At a glance
| Item | Needed |
|---|---|
| PHP | 8.2 or newer |
| PHP extensions | mysqli, json, curl, openssl, sodium, zip, gd |
| Database | MariaDB 10.2.7 or newer (recommended), or MySQL 8.0.13 or newer |
| Web server | Apache or LiteSpeed with .htaccess, or nginx |
| Address | The root of a domain or subdomain, for example shop.example.com, not a subfolder |
| HTTPS | An SSL certificate on that domain |
| Outgoing connections | HTTPS to api.startmymarketplace.com and license.startmymarketplace.com |
| Scheduled task | One cron line that runs every minute |
PHP and extensions
PrizeX needs PHP 8.2 or newer with these extensions: mysqli, json, curl, openssl, sodium, zip and gd. Sodium signs and verifies your licence, zip installs plugins and themes, and gd redraws uploaded images so they're safe to show.
The setup wizard doesn't check these two. Without zip it can't install your add-ons and themes at its last step, and without gd image uploads fail. In cPanel, make sure both are ticked under Select PHP Version.
The wizard also gives a warning, without stopping you, if your PHP build is missing recent security fixes.
Database
Create an empty database and a user with full rights on it before you start. The wizard asks for the host (usually localhost), the database name, the username and the password. If the user is allowed to create databases, the wizard can create it for you.
Supported: MariaDB 10.2.7+ (recommended) or MySQL 8.0.13+. An older server is refused. Other MySQL-compatible servers get a warning and you can try them.
Folders that must be writable
The web server's user must be able to write to these, usually with permission 755:
- the site folder itself (for the
.envsettings file) plugins/,assets/themes/,images/andstorage/- PHP's temporary folder
After installing, PrizeX moves its private files (settings, licence, backups and logs) to a prizex_private folder outside your web root when it can, so they can't be downloaded. Admin Security Logs Server check shows where they are.
Web server
Apache or LiteSpeed
Use the .htaccess file that comes in the zip. It holds the rules that send every page address to the store. If it's missing, plugin pages answer "not found", and the wizard warns you at step 1.
nginx
Use the nginx.conf.example file from the zip as your site's server block, and keep its @px_media rule if you store images elsewhere.
HTTPS
Turn on SSL for the domain at your host first. To send every http:// visit to https://, uncomment the redirect lines near the top of .htaccess.
Domain
Install PrizeX at the root of a domain or subdomain: example.com or shop.example.com. A subfolder such as example.com/shop is refused. Each website, including each subdomain, takes one place on your licence. See Licences and domains.
Outgoing connections
Your server must be able to reach WowCodes' licence server over HTTPS, at api.startmymarketplace.com and license.startmymarketplace.com. The wizard uses it to check your purchase key and download your add-ons, and the admin uses it for updates. If your host blocks outgoing connections, the licence step says so.
Scheduled task (cron)
PrizeX needs one cron line that runs every minute. It ends auctions and draws on time, sends emails and pays out sellers. You add it after installing; First setup shows how.
* * * * * php /path/to/your/site/cron/dispatch.php >/dev/null 2>&1What you don't need
- Composer or the command line: all libraries are in the zip.
- Node.js or a build step.
- Redis, a queue server or a WebSocket server. Live bidding can use a WebSocket server if you have one; without one, pages check for new bids by themselves.
Something wrong or unclear on this page? Tell us at [email protected], or see how to get help.