GeoNetwork opensource V2.6.4 SNAPSHOT Date: 24-5-2011

GeoNetwork opensource - Getting started

Running the application

GeoNetwork opensource is a web based Spatial Data Catalog. To use it you first have to start the
embedded web server.

On Windows, navigate to the GeoNetwork opensource folder in the start-menu that was created during
installation and launch "Start server". You can then open the GeoNetwork application in your
browser.

By default this should be at http://localhost:8080/geonetwork

IMPORTANT!! After opening the GeoNetwork homepage, log on as Administrator. You should use the
username admin and password admin. In the Administration section you can then modify your account.

Online documentation is available from the GeoNetwork homepage. Select Help from the menu bar. A
link to the printable PDF version can be found at the bottom of the help page.

You can also start the Jetty webserver of GeoNetwork using the scripts located into the
$INSTALL_PATH/bin directory.

On a Windows platform they are:
  * start-geonetwork.bat
  * stop-geonetwork.bat

On a Linux or OSX platform they are:
  * start-geonetwork.sh
  * stop-geonetwork.sh

Note: A Java Runtime Environment (JRE) 1.5.0 Standard Edition (download from http://java.sun.com)
is required to run GeoNetwork opensource. See the Troubleshooting sections if normal installation
or start up fails.

Loading (sample) data

The catalog comes with metadata templates loaded, so you can create new metadata using the online
metadata editor.

If you want to load data and metadata, you have a number of options. These include batch import of
XML files from the local system, WebDav harvesting, direct XML insert through an online form in the
Administrative panel and by using the MEF format.

Probably the most convenient method is to use the MEF format that was specifically developed to
exchange metadata and data, preview images and basic access privileges between GeoNetwork nodes.
You can find sample MEF files in the \gast\setup\sample-data folder. The file format has been
described in Chapter 3 of the server-reference manual (in \docs\manuals\. This format will also
become available in other geospatial applications.
To import or export metadata and data into or from GeoNetwork, you have to start the GeoNetwork
Administrator Survival Tool (GAST) tool.
  * First configure your GeoNetwork connection by providing server and account details in the
Options => Config menu. Note: You require an editor or administrator account for this function to
work.
  * To load sample metadata and data, select the Sample data option in the Database section and
press Import
  * To load other MEF formatted data, select Import in the Management options. Select the folder
containing the MEF files and click on the Import button.

System configuration

Web server

The application comes with an embedded Jetty web server. You can use Jakarta Tomcat version 5.5
instead if required. You have to setup new contexts in Tomcat that point to the applications in the
web folder of the GeoNetwork installation.

Database system

GeoNetwork desktop comes with an internal DBMS server, the McKoi SQL database.

If you plan to use another DBMS you can use GAST to setup the database and migrate the content from
the McKoi embedded database. Make sure that the DBMS is already up and running with a database
schema and a user. Select the DBMS using the GAST tool. Oracle, MySQL and PostgreSQL are currently
supported. GeoNetwork uses the JDBC interface to work with the DBMS, so other DBMS systems may also
work.

You can also configure the DBMS manually, although this is more complex (See the community website
for details)

More information at http://geonetwork-opensource.org

Enjoy!