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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions and answers about managing BMLT and YAP installations on cloud servers.

General Questions​

What is BMLT?​

Q: What does BMLT stand for and what does it do?

A: BMLT stands for "Basic Meeting List Toolbox." It's a comprehensive web application designed to help 12-step recovery fellowships manage and display their meeting information. It provides:

  • Centralized meeting database
  • Web-based administration interface
  • Search and display capabilities
  • Integration with websites and mobile apps
  • API for third-party applications

What is YAP?​

Q: What is YAP and do I need it?

A: YAP stands for "Yet Another Phonebot." It's a telephone helpline system that integrates with BMLT and Twilio to provide phone-based services:

  • Meeting search by phone
  • Helpline call routing
  • Conference calling
  • SMS meeting information

You only need YAP if you want to provide telephone helpline services.

What are the system requirements?​

Q: What kind of server do I need to run BMLT?

A: Minimum requirements:

  • OS: Ubuntu 24.04 LTS (recommended)
  • RAM: 2GB minimum, 4GB+ recommended
  • CPU: 2 vCPUs minimum
  • Storage: 50GB minimum, 100GB+ recommended
  • Network: Public IP address with HTTP/HTTPS access

For production use with many meetings and users, consider higher specifications.

Installation Questions​

Can I use a different Linux distribution?​

Q: Does this guide work with CentOS, Debian, or other Linux distributions?

A: This guide is specifically written for Ubuntu, but the concepts apply to other distributions. You'll need to adapt:

  • Package manager commands (yum instead of apt)
  • Service management (some distributions use different init systems)
  • File paths and configuration locations

Do I need a domain name?​

Q: Can I run BMLT without a domain name?

A: You can run BMLT with just an IP address, but a domain name is strongly recommended for:

  • SSL certificates (Let's Encrypt requires a domain)
  • Professional appearance
  • YAP/Twilio integration (requires HTTPS)
  • Better SEO and user experience

What if I don't want to use Apache?​

Q: Can I use Nginx instead of Apache?

A: Yes, but this guide focuses on Apache. With Nginx, you'll need to:

  • Configure Nginx virtual hosts instead of Apache
  • Set up PHP-FPM instead of mod_php
  • Adapt URL rewriting rules
  • Configure SSL differently

The database and PHP requirements remain the same.

Configuration Questions​

How do I change the BMLT admin password?​

Q: I forgot my BMLT admin password. How do I reset it?

A: Connect to the BMLT database and update the password:

sudo mysql bmlt
-- Find admin users
SELECT id_bigint, name_string, login_string FROM bmlt_comdef_users WHERE user_level_tinyint = 1;

-- Reset password (replace 1 with actual user ID)
UPDATE bmlt_comdef_users SET password_string = MD5('new_password') WHERE id_bigint = 1;

How do I add more administrators?​

Q: How do I create additional BMLT admin accounts?

A: Use the BMLT admin interface:

  1. Log into BMLT admin
  2. Go to "User Manager"
  3. Click "Create New User"
  4. Set appropriate permissions

Or add directly to database:

INSERT INTO bmlt_comdef_users (name_string, login_string, password_string, user_level_tinyint) 
VALUES ('Admin Name', 'username', MD5('password'), 1);

How do I configure email settings?​

Q: How do I set up email notifications in BMLT?

A: BMLT email settings are configured in the admin panel:

  1. Go to BMLT Admin → Service Body Administration
  2. Configure SMTP settings in the service body details
  3. Test email functionality

For server-level email:

# Install mail server
sudo apt install postfix

# Configure for your domain
sudo dpkg-reconfigure postfix

Backup and Maintenance​

How often should I backup?​

Q: What's a good backup schedule?

A: Recommended schedule:

  • Daily: Database backups
  • Weekly: Full system backup (databases + files)
  • Monthly: Long-term archival backups
  • Before updates: Always backup before major changes

Where should I store backups?​

Q: Where's the best place to store my backups?

A: Follow the 3-2-1 rule:

  • 3 copies of your data
  • 2 different types of storage media
  • 1 copy stored offsite

Options:

  • Local server storage
  • Remote server (rsync)
  • Cloud storage (S3, Google Drive, Dropbox)
  • External drives (for critical data)

How do I test backups?​

Q: How do I know my backups will work when I need them?

A: Regular testing:

# Test backup file integrity
gzip -t backup-file.gz

# Create test database and restore
sudo mysql -e "CREATE DATABASE test_restore;"
zcat backup-file.gz | sudo mysql test_restore

# Verify data
sudo mysql test_restore -e "SELECT COUNT(*) FROM bmlt_comdef_meetings;"

# Cleanup
sudo mysql -e "DROP DATABASE test_restore;"

Security Questions​

How do I secure my server?​

Q: What security measures should I implement?

A: Essential security steps:

  1. Keep software updated: sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade
  2. Use SSH keys: Disable password authentication
  3. Configure firewall: Only allow necessary ports
  4. Enable SSL/HTTPS: Use Let's Encrypt certificates
  5. Regular backups: Automated and tested
  6. Monitor logs: Watch for suspicious activity
  7. Secure file permissions: Proper ownership and permissions

Should I change default ports?​

Q: Should I run SSH on a different port?

A: This is security through obscurity and provides minimal benefit. Focus on:

  • Using SSH keys instead of passwords
  • Restricting SSH access to specific IP addresses
  • Using fail2ban to prevent brute force attacks
  • Keeping SSH updated

How do I prevent spam/abuse?​

Q: How do I protect against spam or abuse of my BMLT server?

A: Security measures:

  • Use CAPTCHA for public forms
  • Implement rate limiting
  • Monitor access logs for unusual activity
  • Use CloudFlare or similar CDN/protection service
  • Restrict admin access to known IP addresses

Performance Questions​

My site is running slowly. What can I do?​

Q: BMLT is loading slowly. How can I improve performance?

A: Performance optimization:

  1. Check server resources:
htop
free -h
df -h
  1. Optimize MySQL:
sudo nano /etc/mysql/mysql.conf.d/mysqld.cnf

Add:

[mysqld]
innodb_buffer_pool_size = 256M
query_cache_size = 64M
  1. Enable Apache compression:
sudo a2enmod deflate
sudo systemctl restart apache2
  1. Use HTTP/2:
sudo a2enmod http2

How many meetings can BMLT handle?​

Q: What's the maximum number of meetings BMLT can support?

A: BMLT can handle thousands of meetings efficiently. Performance depends on:

  • Server specifications (RAM, CPU)
  • Database optimization
  • Network bandwidth
  • User concurrency

Typical servers handle 1,000+ meetings without issues.

Update Questions​

How do I update BMLT?​

Q: How do I upgrade to a newer version of BMLT?

A: Update process:

  1. Backup first: Database and files
  2. Download new version:
wget https://github.com/bmlt-enabled/bmlt-server/releases/download/VERSION/bmlt-server.zip
  1. Extract and replace:
sudo unzip bmlt-server.zip
sudo mv main_server main_server_backup
sudo mv extracted_main_server main_server
sudo chown -R www-data:www-data main_server
  1. Run database updates (BMLT handles this automatically)

Do I need to update YAP separately?​

Q: How do I update YAP to a newer version?

A: Yes, YAP updates separately from BMLT:

  1. Backup YAP database and configuration
  2. Download new YAP version
  3. Replace YAP files (keep config.php)
  4. Test phone functionality

How often are updates released?​

Q: How frequently are BMLT and YAP updated?

A: Update frequency varies:

  • Security updates: As needed (apply immediately)
  • Bug fixes: Monthly to quarterly
  • Feature releases: 2-4 times per year

Subscribe to GitHub releases for notifications.

YAP-Specific Questions​

Do I need Twilio for YAP?​

Q: Is Twilio required for YAP?

A: Yes, YAP requires Twilio for phone services. Twilio provides:

  • Phone numbers
  • Call routing
  • SMS services
  • Recording capabilities

How much does Twilio cost?​

Q: What are the costs for using YAP with Twilio?

A: Twilio pricing (as of 2024):

  • Phone number: ~$1/month
  • Incoming calls: ~$0.0075/minute
  • Outgoing calls: ~$0.013/minute
  • SMS: ~$0.007/message

Actual costs depend on usage volume.

Can I use YAP without SMS?​

Q: Can I disable SMS features in YAP?

A: Yes, SMS is optional. In YAP configuration:

static $sms_enable = false;

You'll still need Twilio for voice calls.

Troubleshooting Questions​

Where are the log files?​

Q: Where can I find error logs?

A: Key log locations:

  • Apache errors: /var/log/apache2/error.log
  • Apache access: /var/log/apache2/access.log
  • MySQL errors: /var/log/mysql/error.log
  • BMLT errors: /var/www/your-domain.com/main_server/storage/logs/laravel.log
  • YAP errors: /var/www/your-domain.com/yap/storage/logs/laravel.log
  • System logs: journalctl -f

What if BMLT shows a white screen?​

Q: BMLT shows a blank white page. What's wrong?

A: White Screen of Death (WSOD) troubleshooting:

  1. Check Apache error log:
sudo tail -f /var/log/apache2/error.log
  1. Check file permissions:
sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/your-domain.com/main_server
  1. Check PHP errors:
php -l /var/www/your-domain.com/auto-config.inc.php
  1. Check database connection:
mysql -u bmlt -p bmlt

How do I get help?​

Q: Where can I get support for BMLT/YAP issues?

A: Support resources:

  • BMLT Documentation: bmlt.app
  • GitHub Issues: Report bugs and request features
  • Community Forums: Ask questions and share experiences
  • This Guide: Comprehensive server management help

Migration Questions​

Can I move BMLT to a different server?​

Q: How do I migrate BMLT to a new server?

A: Migration process:

  1. Backup current server: Database and files
  2. Set up new server: Follow installation guide
  3. Transfer data:
    • Restore database backup
    • Copy configuration files
    • Update DNS if needed
  4. Test thoroughly: Verify all functionality
  5. Update integrations: API endpoints, etc.

How do I change domains?​

Q: How do I move BMLT to a different domain name?

A: Domain change process:

  1. Update DNS: Point new domain to server
  2. Request new SSL certificate: 
    sudo certbot --apache -d new-domain.com
  3. Update BMLT configuration: Change URLs in admin panel
  4. Update YAP configuration: Update BMLT server URL
  5. Test all integrations: Verify everything works

Can I merge multiple BMLT installations?​

Q: How do I combine data from multiple BMLT servers?

A: This is complex and requires:

  • Database expertise to merge data
  • Careful handling of conflicts
  • See Lettuce a tool for merging servers

Consider professional assistance.

Can't Find Your Answer?

If you can't find the answer to your question here, check the troubleshooting guide or consider asking in BMLT community forums.

Keep This Updated

This FAQ is based on common questions as of 2024. Software and best practices evolve, so verify current information for critical decisions.