What You Need Before You Start

Before installing DataLife Engine, make sure your hosting environment meets the minimum requirements. DLE is a PHP/MySQL-based CMS, so you'll need:

  • PHP 7.4 or higher (PHP 8.x recommended)
  • MySQL 5.6+ or MariaDB 10.x
  • A web server: Apache (with mod_rewrite) or Nginx
  • FTP access to your server or a file manager via hosting control panel
  • A domain name pointed to your server

Also have your database credentials ready: hostname, database name, username, and password. Most shared hosting providers allow you to create a MySQL database from within cPanel or DirectAdmin.

Step 1: Download DataLife Engine

Get the latest version of DLE from the official website (dle-news.ru). You'll receive a .zip archive containing all core files. Make sure you download the version that matches your server's PHP version.

Step 2: Create a Database

Log in to your hosting control panel and navigate to the MySQL Databases section. Create a new database (e.g., dle_db), create a database user with a strong password, and assign the user to the database with All Privileges. Note down these credentials — you'll need them in the installer.

Step 3: Upload DLE Files to Your Server

  1. Extract the downloaded archive on your local machine.
  2. Connect to your server via FTP (using FileZilla or similar).
  3. Upload the contents of the upload/ folder to your web root (usually public_html/ or www/).
  4. Make sure all files transferred completely — the full package includes several hundred files.

Step 4: Set File Permissions

Some directories need write permissions for DLE to function correctly. Set the following folders to permission 777 (or 755 with correct ownership):

  • /engine/data/
  • /uploads/
  • /templates/
  • /backup/
  • /cache/

You can change permissions via your FTP client (right-click → File Permissions) or through the hosting file manager.

Step 5: Run the Web Installer

Open your browser and navigate to http://yourdomain.com/install/. The DLE installation wizard will launch. Follow these steps:

  1. License Agreement — Read and accept the DLE license terms.
  2. System Check — The installer verifies PHP version, MySQL connection, and folder permissions. Fix any red warnings before proceeding.
  3. Database Configuration — Enter your database hostname, name, username, password, and a table prefix (default: dle_).
  4. Site Settings — Set your site name, admin username, admin password, and admin email.
  5. Complete Installation — Click finish. DLE will create all necessary database tables.

Step 6: Delete the Install Folder

This step is critical for security. After installation is complete, delete the /install/ directory from your server immediately. Leaving it accessible could allow anyone to reinstall DLE and overwrite your database.

Step 7: First Login & Basic Configuration

Log in to your admin panel at http://yourdomain.com/admin.php using the credentials you set during installation. From here, you should:

  • Go to Settings → Main Settings and configure your site's timezone, language, and URL structure.
  • Enable SEO-friendly URLs under Settings → SEO Settings and upload the included .htaccess file to your web root.
  • Create your first categories under Categories.
  • Choose or install a template under Design & Themes.

Troubleshooting Common Installation Issues

Blank white screen after upload: Usually a PHP error. Enable error display temporarily or check your server's error log.

"Table already exists" errors: A previous incomplete install left tables behind. Drop all dle_ prefixed tables in phpMyAdmin and restart.

403 Forbidden on admin panel: Check that your .htaccess file uploaded correctly and mod_rewrite is enabled on Apache.