Helm 3.2 Pre Installation Guide:-
The Helm Web Hosting Control System is an extremely powerful hosting automation solution for Windows 2000 and Windows .NET servers. Helm is developed by WebHost Automation Ltd, a United Kingdom-based corporation.
1)Supported Windows Operating Systems
Helm supports the following Windows Server operating systems:
• Windows Server™ 2003, Standard Edition
• Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition
• Windows Server 2003, Web Edition
• Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition
• Windows 2000 Server
• Windows 2000 Advanced Server
• Windows 2000 Datacenter Server
Please ensure one of the above server operating systems is installed prior to installing Helm.
2)Shared Root Drive
Helm (and a lot of other Windows applications) need to have the C: drive in Windows available. Do NOT change the drive letter from C: as this will cause issues. You can install Helm on any other drive on the same server, but there must always be a C: drive available on that server.
Also, the Default Share must be available on the folder
You also need to make sure you repeat this with ANY remote server you want Helm to control. For example, if you have a remote web server on which you are going to store domains on the D: drive, then you will need to make sure that the default share of the D: drive is enabled.
3)File and Print Sharing
Helm needs the server to have File and Print Sharing enabled in order to contact certain services.
1.) To make sure this is enabled, go to
Start > Control Panel > Network Connections
2.) Right click your active network connection and choose Properties.
3.) In the new window that opens, make sure that the File and Print Sharing box is checked:
4)Remote Registry Service
The Remote Registry Service needs to be enabled on the control server, and any remote server you will be using with Helm.
1.) To do this, go to:
Start > Programs > Administrative Tools > Services.
2.) Scroll down until you see Remote Registry Service :
Helm 3.2 Step by Step Guide : -
As you should know that Parallel Helm is webhosting software only runs on windows plateform. Helm 3.2 runns perfectly on Windows 2003 Server where as Helm 4 is supported with Windows 2008 Server. Helm is not a free, you have to purchase it. There are two things in Hosting Setup Environment.
1) Helm Server
2) Helm Client
On Server we will install Helm Control Server Package and On Client we will install Helm Remote Server Package. Your can install Helm in virtual environment in my setup i am running it in VMware. Interesting thing is that for Control Server and Remote Server the installer is same. For better understanding see the images below.
Click on "Helm Control Server" for installing helm server other wise click on "Helm Remote Server"
Helm Control Server:-
For preparing Helm Control Server install the following softwares.
- Windows 2003 Enterprise Server
- Windows Security Update
- Antivirus AVG 2011 is the best.
- Install Anti-Malware.
- Microsoft SQL Server for storing Helm Database.
- Helm Control Server.
During Helm Control Server installation it will ask you where you want to store helm database, point it to MSSQL Server.
After installing the helm control server you can access it by typing URL in your browser.
http://127.0.0.1:8086 . Helm application work on port 8086 you can go to IIS Manager and there you will find that during helm installation helm install a website automaticaly in IIS server. For running Helm application its important to activate ASP on your server. If you face any problem while installing and running helm application just inform me at "
usmanabrar@gmail.com" i will help you out.
Adding Servers
After installing helm Server you will need to add Servers.
Remember to add servers using local addresses, because helm control server and client server communicate on local addresses.
Add IP Address of Server
Once You add server in helm admin interface secondly you will add IP's by clicking on "IP Address Manager" icon showing in above image.
Web Service (IIS)
Firstly, a web service will be added. Choose Add Service, and you will be asked to choose a name for your service, and the service type. Here, "Default Web Service" is chosen, and the IIS 6.0 web service is selected from the dropdown box. Note:- IIS 6.0 is needed for Windows 2003 machines, whilst Windows 2000 machines need to choose the IIS 5.0 service
Click Next, and you will be prompted to configure the web service further. An explanation of each editable field is below
Physical Root Path:- Here you can specify the location you wish to store your resellers’’ domains – simply change the path to suit your needs.
IP Address:- You can specify the IP address that you want the web service to use here. You can host domains on this IP which is shared, and also offer dedicated IPs to domains if you have them available, and wish to do so.
FP Admin Username/Password/Port:- If you are offering FrontPage Extensions to your resellers, you can set up the details here, as specified elsewhere in this guide.
Maximum Domains:- You can limit the number of domains created on a server using this field.
Web Farm:- You can add domains to a web farm using this option. However, you should only use this option if you are familiar with web farms as the setup involving web farming can become quite complex. If you are unsure, choose "Do not add to web farm".
Once you have configured the services you want, click Next to confirm and then Next again to return to the main Services screen.
FTP Service
The next service to be added is the FTP Service. Similar to the first service, choose Add Service and then enter a relevant name (in this case, "Default FTP Service") and the FTP server software you are using. In this example, Microsoft FTP is chosen. Click Next, and you will be prompted to configure the web service further. An explanation of each editable field is below.
Add Resources in Helm
This is time to add resources which your servers contain.
Helm Remote Server : -
For preparing Helm Remote Server install the following software.
Windows 2003 Enterprise Server
Windows Security Update
Antivirus AVG 2011 is the best.
Install Anti-Malware.
Helm Remote Server installer
For Helm Remote Server just use the installation package downloaded from Parallel official site and intall it.
During installation just chose the option "Helm Remote Server" and the Wizard will do everthing for you automatically.
Note : Remember to allow everything between helm control server and remote server in your firewall.
After installing Helm Remote server, whatever service you want to give to your customer you have to install that software on remote server. For example if you want provide email hosting service then install Merak Mail , hMail , Or Smarter Mail which ever helm support.
If you have any question or need any detail please let me know by your posting so that i could have chance to describe it more precisely and in depth.
