How to Install a Theme in Drupal 6.X

Drupal's system for themes is flexible and makes sharing themes particularly easy, allowing even beginner Drupal webmasters to present sophisticated user interfaces. Best of all, they are so simple to install and to activate - literally a 3-step process.

Steps

1. Download your new theme.
   
   
   1. There are many Drupal theme sites which display themes to select from:
      
      
      • Drupal.org
      • Theme Garden
      • All Drupal Themes.com
      • and many more...
2. Uncompress your new theme to your website's themes/ folder.
   
   
   1. If you are on a linux server and have the necessary permissions, upload the archive to the server, then - tar -zxvf /path/to/theme_archive_file /path/to/Drupal/themes/
   2. If you do not have such access, you'll most likely need to uncompress the theme and upload the folder to the themes/ folder on the server.
3. Navigate in your browser, logged in as your administrator account, to http://your.domain.tld/?q=admin/build/themes
   
   
   1. Find your new theme in the table.
   2. Select the enabled box to allow your site's users to use this theme.
   3. Select the default radio button to make this theme your site's default theme.
      
      
      • Most Drupal themes allow further refinement and customization, and a configure link will show up next to your current default theme.
      • Unselect all other enabled themes to require users to use this theme.

Tips

• Take your time and experiment. Don't get flustered or worried if things don't work right immediately; Drupal's themes are wonderfully flexible, and it may take you a bit to get the most out of them.
• The theme directory is not '\themes' as it would seem but either '\sites\all\themes', '\sites\all\themes\contrib', or '\sites\all\themes\custom'.
  • The '\theme' directory is for built in themes and may be overwritten when you update.
  • Any directory under '\sites\all\themes' will work but it is common for the themes to be separated into themes written by others (contributed) and themes written by you (custom).
  • The backslashes (\) that I use are for a Windows machine but they would be forward slashes (/) on a Linux machine.

Warnings

• Each theme can have different names or different priorities for the different sections of the screen. Often this means a new theme will have blocks rearranged and showing up where you didn't expect them to. RELAX! Navigate your browser, as a logged in administrator account, to http://your.domain.tld/?q=admin/build/block, and move the blocks to where you want them to appear. There, that wasn't so hard, was it?

Installation Instructions For 144 pin SODIMM

These instructions provide general installation and handling information for 144-pin SODIMM memory. These instructions are intended to be used in conjunction with your model-specific owner's manual.

INSTALLATION PROCEDURE

NOTE: Before touching any electronic components, make sure you are properly grounded. By wearing a wrist strap (or using some other type of static control device), you can prevent static electricity stored on your body or clothing from damaging your installation.

1. Always turn off your computer and remove the rechargeable battery pack before installing your Kingston memory.
   
   
2. Insert the module into the socket at a slight angle (approximately 30 degrees). Note that the socket and module are both keyed, which means the module can be installed one way only.
   
   
   
   
3. To seat the module into the socket, apply firm, even pressure to each end of the module (see the arrows) until you feel it slip down into the socket. If you are having problems getting the module to seat properly, try rocking the module up and down slightly, while continuing to apply pressure.

   ? When properly seated, the contact fingers on the edge of the module will almost completely disappear inside the socket.

   
4. With the module properly seated in the socket, rotate the module downward, as indicated in the illustration. Continue pressing downward until the clips at each end of the socket lock into position. With most sockets, you will hear a distinctive CLICK, indicating the module is correctly locked into position.
   
5. Once the module or modules have been installed, the computer?s cover can be reinstalled.
   
   
6. Reinstall the rechargeable battery pack and any cables disconnected during the installation process.
   
   
7. Turn on the computer and follow the instructions in your computer owner?s manual that describe the steps necessary to allow your computer to recognize the newly installed memory.

Installation Instructions For 168 pin DIMM

These instructions provide general installation and handling information for 168-pin DIMMs. These instructions are intended to be used in conjunction with your model-specific owner's manual.

INSTALLATION PROCEDURE

1. Place the computer?s power switch in the "off " position and disconnect the AC power cord.
   
   
2. Remove the computer?s top cover following the instructions in the model-specific owner?s manual.
   
   
3. Before touching any electronic components, make sure you first touch an unpainted, grounded metal object to discharge any static electricity stored on your clothing or body.
   
   
4. Locate the memory expansion sockets on the computer?s motherboard. If all the sockets are full, remove smaller capacity modules to allow room for higher capacity modules.
   
   
5. Handle your new module(s) carefully; do not flex or bend the module(s). Always grasp the module by its edges.
   
   
6. For some installations, DIMM memory can be installed in any available expansion slot. Other installations may require the memory to be installed in a particular sequence based on the modules capacity. Check your owner?s manual to determine the correct installation sequence for your configuration.
   
   
   • Insert the module into an available expansion socket. Note how the module is keyed to the socket. This ensures the module can be plugged into the socket one way only. Firmly press the module into position, making certain the module is completely seated in the socket. Repeat this procedure for any additional modules you are installing.
     
     
   • Most 168-pin DIMM modules have ejector tabs. The ejector tabs are used only when you need to remove a module. By pressing down on the ejector tabs, the module will pop-up from the socket and it can be removed.

   

   
   
   

7. Once the module(s) have been installed, the computer?s top cover can be reinstalled.
   
   
8. Plug in the AC power cord and reinstall any cables disconnected during the installation process.
   
   
9. Turn on the computer and follow the instructions in your computer owner?s manual that describe the steps necessary to allow your computer to recognize the newly installed memory.

How do I… Install and configure Windows Server 2008 core?

With the imminent launch of Microsoft Windows Server 2008 coming on February 27, 2008, I want to show you a feature I am fond of in this new operating system. With Windows Server 2008, you have the option of performing a Windows Server Core installation, which provides you with the minimum set of tools to run Windows.

You are provided with a kernel and a command line to manage the server. It is slim and bare bones and allows you to configure Windows concisely. This type of installation is perfect for a datacenter. I am really excited about this feature.

This blog post is also available as a TechRepublic gallery and TechRepublic download.

Installation

When you first run through the installation of Windows Server 2008, you have two options for installation. They are:

• Windows Server 2008 Enterprise (Full Installation)
• Windows Server 2008 Enterprise (Server Core Installation)

The following eight screen shots (Figures A-H) walk you through the installation of Windows Server Core which took approximately ten minutes to install.

Figure A

Figure B

Figure C

Figure D

Figure E

Figure F

Figure G

Figure H

After the installation, the main window for your new installation appears and you are ready to login as shown in Figure I. The initial login is Administrator and blank password (Figure J). You are required to change the password and set an Administrator password on initial login.

Figure I

Figure J

Now that you are logged in (Figure K), you are ready to configure the date, time, and time zone. In the command line type the following: controltimedate.cpl and set the options accordingly (Figure L).

Figure K

Figure L

If you need to configure and change the keyboard layout and settings, type the following in the command window: control intl.cpl (Figure M).

Figure M

Let’s move on and change the server name. The default name is a bunch of random letters and numbers and I would like to change the name to a local standard. You can view the current hostname by typing the following:

c:windowssystem32hostname

Now let’s use the name ssw-svr15. We will perform this option in the command line (Figure O) by typing the following:

c:windowssystem32netdom renamecomputer %computername% /NewName:ssw-svr15

Figure N

After choosing to proceed, the task completes successfully. You now need to reboot the server using the shutdown command. For the proper syntax, type:

shutdown /?

After reviewing the syntax, (Figure N) I will type the following: shutdown /r (switch for shutting down and restarting the computer) /t 10 (wait 10 seconds to shutdown and restart) /c “Changed Server Name” (add comment of max 512 characters). They total syntax will look as follows:

shutdown /r  /T 10 /C "Changed Server Name"

Figure O

Let’s now configure our networking so we can join this server to a domain. In order to see what interface you have to configure, (Figure P) type

netsh interface ipv4 show interface

Figure P

The Local Area Connection that we are going to configure has an index value of two. Let’s proceed and configure TCP/IP for this connection. (Figure Q) Type the following command to set the TCP/IP information:

netsh interface ipv4 set address name="2" source=static address=192.168.1.199 mask=255.255.255.0 gateway=192.168.1.1

Figure Q

Follow the same example to configure DNS (Figure R):

netsh interface ipv4 add dnsserver name="2" address=192.168.1.1 index=1

Figure R

If you type ipconfig /all, you will see the newly added information (Figure S).

Figure S

Let’s join it to a domain! In order to perform this function, we will take advantage of the netdom.exe. (Figure T) The syntax is as follows:

netdom join ssw-svr15 /domain:watchtower /userd:Administrator /passwordD:Password01

Note: Do not forget to reboot the server using the following command:

shutdown /r  /T 10 /C "Added to domain"

Figure T

As a final step, we should not forget to activate the server (Figure U) by typing the following:

slmgr.vbs -ato

Figure U

This doesn’t even scratch the surface of what you can do with a Windows Server Core installation but it begins to show you how powerful command line is with a small Windows kernel. With the popularity of virtualization and server consolidation, having the ability to virtualize a server core installation and attach a single role will become very popular with the datacenter. My next test will be to try to install Virtual Server on my server core installation. Wish me luck!