Appendix

Frequently asked questions for Chamilo 2.0 administrators.

Installation and Setup

Q: What PHP version does Chamilo 2.0 require? A: PHP 8.2 or higher. PHP 8.3 is recommended. See Server Requirements.

Q: Can I run Chamilo on shared hosting? A: It is possible but not recommended. Chamilo 2.0 requires Composer, Node.js in development mode, and command -line access for installation and maintenance. A VPS or dedicated server provides a much better experience.

Q: Which database should I use? A: MySQL 8.0+ or MariaDB 10.4+ are the most commonly used and best tested.

Q: Can I install Chamilo without the command line? A: Yes, if you use the packaged version (.zip or .tar.gz). Otherwise, you will need the command line to install Composer dependencies, build frontend assets, and run database migrations. The web-based wizard handles the database setup and initial configuration, but the surrounding steps require shell access in dev mode.

Users and Authentication

Q: How do I reset a user's password? A: Go to Administration > User list, find the user, click edit, and set a new password. Alternatively, the user can use the "Forgot password" link on the login page (if email is configured).

Q: Can I import users in bulk? A: Yes. Go to Administration > Import users and upload a CSV or XML file with user data. The import supports creating new users and updating existing ones.

Q: How do I integrate with LDAP or Active Directory? A: Configure LDAP settings in the authentication configuration. See LDAP. Users are synchronized on login or via scheduled sync.

Q: Can users belong to multiple sessions at the same time? A: Yes. Users can be enrolled in any number of sessions simultaneously. Each session tracks progress independently.

Courses and Content

Q: How do I back up a single course? A: Within the course, go to Maintenance > Create a backup. This generates a downloadable archive of course content and settings. You can restore it on the same or a different Chamilo instance.

Q: Can I copy a course? A: Yes. Use Administration > Copy course or the course maintenance tool within the course. You can copy content between courses or create a new course from an existing one.

Q: What SCORM versions are supported? A: Chamilo supports SCORM 1.2. SCORM packages are imported as learning paths.

Q: How do I limit who can create courses? A: Go to Administration > Configuration settings > Course and disable Allow non administrators (teachers) to create new courses (allow_users_to_create_courses). When disabled, only administrators can create courses. Alternatively, you can set a limit to the number of courses any teacher can create.

Performance and Maintenance

Q: The platform is slow. What should I check first? A: In order of impact: (1) Ensure APP_ENV=prod and APP_DEBUG=0 in .env. (2) Verify PHP OPcache is enabled. (3) Check database performance. (4) See Performance Tuning.

Q: How do I clear the cache? A: Run php bin/console cache:clear --env=prod from the command line. Do not delete the var/cache/ directory manually while the application is running.

Q: How much disk space does Chamilo need? A: The application itself needs about 2 GB uncompressed. Total space depends on uploaded content (documents, videos, SCORM packages). Monitor disk usage and plan accordingly.

Q: How do I set up automated backups? A: See Backups. At minimum, schedule a daily database dump and regular file-level backups of the upload directory.

Email

Q: Users are not receiving emails. What should I check? A: (1) Verify MAILER_DSN in .env. (2) Run php bin/console mailer:test [email protected] to test. (3) Check spam folders. (4) Verify SPF/DKIM DNS records. See Email Configuration.

Q: Can I use Gmail to send emails? A: Yes, for small platforms or development. Use an App Password and be aware of Gmail's daily sending limits (500 emails/day for regular accounts).

Security

Q: How do I force HTTPS? A: Configure your web server to redirect HTTP to HTTPS. Additionally, enable the "Force HTTPS" setting in Administration > Configuration settings > Security. See Security Settings.

Q: How do I block brute-force login attacks? A: Configure max login attempts and CAPTCHA in security settings. Consider also using fail2ban at the server level for additional protection.

Q: A user forgot their password and email is not working. How do I help them? A: As an administrator, edit the user account directly and set a new password. Go to Administration > User list, find the account, and update the password field.

Upgrades

Q: Can I upgrade directly from Chamilo 1.11.x to 2.0? A: Yes, but it is a major migration, not a simple update. See Upgrading. Always test on a staging server first.

Q: Will my plugins work after upgrading to 2.0? A: No. Plugins from 1.11.x are not compatible with 2.0 and must be rewritten or replaced with equivalent 2.0 functionality.