1. Downloading the Installer

1. Visit the official MSPControl download page: https://mspcontrol.org/downloads/.
2. Select the MSPControl Windows Installer 3.1 link to download the installer.
   • Note: The file size may vary depending on the version. Ensure you have sufficient disk space.
     
     
     

2. Launching the Installer

1. Navigate to the downloaded file (MSPControlSetup-3.X.X.exe) and double-click to launch the setup wizard.
2. The welcome screen will appear:
   • Action: Click Next to proceed.

3. Accepting the License Agreement

1. Review the end-user license agreement carefully.
2. To continue:
   • Check the box “I accept the terms in the License Agreement.”
   • Click Next.

4. Selecting Installation Type

The installer provides the following setup types. Choose the appropriate option based on your requirements:

• Basic Setup:
  • Includes core MSPControl components for essential operations.
  • Ideal for a simple setup to get started.
• Advanced Setup:
  • Adds advanced features, including the End-User Portal.
  • Suitable for environments requiring multi-user management.
• Managed Server:
  • Designed for remote installations to configure a managed server within MSPControl.
• Action: Select the desired setup type and click Next.

 

5. Customizing Installation Components

The following components are available for selection during installation. Enable the ones required for your configuration:

• Enterprise Server:
  • Central management and hosting data storage.
• Portal:
  • A web-based control panel for managing hosting services.
• Scheduler Service:
  • Automates recurring tasks, including report generation and server maintenance.
• Server:
  • Manages server-level resources such as users, services, and databases.
• End-User Portal:
  • Provides a user-friendly interface for end-users to manage their information.
• Legacy Portal:
  • Ensures compatibility with older server configurations (e.g., Exchange, DNS services).

Action: Select the components you want to install and click Next.

6. Prerequisites Check

Before proceeding with the setup, the installer will check for the necessary prerequisites. These are critical for MSPControl to function correctly. The requirements include:

• ASP.NET 8.0.7 – Hosting Bundle
• Microsoft ASP.NET
• Microsoft .NET Framework 4.8
• URL Rewrite Module 2.0 for IIS
• Visual C++ Redistributable 2015 or later
• Web Server (IIS)

The setup will not proceed until all the required components are installed.

Prerequisite Screen Example:

• Action: If any prerequisites are missing, install them and restart the setup.

7. Configuration for Components

For each component (except Scheduler Service), the installer includes configuration for web settings and security. Here’s an overview:

Web Settings Configuration (All Components Except Scheduler Service)

• You will be prompted to specify configuration details for web services. These settings are uniform across all components.

Security Settings (Common Across All Components)

The security settings allow you to create or choose a Windows user account for anonymous access and application pool identity. Options include:

1. Create New Account: Set up a new account for MSPControl.
2. Choose Existing Account: Use an existing Windows user account.

• Tip: If using Active Directory, check the option “Create Active Directory Account.”
  
  

8. Enterprise Server and MS SQL Configuration

The Enterprise Server component connects to the MS SQL database. Key steps include:

1. Set SQL Encryption:
   • Define a strong SQL Encryption Recovery password. 
2. Configure Database Connection:
   • Enter the SQL Server details, including:
     • Server Name
     • Authentication Type
     • Login Name
     • Password
     • Database Name
   • Test the connection before proceeding. The setup will not continue without a successful test.

9. Ready to Install

Once all configurations are completed, the installer will display a summary of the components to be installed, such as:

• Copying MSPControl Server files
• Adding MSPControl Server websites
• Installing Scheduler Service Windows Service

Final Installation Screen:

• Action: Click Install to proceed with the installation.

10. Completing the Installation

Once the installation process is finished, the following screen will appear:

1. To view the installation log, check the box “Open installation log file.” (optional).
2. Click Finish to exit the setup wizard.

At this stage, MSPControl has been successfully installed, and you can proceed to further configuration and usage.