Installation & Upgrade Guide
From a clean installation to safe updates, backups, and troubleshooting. Follow the path that matches your situation. The exact installer and upgrade filenames can vary by release; always follow the instructions supplied with your downloaded package.
Visit the official communityBefore you begin
StreamWave Community Suite is PHP-based forum software using SQLite for its community database. A standard web-hosting account with cPanel File Manager is a convenient installation method.
- Choose the domain or subfolder where the community will live.
- Obtain the current official Community Suite release ZIP and its included instructions.
- Confirm your hosting supports the PHP version and extensions required by that specific release, including SQLite/PDO SQLite.
- Confirm you can access cPanel File Manager and your domain's document root.
- Have your community name, administrator credentials, logo and branding ready.
- Obtain your FREE StreamWave Community Suite license key from the Customer Portal at the StreamWave Customer Portal before starting installation.
Clean installation: start to finish
- Download the current official release.
Get the latest complete StreamWave Community Suite distribution from the official community or release listing. Verify the version and read the package's included README/install instructions.
- Get your FREE license key from the Customer Portal.
Visit StreamWave Customer Portal, sign in or create your customer account, and open the FREE license section. Obtain your FREE StreamWave Community Suite license key and keep it ready for the installer. Use the license issued to your account; do not share the key publicly.
Required: Obtain your FREE license key before running the Community Suite installer. Get your FREE license key directly from the Customer Portal; it does not come from the Themes or Add-ons galleries. - Prepare the domain.
In cPanel, confirm the intended domain or subdomain is configured and HTTPS works. Open File Manager and locate its actual document root, usually
public_htmlfor a primary domain. - Upload the ZIP.
Upload the official installation ZIP into the intended document root. Use File Manager's Extract option, then confirm the application entry files are in the document root (or the subfolder you intentionally chose), not trapped inside an extra nested ZIP folder.
- Review file locations and permissions.
Follow the release's instructions for writable storage, uploads and SQLite database placement. Keep private storage protected. Do not apply blanket
777permissions. - Run the included installer.
Visit the installation URL documented by your release package in your browser. Complete its setup screens, including site name, base URL, administrator account, your FREE Customer Portal license key, and any other required settings. Do not guess an installer filename if the package documents a different one.
- Finish setup securely.
Follow the installer completion instructions for removing or disabling installer access. Confirm the main forum page, login, registration, theme and administrator dashboard load normally over HTTPS.
- Configure your community.
Set your default theme, logo, navigation, community categories, member permissions, notifications and email settings. Community Credits are part of the core Suite; optional games and enhancements are separate add-ons.
- Install optional add-ons and themes.
Use the Suite's supported add-on/theme installation workflow. Add only packages compatible with your installed Suite version, then verify their forum and administrator links.
- Launch and verify.
Test as both an administrator and a logged-out visitor. Confirm registration, topic posting, attachments, navigation, theme assets and HTTPS work before inviting members.
Upgrade an existing installation
- Check your license in the Customer Portal.
Sign in at the StreamWave Customer Portal and confirm that your FREE StreamWave Community Suite license key is available. Keep it handy if the upgrade process requests license verification.
- Read the target release notes.
Confirm that the new version supports upgrading from your current version. Check any special migration steps, changed requirements or incompatible add-ons.
- Take a complete backup.
In cPanel File Manager, download a backup of the existing application files and all relevant private storage, including the SQLite database and uploaded assets. Keep the backup outside the public website. SQLite backups should be taken consistently; use the supported backup method if the site is actively writing to the database.
- Identify your installed customizations.
Record active themes, installed add-ons, local configuration changes and any files that must not be overwritten. If possible, test the upgrade on a staging copy first.
- Upload the official upgrade package.
Use the package specifically supplied for your upgrade path. In File Manager, extract it to the location described in its instructions. Do not overwrite private configuration, database or upload directories unless the release instructions explicitly require it.
- Run required migrations.
If the release includes a browser-based upgrade or migration step, follow the documented URL and procedure. Do not skip a required database migration.
- Recheck add-ons and themes.
Upgrade incompatible add-ons using their supported in-place update workflow. Confirm the active default theme, page backgrounds, sidebar widgets and navigation remain intact.
- Verify and monitor.
Check administrator login, member login, discussions, messages, Community Credits, marketplace resources, uploads, and any scheduled jobs. Confirm public pages render correctly in a private browser window.
Installing and upgrading add-ons & themes
Browse the official galleries to find products, confirm their compatibility, and obtain their release files.
- New add-on: Follow the package's installer instructions, then check its member-facing page, permissions, admin settings and navigation.
- Add-on upgrade: Apply the update over the existing installation using the supported upgrade method. Do not uninstall first if doing so could delete saved data.
- New theme: Install the complete theme package and select it in the Suite's theme settings.
- Theme upgrade: Keep your current theme settings and verify colors, backgrounds, icons, widgets and mobile layouts after updating.
Backups, rollback & safety
- Keep a backup from immediately before every upgrade, plus periodic off-site copies.
- Back up the SQLite database and uploaded files as well as the PHP application files.
- If an upgrade fails, stop making additional changes and restore a matching set of files and database from the same backup point.
- Do not restore only old PHP files against a migrated database unless the release documentation confirms that rollback is supported.
- Test restored access, member content, themes and installed add-ons before reopening the site.
Common installation problems
Blank page or HTTP 500
Check the installed package's required PHP version/extensions, incomplete uploads, missing included files and configuration paths. Restore the last working backup if an update caused the issue.
Installer redirects to the wrong domain
Verify the configured site/base URL, the actual domain document root, and any application rewrite rules. Subfolder installations must use the correct subfolder-aware base URL.
Theme or images are missing
Verify that the complete theme asset folders were uploaded and that CSS/image URLs resolve on the correct domain. Check the default theme while logged out.
SQLite or permissions error
Confirm that the database location exists, is writable by PHP where required, and is not publicly exposed. Avoid broad file permissions.
Add-on page says invalid path
Confirm that the installed add-on ZIP is complete and that the add-on manifest points to an existing entry file.
Go-live checklist
- HTTPS loads without mixed-content warnings.
- Administrator login and member registration work.
- The FREE Customer Portal license key has been obtained and entered wherever required by the installer.
- Forum categories, topics, replies and messages work.
- Default theme renders correctly for logged-out visitors.
- Community Credits and member permissions work.
- Uploads, images and resource links resolve.
- Scheduled tasks, if required by installed features, are configured.
- Recent, restorable backups are stored securely.