Installing the Ares Server

The Ares Server installation file is downloaded from the Atlas Systems web pages and is run on your Ares Server. This file will install the Ares Server which includes the Ares database, services, and other files. These will install automatically upon running the Ares server installation file.

Obtaining the Ares Server Installation File

Ares 5.0 Installer

Ares Server Installer Version (5.0.18)

Client Installations

Note that the Ares Client Installer is available on the Ares Downloads page.

Installing the Server

1. Locate the Ares Server Installer file AresServerSetup.msi for the correct version using the links above.
2. Enter the username and password provided by Atlas Systems and click OK.
3. The default download location for the file is the server desktop. Click Save. The file will download to your desktop.
4. When the download is complete, select Close and begin the installation.

Installing the Ares Server Files

Once you have downloaded the AresServerSetup.msi file to your Ares Server desktop, you will need to install the Ares Server files:

1. Double-click the AresServerSetup.msi icon to run the server installer. 
2. The Ares Server Setup Wizard screen will open. Click Next to begin the installation.

3. Enter the installation location for the Ares Server. The default location is C:\Ares\:

   

4. Click Next.
5. On the Ares Database Information screen, enter the following information:
   • Database Server: Enter the address for the database server. The default address is 127.0.0.1. This is the IP address or URL of the SQL server to be used by the Ares software. The Ares web application, supporting applications, and all clients will need to be able to connect to your SQL server. 
   • Database Name: Enter the Ares database name. The default Ares database name is AresData. This is what the SQL database will be named when it is created by the installer. If a database already exists for Ares, the installer still needs to know the name of the existing database to properly configure the components being installed. 
   • Ares Database File Path: This will be the directory location for the Ares database and SQL backup files. If the database is located on a remote server, the folder must already be created and the address must be the local path to the SQL server. The default is C:\AresData\.
   • Local Database?: Select Yes or No based on whether the SQL server is located on this machine.

   • Connect using: Select the database authentication method (Windows or SQL Server Authentication), then complete the Database Username and Database Password fields below. This is the Login ID and Password to the SQL server where the Ares database is or should be installed. The Login ID entered must have sufficient permissions to create and modify both users and tables. The default database username is sa.

     If Windows Authentication is chosen, the Database Username and Database Password fields will be disabled and the currently logged-in Windows account will be used to connect to the database.

   

6. Click Next
7. On the Ares Database User Information screen, enter the Ares database username and Ares database password:
   • These fields allow the server administrator to specify the database user account credentials used to access the Ares database (e.g., the account credentials that can be specified in SAM) so that custom account names and passwords can be used for Ares as a security measure, without having to manually run modified versions of the standard install scripts. The default username is ares. If you leave the password field blank, it will use the default Ares password. See Ares 5.0 Server Installer Database Configuration for more information on setting these values.

   

8. Click Next.
9. On the Ares Web Server Information screen, enter the following information:
   • Enter the web address for the Ares server: The default address is 127.0.0.1. This is the IP address or URL of the SQL server to be used by the Ares software. The Ares web application, supporting applications, and all clients will need to be able to connect to your SQL server. 
   • Select the location of the Ares web template files: The directory where the Ares web pages are located. The default directory is C:\Ares\Web\WebPages\. 
   • Select the Ares Docs Path: The default directory for the Ares Docs is c:\Ares\AresDocs\. This is the location for electronic documents on the web server and will be the largest folder used by Ares. Be sure to place it on a drive with adequate space.
   • Specify the IIS Parent Site Name for Ares: This defaults to "Default Web Site."
   
10. Click Next.
11. The installation setup wizard is prepared to install your Ares Server software. During the install process, a setup status screen will show the wizard installing the Ares Server, web pages, services, database, etc. Click Install to begin the installation.
12. When the installation is complete, click Finish to exit the setup wizard.

Installing the Ares Client on the Server

If you want to install the Ares Client, Customization Manager, Staff Manager, etc. on your Ares Server, you will need to run the Ares Client installer.

See Installing the Ares Client for instructions.