PHP SQL - need advice on selecting Apache/PHP/mySQL package

Author

need advice on selecting Apache/PHP/mySQL package

wylbur37

2005-11-22, 6:58 pm

I'm trying to get started in using Apache/PHP/mySQL and would like to
install the necessary software on my Windows XP Pro computer.

Many have recommended that rather than downloading each of the major
apps (Apache/PHP/mySQL) separately and risking the aggravation of
configuration problems, I should instead download a combination
package that includes all three.

After reading the descriptions of the major distro packages, I
discovered a somewhat wide spread of download file sizes, from 4.5MB
for Uniform Server, to 8MB for EasyPHP, to 11.5MB for phpdev, to 21MB
for WAMP5, to 27MB for XAMPP, all the way to 86MB for Apache2triad.
I suppose the larger packages include more applications in addition to
the three main ones.

Each of them seems to have their own unique combination of advantages
and di

vantages. In my case, I need a package that's easy to install
without problems. I do not want the unpleasant surprise of going
through the entire installation only to discover that the major apps
are not talking to each other.

Can anyone mention experiences with the above distros and any pitfalls
they've encountered with any of them?

So far, I seem to be leaning towards getting the Uniform Server
package for the following reasons ...

* small download filesize,

* the description says that it leaves no residue in the Registry
(which I infer to mean it's probably easy to setup and also easy
to remove later on).

However, I do have a question about the download file for Uniform
Server. On their download site, there are apparently two files ...
UniServer3_2a.exe (4551656 bytes)
UniServer3_2a.zip (7992383 bytes)
I assume that the .exe version has an installer program included,
whereas the .zip version doesn't? So why is the .zip version so much
bigger than the .exe version?

Also, if the download file size of mySQL by itself (available at
http://dev.mysql.com/downloads/mysql/5.0.html) is more than 30MB, then
how is it possible for the Uniform Server package (which contains not
only mySQL but apache and PHP as well) to only be 4.5MB ???

Has anyone had experience with Uniform Server and can advise on the
pros and cons of that package?

Thanks for your help.

J.O. Aho

2005-11-22, 6:58 pm

wylbur37 wrote:

> After reading the descriptions of the major distro packages, I
> discovered a somewhat wide spread of download file sizes, from 4.5MB
> for Uniform Server, to 8MB for EasyPHP, to 11.5MB for phpdev, to 21MB
> for WAMP5, to 27MB for XAMPP, all the way to 86MB for Apache2triad.
> I suppose the larger packages include more applications in addition to
> the three main ones.

Not more applications, but more modules for PHP and required libraries.

> Can anyone mention experiences with the above distros and any pitfalls
> they've encountered with any of them?

I think I would have picked EasyPHP, but I rather would have used a *nix
environment where you get everything you need and working with default settings.

> * the description says that it leaves no residue in the Registry
> (which I infer to mean it's probably easy to setup and also easy
> to remove later on).

Microsoft applications leave all registry entries in the register, thats why a
microsoft system gets slower and slower with time when you install and
uninstall programs.

> However, I do have a question about the download file for Uniform
> Server. On their download site, there are apparently two files ...
> UniServer3_2a.exe (4551656 bytes)
> UniServer3_2a.zip (7992383 bytes)
> I assume that the .exe version has an installer program included,
> whereas the .zip version doesn't? So why is the .zip version so much
> bigger than the .exe version?

Bad compression option.

//Aho

David Cary Hart

2005-11-22, 6:58 pm

On Tuesday 22 November 2005 09:52, wylbur37 opined:

> I'm trying to get started in using Apache/PHP/mySQL and would like to
> install the necessary software on my Windows XP Pro computer.
>
> Many have recommended that rather than downloading each of the major
> apps (Apache/PHP/mySQL) separately and risking the aggravation of
> configuration problems, I should instead download a combination
> package that includes all three.
>
Not exactly what you asked but this might be a very good time to migrate
to Linux for LAMP. My choice is Fedora but most of the distros are
pretty solid and all include Apache, MySQL and PHP.
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wylbur37

2005-11-23, 3:57 am

J.O. Aho wrote:
> wylbur37 wrote:
>
>
> Not more applications, but more modules for PHP and required libraries.

What does this mean? that it's a "better" or more robust version of
PHP ?

J.O. Aho

2005-11-23, 3:57 am

wylbur37 wrote:
> J.O. Aho wrote:
>
> What does this mean? that it's a "better" or more robust version of
> PHP ?

The modules give more features for PHP, like MySQL support, which results in
that you can use the mysql_*() functions that are described in
http://www.php.net/manual/en/ref.mysql.php

You have a lot other things like .Net, COM, imap, pdf and so on to add to PHP,
all of them can't be used on all OS:es that PHP can be run on, so there aren't
much point in enabling everything and not all want support for say COM or pdf,
as they don't use those modules.

The less you have, the less there is that something goes wrong, the less you
have that could have a security hole, so the less you have the more robust
version you have, but the less feature to use, so you have to decide what you
need and what you don't.

//Aho

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