| Someuser 2006-05-24, 6:58 pm |
| Devsite.net http://www.devside.net/web/server/free/suite offers
preconfigured installation packages. Their packages allow for an easy setup
and configuration of what you will need to get Apache, PHP, and MYSQL up and
running within minutes. There are many similar packages out there but this
one has always worked for me for a quick installation and I like that it
installs all the components winthin subdirectories of the www root folder
(created automatically) on the drive of your choice. I have never had any
problems with their default installtion on either a WINXP or W2K machine.
It is important to read the read the readme file created in the www
directory as it gives detailed information on how to test and secure your
installation.
> 1.) Are these 3 sotfwares already good enough for me to
> write an web application?
Yes
> 2.) Can my PC with Windows XP platform be used and act
> as a webserver?
> 3.) DO I need to on my PC (act as webserver) 24hours so
> that people out there can access my website?
> 4.) If without Apcahe, can this still be running?
> 5.) What is micorsfot IIS? and how to set it?
> 6.) can I make use of microsoft IIS instead of Apache?
Apache and IIS are both webservers.
MYSQL is a SQL database.
PHP is a scripting language.
In order to give access to webservices on your PC you will require either
IIS, Apache, or someother HTTP daemon (Apache and IIS are by far the most
common). I believe XP PRO (including MCE) comes with a personal webserver
verson of IIS which replaced MS's PWS. However I would not use IIS unless
you are running it on a Windows Server platform such as W2K or W2K3 Server.
In addition, because of the complexity of configuration options, I would
stick with a binary distribution package such as devside's so as to avoid
having to compile the componets and the initial learning curve for this kind
of setup. It is alot easier to test various configuration options on a
system that is up and running than trying to do it for the first time on a
fresh installation.
Both PHP and apache must be configured properly in order to get them to work
together. An error in either configuration directives will prevent PHP from
working with Apache.
On server platforms, I tend to lean towards IIS for its GUI vs apache's text
file configuration.
A few last points, when setting up any type of installation where the
objective is to provide any type of internet server be it a webserver
(HTTP), FTP server, etc..., your ISP may block the default ports these
services use. An example of this would be where the ISP blocks port 80 which
is for incomming HTTP requests. If that is the case, you will have to modify
your setup to use an alternate port such as 8080 to bind the service.
If you are using a NAT router, you will have to set it up for port
forwarding for whatever port(s) you have configured your webserver to use.
If your computer has a personal firewall installed or is using windows
firewall, you will have to make sure it is configured to allow the port(s)
you have confihured the webserver to use.
If you are able to acces the webserver from the machine you set it up on but
not from other machines then it is most likely due to to what I have
mentioned in the previous paragraphs.
Good luck,
James
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