Installing a sample site

This topic describes how to install an Optimizely CMS sample site, so you can try out the user interface and API features and learn more about how Optimizely CMS works.

Installing Optimizely CMS is easy! Inform yourself about the prerequisites and follow the steps 1-7 under Installing CMS, to create an MVC-based sample site with the Alloy templates. You can also watch the Optimizely installation video to see how it is done.

About the Alloy MVC sample site

The sample site is a local installation running on IIS Express. This is indicated by the port number which will be something like "localhost:NNNN". The Alloy-MVC site uses ASP.NET identity, which is why you will be prompted to create a local administrator account when building and opening the site in a browser.

The sample site depicts a fictional company "Alloy", with a set of example templates illustrating typical functions that exist on most websites. Continue to Basic editing, to explore the sample site and learn the basics about editing in Optimizely CMS.

Note: Usually when exploring Alloy and playing around with your first sites, you do that locally. When working locally, there is no need to set up IIS. However, when you start working on production sites, you need to move from IIS Express to IIS and that requires some configuration of the IIS. Also, you don't need a license until you start using IIS.

Add-ons

Install add-ons on existing site

To install add-ons to an existing Optimizely CMS site with the Alloy templates, do the installation in the following order:

1. Copy all configuration files from the <YourSiteRoot>/[Configuration]/EPiServer/ to the site root folder.
2. Install all required add-ons (Forms, A/B testing etc).
3. Copy back all configuration files from the site root folder to the <YourSiteRoot>/[Configuration]/EPiServer/.
4. Rebuild the Alloy templates project.

Install add-ons on new site

To install add-ons on a new Optimizely CMS site together with the Alloy templates, do the installation in the following order:

1. Install an empty Optimizely CMS site.
2. Install all required add-ons (Forms, A/B testing etc).
3. Install the Alloy templates.

Next steps

Last updated: Oct 19, 2021