README.md Peter Hutten-Czapski, MD

Thanks for downloading Oscar - Technical Demonstration Editon

---

This version is not OntarioMD sanctioned and is DEPRECATED. It is fully functional but has limitations as listed in Security, If you want to proceed feel free, but now that there is an Ubuntu deb package that is what you should use.

An illustrated installation manual that may be more up to date than these instructions can be found at http://www.oscarmanual.org/search?SearchableText=%22Oscar+server+on+windows%22

PREREQUISITES

The following programs need to be installed first.

Java

Most any of the Sun/Oracle versions of Java will do, and you may have one already. No configuration is necessary.

MySQL

Version 5.5 of MySQL community server is available at http://dev.mysql.com/downloads/mysql/

* Select either the 32 or 64 bit MSI installer 
* Accept the defaults for a typical install.
* Accept most defaults for a standard configuration.
* Be sure to UNselect strict mode
* Be sure to provide a MySQL password when it asks for one.

Tomcat

Oscar at this time supports Tomcat 5.5 and 6 but not 7

Download the 32/64 bit service installer for Tomcat 6 http://apache.raffsoftware.com/tomcat/tomcat-6/v6.0.32/bin/apache-tomcat-6.0.32.exe

TO START OSCAR

Before you can run Oscar you have to configure Tomcat. Go to Start > Programs > Apache Tomcat > Configure Tomcat Click the Java tab and fill the memory pool boxes depending on the memory installed in your computer, 1024 1024 512 are usually fine for Initial Maximal and Stack click [Apply]

Then Go to the General Tab and Click [Start] (or if its started click [Stop] and then [Start]

When the disk drive light stops flickering Go to Start > Programs > Oscar > Oscar

Your username and passwords are written on Oscar's opening page ...oooh that can't be very secure eh?

SECURITY

This is a technical demonstration of some of Oscars features, but to ease installation some short cuts were taken.

1. The passwords used in this installation are published, and are all over the installation (unlike Linux where they would be protected). You should change the users passwords. In case you forget we have set it to expire in a month :-) so change it so you don't get locked out!
2. Tomcat is configured to provide a regular network connection. If your network has WI-FI or you are accessing your server over the internet, all the patient information is being passed in plain text. You should configure Tomcat to use the https protocols used in secure banking.
3. Backup, well there is none configured. It too should be encrypted.
4. Lab reports. While they can be manually uploaded as is, usually we configure an encrypted channel to automatically load Oscar as the labs come in.
5. Windows (TM) is not secure, its also a bad choice as most versions are crippled and will only support a 4 computer network. Why pay money for a poor operating system when you can load Oscar on a more featured, more secure OS for free? (Linux). Consider installing Linux on an encrypted disk and you will not have to worry if someone steals your server. Some people install the Oscar server on a Mac.

DRUGREF

We have installed drugref, our opensource drug database, with an older list of medications from Health Canada. You can update your list of meds by the following: Go to Start > Programs > Oscar > Update Drugref Allow for a half hour for the drugs to load. (You can safely explore Oscar while that page is loading)

MORE INFO

Navigate to the www.oscarmanual.org site for help on using any of Oscar's functions. Go to Start > Programs > Oscar > Help Manual

TROUBLESHOOTING

I did say that you need to start Tomcat to run Oscar. Unless you set Tomcat to run automatically on boot, this will have to happen each time. All installation logs are placed in C:\Program Files\Oscar or equivlent MySQL and Tomcat configurators are available after Oscar install at the Start Menue The Properties files and install sql's are usally installed to C:\ If you have to reinstall MySQL remember to delete C:\Program Files\MySQL manually as the datafiles may contain password data