This page contains instructions for using the Windows Evaluation Installer for Confluence Standalone.

On this page:

1. Before you Begin

Please read the following before you begin:

• This evaluation installer should work on most recent computer hardware running Windows. However, for more information, please refer to our Supported Platforms topic and for further details, our System Requirements topic.
• Have your Confluence license key ready. You can obtain a trial, free or commercial license now, or retrieve your existing license key.
• Note that the Windows Evaluation Installer version has only been tested for evaluation purposes. If you wish to set up a production (permanent) instance of Confluence, please use one of the other Confluence packages.

With those conditions satisfied, please continue on to Step 2.

2. Install a Java Development Kit (JDK)

Please refer to the Installing Sun JDK for Confluence topic for details on installing a JDK for Confluence. If you are certain that this has already been installed and that the JAVA_HOME environment variable has been correctly configured, then proceed to the next step.

3. Download and Run the Confluence Windows Evaluation Installer

Follow these steps to download and run the Windows evaluation installer and application for Confluence:

1. Download the Windows evaluation installer if you have not already done so. Select the file labelled 'Confluence x.x.x - One-Click Evaluation Installer (EXE)' with the following filename:

   confluence-x.x.x-evaluation.exe

   'x.x.x' represents the version of Confluence that will be installed. (You may only see two version numbers separated by a single decimal point.)
   If you are on the Download page and cannot see the installer, click 'Show All', then the 'Windows' tab.
2. Save the downloaded file onto your computer.
3. When the download has finished, start the Confluence Windows Evaluation Installer by opening the file you have just downloaded.
   If you see an 'Open File - Security Warning' message, proceed with running the installer (for example, by clicking 'Run'), which starts the 'Setup Wizard'.
4. Proceed through each step of the 'Setup Wizard', using the default options at each step (unless you wish to modify the installation location and Windows Start Menu folder options).
5. At the last step of the 'Setup Wizard', leave the 'Launch Confluence' option selected and click the 'Finish' button.

You can also start Confluence via the Windows 'Start' -> '(All) Programs' folder, by selecting the 'Confluence Evaluation x.x.x' folder and choosing the 'Confluence x.x.x Evaluation' menu item.

Screenshot: Setup Wizard - Last Step

4. Wait while the Confluence Evaluation Application Sets Up Confluence

Upon starting the Confluence Evaluation application, the 'Confluence Evaluation' dialog box opens and indicates 'Starting'. During this time, the application installs and sets up Confluence for its first run.

Screenshot: Confluence Evaluation Application – Initial Setup

You will have a short wait while the Confluence Evaluation application installs its files (a process that should take no more than a few minutes to complete).

You can view the Confluence log at any time by clicking the 'View Log' button. This opens the contents of the Confluence log in a separate window.

Screenshot: Confluence Evaluation Application – Confluence Log Window

Viewing the Confluence Evaluation application's log during the installation phase shows the progress of the installation process. It also shows the usual activities logged while Confluence is being used.

5. Run and Configure Confluence

Once the installation is complete, the 'Confluence Evaluation' dialog box indicates 'Now Running'.

Screenshot: Confluence Evaluation Application – Ready to Run Confluence

The dialog box indicates the web address of your Confluence Evaluation installation. Clicking on this link or on the 'Open Browser' button opens Confluence (at this address) directly in your web browser. If your web browser is already open, Confluence will be opened in a new tab.

By default, the Confluence Evaluation application sets itself up to launch from your local computer's network address. You can share the URL shown in the window with people on your local network to allow them to access your instance of Confluence.

You must leave the Confluence Evaluation application's dialog box open to keep Confluence running. You should only close this dialog box or click the 'Exit' button when you have completely finished using Confluence.

Confluence installation is now complete! You can now move on to configuration, covered below in Step 6.

If you restart your computer (or close the 'Confluence Evaluation' dialog box) and later want to run Confluence again, simply open the Confluence x.x.x Evaluation menu item from the Windows Start menu (end of section 2 above) and wait until the 'Confluence Evaluation' dialog box indicates 'Now Running'. The wait will be shorter than the first time as the Confluence Evaluation application's files will have already been installed and it is only the start-up phase that needs to execute.

6. Follow the Confluence Setup Wizard

Now that you have started Confluence, the Confluence Setup Wizard should appear in your web browser, prompting you to enter your license key. Follow the instructions on the setup screens. If you like, you can also read the guide to the Confluence Setup Wizard.

Reinstalling Confluence

If you'd like to start the installation process over again, you need to clear out the existing configuration files and data. These are typically found in the documents and settings directory of the user running Confluence. To clear out your data and start over again

1. Stop Confluence.
2. Uninstall the evaluation edition from the Windows control panel.
3. Remove or rename the settings directory, which should be stored somewhere like:

   C:\Documents and Settings\{USERNAME}\Application Data\Atlassian Evaluation\work\confluence\3.2\confluence-home

4. Install the evaluation edition again.

If you encounter any errors, check the installation FAQ.

Instructions for Other Distributions

• If you want to install an EAR/WAR distribution for deployment on your own existing application server, please refer to the Installing the Confluence EAR-WAR Edition.
  • If you want to install Confluence Standalone on a Windows-based system using the zip file for evaluation or production purposes, please refer to Installing Confluence Standalone on Windows from Zip File.
• If you wanted to install Confluence Standalone on a Unix-based system, please refer to Installing Confluence Standalone on UNIX or Linux.
• If you wanted to install Confluence Standalone on a Mac OS X-based system:
  • Using the simplified installer for evaluation purposes, please refer to Installing Confluence Standalone Using the Mac OS X Evaluation Installer.
  • Using the zip file for evaluation or production purposes, please refer to Installing Confluence Standalone on Mac OS X from Zip File.

Support

If you have trouble using the Windows Evaluation Installer, please raise an issue in our online support system under the Confluence project.