up working on many hosts, and for example, the non-localhost ones sometimes briefly throw me off.

I haven’t done MODx at Media Temple, but have done Wordpress there, and it worked well. I, too, was somewhat irked by the inability to quickly unzip things, which so many hosts offer as standard equipment. The admin is large, and somewhat opaque, but mostly good.

The reason my client had chosen Media Temple was because of its reputation as a heavy-duty Wordpress host, and he was preparing for a possible slash-dotting situation during a convention. But I have also heard anecdotally that Media Temple grid hosting has reliability problems, and that people have had better results there by bumping up to a VPS (or higher) type of account.

also, just another note regarding the virtual vs. grid.

none of the clients i host freelance projects for 100% RELY on their website/service being up 100% of the time, of course it’s nice to have it up all the time, but i only pay $16 a month (normally only $20), and i don’t charge them a penny for hosting... they’re mostly informational type sites, not e-comm or anything like that.

i also use google apps for their email, so as long as the zone file is able to redirect to google, then their email service isn’t interrupted. i have never actually used mediatemples email services. if i have any clients that don’t want google apps, or someone that needs a certain version of mysql/php/whatever, i’ll probably charge them a little for hosting an bump up to the virtual for $40/mo.

i’ve only had my grid-server go down for like 15 minutes or so a couple times, and both times i was warned via email about a week in advance, so i had plenty of time to tell my couple clients, and they were scheduled at pretty convenient times (at least for U.S. based customers), early in the morning.

Great insight, I’m sure MT is awesome for what you pay. I’m still struggling with this problem, I can’t begin a simple modx install. What could it be? I click the "test database" link and nothing happens, not even a check of the database.

i will do a fresh install on a domain i’m not really using for anything. i’ll post back here in a few minutes with all my steps.

i just did all of these exact steps (just changing "qwerty", etc to the real names) on my (gs) server on 2010-03-19 around 10:30am on windows 7, using firefox 3.6.

step 1: ftp up files, which you have obviously done

step 2: ac.mediatemple.net -> "manage databases" -> "add a database", create new mysql database, the name should be "db#####_domain", where ##### is your mt number, and "domain" is whatever you decided to call the database. for the rest of the example let’s just assume i have account #12345 and my domain is "qwerty.com", so my mysql database name is "db12345_qwerty"

step 3: ac.mediatemple.net -> "manage databases" -> "global settings", make sure you have a database user with permissions to "read/write" the "db12345_qwerty" database. save those settings. let’s call my user "db12345_webuser" with password "abc123" and "read/write" permissions.

step 4: go to "www.qwerty.com/install", which i know you have already done, but i’m just trying to be complete

step 5: select "new installation", click "next"

step 6: on the "database information" page enter
Database host: internal-db.s12345.gridserver.com
Database login name: db12345_webuser
Database password: abc123
-> click "Test database server connection and view collations."

you should see a message that says the connection passed, which prompts you for database name, table prefix, connection method and collation:
Database name: db12345_qwerty
Table prefix: modx_
Connection method: SET NAMES
Collation: latin1_swedish_ci
-> click "Create or test selection of your database."

enter your admin account information and finish up the install

hopefully this helps. since we’re both on (gs) servers we should have the same verions of php (doesn’t matter if you choose 4 or 5), and mysql. i guess i would check the versions just to be sure (i had a similar issue installing the revolution beta on a different server running php5.1.6 once). if there’s any further way i can help/test let me know!