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Install a Local Web Server on Windows XP
September 27, 2007
Here is the local web server video for Windows that I promised a few months ago. Local web servers let you work on development and testing right on your own computer. This means you don't have to deal with FTP and/or SSH and can work offline, anywhere, anytime.
This video shows you how to install a web server on Windows XP using WAMP. WAMP is a bundle of all the tools you will need in one package: Apache, MySQL and PHP.
Comments
Why not Xampp?
I'm surprised you used WAMP. Did you consider XAMPP?
Recommendations
I don't use Windows myself anymore and I have used XAMPP in the past (long, long ago). I have recently had several Windows users recommend WAMP over XAMPP to me so I figured I would go with that. I have considered doing a XAMPP video as well. Maybe folks that are familiar with both could give some thoughts on the differences between them and why one may be preferred over the other.
WAMP
I used WAMP a while back and it was all good. Bit of set up time. XAMPP I found to be much more obtuse, with a lot of extra stuff in it that I didn't want/need (PERL, for example).
WAMP is very simple and you can put it on a USB stick pretty easily or just zip the whol ething up and walk away.
XAMPP Lite
If you don't want/need PERL support, you can download XAMPP Lite. XAMPP Lite is the same as XAMPP, except it doesn't include all the bulk you were talking about. XAMPP is the same way regarding USB sticks as WAMP. You can have the server run from your USB stick, if you really wanted to.
Installation and configuration Assistance
Hello, I am new to web development, I decided to go for MySQL,PHP and APACHE, I got the individual set up's, however Apache refused to even begin installing on my system, it begins but then would say that it has been interrupted, and it will then give me the click finish option.I installed WAMP5 succesfully, but when I click the "Local host link",the bowser displays "cannot find page, PHPmy Admin gives the same. Please is there any configuration I need to do, and please is there any help I could get for why the Apache refuses to install
I have used WAMP for doing
I have used WAMP for doing local development for the last 6 months (low usage) and have had no problems.
No problems with XAMPP either
I use XAMPP from Apache friends for several years now and am happy with it. The control panel for starting and stopping MySQL and Apache does not work if run from a restricted Windows account, but granting write permissions to logfiles solves this problem.
As a sidenode, CamStudio is an awesome GPL'ed screen capture program under Windows. I have tried several capture applications including some VNC-based programs but I found CamStudio to be the best by far.
Server for Windows
For Russian - speaking users, there is an excellent all-in-one package, called "Danwer", distributed freely. Here's the URL: http://www.denwer.ru/
It installs PHP, SQL, SSI, PHPMYADMIN and much more in a Unix-like tree of directories and then runs by mounting a virtual drive. The setup weighs about 5 megabytes.
The only problem is Russian used in installation. But once you get past it, it's English. Setup is so easy, no video is required to make it so =)
I use Apache2Triad
I started using Apache2Triad when I learned about it from the first Drupal book. The only reason I prefer it over WAMP is that I feel that the mysql admin tool is better than what is provided with WAMP. I have multiple sand boxes that I play in and I use different mysql users and data bases. Phpmyadmin (as far as I know) does not let you manage data base users. I could not figure out (other than the command line) how to add data base users with what is provided with WAMP.
Thanks for the Podcast Addison.
Rich
phpMyAdmin users are under Privileges
Hi Rich,
phpMyAdmin does allow you full control over database users. It isn't necessarily intuitive because it is listed under "Privileges." When you click on Privileges you can edit existing users (so you could set a password for root here) and there is an "Add a new User" link. When creating new users you can choose the global and db permissions they should have.
Thanks
I will check this out!
Rich
Virtual sub-domain
I usually set up a virtual sub-domain so that local.mydomain.com goes in my localhost, while www.mydomain.com still displays the real website.
To set this up in WAMP
1- click the tray icon, go to Config Files -> httpd.conf
At the end of the file there are probably these lines:
<VirtualHost *:80>DocumentRoot "C:/Wamp/www/"
ServerName localhost
</VirtualHost>
Copy them and edit to add your own, something like:
<VirtualHost *:80>DocumentRoot "C:/Wamp/www/drupal-5.1/"
ServerName local.mydomain.com
</VirtualHost>
2- in C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc (on WinXP) open the "hosts" file, and add a line like this one:
127.0.0.1 localhost local.mydomain.comSave and close the files, restart the server and it works.
Advantages:
- no path problems with files and images if you have to use absolute paths for some reason
- more consistent if there are several versions of the website : local (on your PC), test, www (on distant servers)
Virtual Host
I have triad every type for setting virtual host on windows xp thru xampp. But it is displaying default pages. so please suggest me for that.. ie. http://local.mysite.com/xampp/
Great : )
I usually recommend the Wampserver to folks looking to do some testing on Windows machines and use it at work and home. Great job on the video. Now I can send people here instead of blindly to their page. ; )
btw, I'd love to make some screencasts for Ubercart but have no clue where to start. Do you know of a good Windows program to do them, or are you making these on a Mac? Many thanks.
-Ryan
I am on a Mac
so I am using iShowU for capture and iMovie for editing. I do Windows and Linux videos using Parallels. There are a few video programs for Windows and I've heard good things about CamStudio, which is free, but I've never used it myself. There are some tips for making videos in the Drupal.org handbook as well.
need information about web server.
hi want to install web server on windows Xp..is it possible...?if yes can you tell me configuration setps
help me...!
i wanna try make a web site by my self but i don't know where ido begin installing in windows xp cause i don't have microsoft iis for server, and i wanna try make it with php please help me what application needed ?
WOS (Webserver on a Stick)
I use a free open source package called WOS (www.wos.chsoftware.net) which includes Apache, MySQL, and PHP and comes preconfigured with your choice(s) of TYPO3, Joomla!, Mambo, Wordpress, Moodle, OS Commerce, Drupal, PHPMyAdmin and more. It can be installed on a USB stick as small as 512 MB or any other portable media. Best of all, you can take it with you, run it on any Windows machine without installation and when you remove it, it leaves NOTHING on the system.
Be Careful of Prepackaged Drupal
When you get a "ready made" package that includes Drupal they often do not have the latest releases since they don't reroll their packages as the individual components are updated. I checked out the WOS list and they are still including Drupal (Version 5.1) which is not the latest version. There have been 2 security updates since then. If you do use something like WOS, make sure you upgrade your Drupal install so you know you are working with the latest code.
Aside from that little tidbit, a web server on a portable stick is indeed a nice thing to have at times.
Wow fantastic
Thank you much for such a straight forward tut to getting a server up and running, many thanks again
Doug T
New Zealand
sql and database localhost management
i downloaded my sql databases, made my backups, and fallowed your videocast about this installation. but..
im lost. its taking me far too long to find the answeres. do you have a videocast about installing the sql backups and site backups from the server, down into the local host? what are the key aspects to lookout for? do i have to rename everything? why isnt anything working? sheesh...
can you send me in the right direction?
kasperjames
No video for that
but that is a great idea for one. I'll add it to my (long) list of vids to do.
In the meantime, very briefly, you should be able to do this relatively simply by:
1) Import your DB dump. Create a new database and import the sql file into it. You can do this in PHPMyAdmin but if the dump is too large it will time out in the browser and you will need to do it from the command line. I've not got time for details on that but it is the same as any other MySQL import .
2) Put your site's directory backup on the webserver. You can put this in your document root or create a Virtual Host. Just know how to get to it in your browser.
3) Edit the settings.php file of the site to match your new DB info.
4) Go to the site and it should work.
hello there! I have
hello there! I have installed the wamp server but when i lounge the php admin or sql my browser displays a blank page! Can yu maiby give me some advice, it's driving me crazy.
thanks
rui
Great video!
Great job addison! I am very greatfull as a beginner :) Keep up the good work we all appreciate it ;)
xoxoox
Vista
I really want ro run local web server just like WAMP or XAMPP in vista.. But the apache won't start in vista.. anyone know how to fix this problem? thx..
I have the same problem.
I have the same problem. Please help!
incredibly helpful -- thank you very much
Thank you so very much for such a straightforward, clear, helpful video tutorial on setting up a local web server on Windows XP. Loved your voiceovers, too!
Doug
Move test site to server.
Can you provide directions to information how to move the test site up to the server?
Thanks,
Tony
hy nice i wana creat a local server with 11 computers help
thats very nice n!
Time out error
I get the following error after install the local host and when trying to activate any modules
Fatal error: Maximum execution time of 30 seconds exceeded in C:\wamp\www\drupal\includes\file.inc on line 889
I have researched the internet and have made numerous changes as suggested with no result.
Importing data has limits
Wampserver works fine. But, I noticed recently that it freezes on me when I try to import lots of data. I have a database of properties with 50-400 different street names, city, state, long/lat data per file and when I try to import into a content type wampserver freezes and warns of a fatal error. Is there a way increase the server resources? I am using a Dell Latitude D620.
Arthur
Hello! I am a new
Hello! I am a new learner.
May you show me instruction of how to create website and host to internet?
- I can design, but how to host? intranet? internet?
I am looking forward to seeing from you soon.
Mr.Pheak
wamp not running
wamp not running on windows vista
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