Need MySQL and PHP Server!
 

Hi! I'm Alicia from the #433 Firebirds. We started a FRC team in Ghana, Africa and the webdesigner Chris wrote this to me in an email:

"Alicia, i have started the coding but i want a software that i can download and use at home without having the internet, is there any Server i can download for PHP and MySQL, since i don't have the internet service at home.

plss can you help me get one, it looks as if working without those programs are making the coding useless."

www.t35.com would be a good place to host those things b/c its free, but he needs an internet connection

anybody have any ideas? I really want him to have all of this for free, either an internet connection or some server he can download at home. If not, can you suggest the best rate for all of these things. Thanks! It means a lot :D

Re: Need MySQL and PHP Server!
 

There are several options out there. You might want to look up what it takes to run STAMP scouting, since it required PHP and MySQL. If he were to download it and run it on his local machine, the IP just becomes localhost (or 127.0.0.1).

Re: Need MySQL and PHP Server!
 

He can use XAMPP to run it all from his personal computer for testing purposes:
http://www.apachefriends.org/en/xampp.html

Re: Need MySQL and PHP Server!
 

You could also just download Apache and PHP and MySQL, Perl, etc. and run them as services on your local machine (which is basically what those other ones mentioned before my post do...except those run as packages - which I don't really like).

Tutorials Available Here

He'll obviously need the internet to download the files themselve though and a way to transport them to his PC.

Maybe try pointing him here if he needs any help? :)

Re: Need MySQL and PHP Server!
 

I did this a while ago. See this thread.

Re: Need MySQL and PHP Server!
 

I would also highly suggest XAMPP, it also has a great interface to work with and is very easy to setup.

Re: Need MySQL and PHP Server!
 

Just an idea for you guys;
If you look into the new Ubuntu Linux that was just released, download the server install cd... This gives you the option of installing a LAMP server (Linux Apache MySQL PHP). This uses a barebones linux install giving you all the functionality you need to run STAMP.

Upside is that this is all free software, downside is you need to have some linux experience to get it going. I can offer the suggestion of running Webmin for configuration purposes. If any of you would like to undertake this project and need some assistance please feel free to contact me. I'm always excited to open new people up to Linux.
-Adam

Ubuntu Server
Webmin
My Stamp Server (work in process)

Re: Need MySQL and PHP Server!
 

I do all my test work from a server on my desktop computer. PHP4 (php.net), IIS5 (standard on Windows XP computers if you know where to find it), and MySQL.
I'm sure there are better ways to do it, but if you're interested in this setup PM me and I'll send you more details.

Re: Need MySQL and PHP Server!
 

I also use IIS and it works fine, but some of the functions don't work so that may be something to watch out for (because it doesn't mean the code is wrong).

Re: Need MySQL and PHP Server!
 

also if apache is not working for you try abyss web server. it uns on a very small footprint (800k-3000k of memory normally) and adding php and mysql is quite simple just follow the instructions on their website

Re: Need MySQL and PHP Server!
 

Does this person have a laptop? If not, how will he download these free softwares from the internet?

Re: Need MySQL and PHP Server!
 

With IIS, if you're having errors with PHP functions working, the first thing I'd check is that you're using the appropriate functions for your version of PHP. Example, certain functions no longer exist in PHP 5 and some have been added. Another thing I'd try is editing the php.ini file in your windows directory for IIS (I think it's probably in a subfolder, but I haven't done this one in a while) and enable the errors and warnings. That'll tell you anything you need to know - and unfortunately more - about why your code isn't working.

Re: Need MySQL and PHP Server!
 

here is a list of web servers (that can be used locally) haven't tried them all but I've heard a few good things about each of them:

Abyss - http://abyss.sourceforge.net/
Apache - http://httpd.apache.org/
Apache2Triad - http://apache2triad.net/
HTTP File Server - http://www.rejetto.com/sw/
Sambar - http://www.sambar.com/
Savant - http://savant.sourceforge.net/
SimpleServer:WWW - http://www.analogx.com/contents/down...work/sswww.htm
Smart Cache - http://scache.sourceforge.net/
TinyWeb - http://www.ritlabs.com/tinyweb/index.html
Xitami - http://www.xitami.com/

Re: Need MySQL and PHP Server!
 

abyss is also here also abyss is a great server. it runs on about 2.5-3 mb of ram and almost no processor usage. i havde used it for 2 years now and its a good testing server.

Re: Need MySQL and PHP Server!
 

Don't forget lighttpd http://www.lighttpd.net/

Re: Need MySQL and PHP Server!
 

If you have XP Pro installed (and still have the install disk...) you can install IIS as well. I've been trying to find my disk for a while, and I'm going to have it running on a second test server.

Re: Need MySQL and PHP Server!
 

For the record, if you have Windows 2000 you can also do this, or if you have Windows 2000/XP Home you can successfully hack it into a Home installation.

Re: Need MySQL and PHP Server!
 

I had a bit of trouble getting it all to work, but now that I have it all configured right, XAMPP-lite has been working like a charm for me. It's definitely better than EasyPHP, which is what I was using before.

Re: Need MySQL and PHP Server!
 

YES! XAMPP is a PAIN to setup. But its probably one of the best free servers there is once setup!

Re: Need MySQL and PHP Server!
 

www.wampserver.com

Keeps away from the evil IIS (Windows Apache Mysql).

Moderate in setup difficulty, and there are a huge number of hosting packages that are apache/mysql combinations. Apache has a larger web hosting base than any other httpd, and has been claimed to have more than all others combined (only partially true).

Re: Need MySQL and PHP Server!
 

I used wamp once and it was utterly and completely painless.

Good Luck.

Re: Need MySQL and PHP Server!
 

IIS is in no way associated with Apache. IIS is more properly a service manager. You then install PHP or MySQL or whatever, but it's not a combination of any of that.

Re: Need MySQL and PHP Server!
 

I think "(Windows Apache MySQL)" referred to "WAMP", not IIS... could be wrong though, my ability to read people's thoughts across internet and time hasn't been doing so well lately.

Re: Need MySQL and PHP Server!
 

Have you used a recent version of XAMPP? Current releases blow everything else in this thread out of the water (except, perhaps, abyss, but even that requires config). Here's everything I had to do to get a test site running for a soon-to-be-released project:

1) Download XAMPP (use the installer)
2) Install and run the XAMPP Control pannel. Click "Start" Apache and "Start" MySQL
3) Navigate to http://localhost and get started. :)

To install apache or standalone versions of most other software would take at least 20 steps. Booting into linux every time you want to test your latest code isn't practical either (woohoo nano/gedit). IIS isn't really all that great either in my opinion, and why get used to Windows server software when apache/linux hosting is really the way to go anymore.

Basically, there is a reason that all-in-one packages such as XAMPP were created for test sites, and I'm a huge fan. Our web team has thumbdrives and each one has a copy of XAMPP lite on it for local testing at our school.

Re: Need MySQL and PHP Server!
 

ThomasP_post_recognition_skill++; (Do skills increase before or after the skill is executed? During execution?)

If you get serious about web development, having a good working knowledge of both IIS and Apache is helpful. You never know what a client will have for server resources. IIS has also been gaining ground in more enterprise-level web serving as Windows becomes more cluster-able. If cluster-able is a word, at least.

-Eric

Re: Need MySQL and PHP Server!
 

IIS is particularly useful in those high-end development environments that involve ASP.NET and just plain old ASP. They have been made to work on Linux, but not without extreme bug fixing.

Re: Need MySQL and PHP Server!
 

I have used Abyss + PHP + MySQL + Dreamweaver for a couple of years now and it has not failed me yet.

I do not condone running a web server off of your own computer though, it can lead to slow loading times for your users and that is never good. If you are looking for a good host, look into Bluehost

Re: Need MySQL and PHP Server!
 

My point in running a web server from home is strictly for testing purposes. I would never open that to connection beyond the LAN.

Re: Need MySQL and PHP Server!
 

That's good, because anything Windows-based will most likely be exploited and slimed if put on the web with a server running.

It sounds like WAMP (Windows, Apache, MySQL, PHP) will do what you want. I haven't tried anything else as WAMP does what I need. It has a built-in feature that keeps the server from responding to any requests except for those from the machine it is running on; it can be shut off but that is highly discouraged.

XAMPP might do a better job, but I have never used it so I can't vouch for it.

One important tidbit--shut off Skype (if you use it) while running the server. Apache can't bind to port 80 (the normal HTTP port) if Skype is running, because Skype uses port 80. I only discovered that by accident...the hard way (why isn't it starting!!?? <bashes head on wall>).

Good luck
JBot

Re: Need MySQL and PHP Server!
 

Actually I have tries XAMPP and WAMP, but i get the same error using each. When i try to install Apache/PHP I get an error that says something like:
Port XX(80 i think it was) is already occupied by _______(something that had to do with Autodesk). Installation aborted... If anyone has any ideas what this is, I could try and install it again, so I can get the exact error message. But til then, I just have to use a closed section of my team's site (which has disadvantages of not being able to test stuff without internet...)

Re: Need MySQL and PHP Server!
 

I believe what you're running into there is that IIS runs on port 80, and Apache can't override IIS unless you disable the IIS service. However, I don't see any need to run Apache on a WAMP server, ignoring the fact that the A stands for Apache. I haven't been using it on my test server, and it's working great with PHP, MySQL, ASP, MS SQL, Access DBs and ASP.NET (for some strange reason my web dev teacher thought it would be good to teach all of those in one semester).

The one way around that to run both IIS and Apache is to select to run Apache in console mode rather than as a service. That opens to connection on port 8080 (I think that's right), but it also leaves the Apache console running and doesn't start it as a service. For that, you would just have to make sure to use [IP]:8080 for the URL, rather than just the IP / localhost.

Re: Need MySQL and PHP Server!
 

I just tried reinstalling both servers, and I got the exact error. It reads
But this time it didn't say what was using 80 or 443... Any ideas?

EDIT:
I went to http://localhost
And this is what I see

Re: Need MySQL and PHP Server!
 

I would have assumed IIS was the culprit, but that doesn't very well explain the "Autodesk EDM Web Server" error. Sorry, can't help you much on that one.

Re: Need MySQL and PHP Server!
 

OK... I think I found what is messing it up. But I am not sure if I can just delete the files/ uninstall the component (not sure if I need it for Autodesk) So i ran the "port check" feature that XAMPP has, and this is what I found on port 80
Any ideas as to if I can just delete that, or how to properly uninstall it so that Autodesk Inventor 11 still works without any flaws?

Re: Need MySQL and PHP Server!
 

Yep. WAMP is easy to use, quick to set up, and simple to maintain.

WAMP ftw!

Re: Need MySQL and PHP Server!
 

I don't know enough about Autodesk to answer that one. That would probably be better directed toward a CAD / programming person.

Re: Need MySQL and PHP Server!
 

First, to identify what ports are being used by what applications (independent of havinbg XAMPP's "port check" feature), do the following:

Start -> Run -> CMD.EXE

netstat -n -a -o

gives PIDs for all open ports (including those in "listening" states). Look at port 80 with local address 0.0.0.0:80 or 127.0.0.1:80. PID is the last number on each line.

Now, go to Task Manager, and sort by PID, to find the PID, and thus the program controlling port 80.

As others have mentioned, in the absence of IIS already installed, Autodesk Inventor 11 installs its "Vault" service on port 80.

You can either change the configuration that Autodesk uses (still not 100% sure how to do that) or else alter your Apache configuration files (normally httpd.conf) to use another port.

Cheers

Jason

Re: Need MySQL and PHP Server!
 

I would Suggest Using "AppServ." It automatically sets up PHP, phpMyAdmin, mySQL, and Apache, and makes it extremely easy to manage. If you search Google, it is the first result! This runs on WINDOWS and runs well!

Re: Need MySQL and PHP Server!
 

Even though it was previously denounced, I think EasyPHP would be the best choice. You just install it through the installer and boom, it's mostly done. There's the additional step of editting one line in the configuration file so the server knows where the files are.

This is an easy program to use, but it sometimes like to crash, which is why it's not the best. It's a tradeoff, I guess.

If you are going to use this software, try not to use the beta/dev version as that one crashes over random things (at random moments when querying mySQL, etc). But the thing is, in the stable version some parts are still in french (though you can usually figure out what it says)

Re: Need MySQL and PHP Server!
 

I've used EasyPHP and it crashed often for me...I've recently switched to AppServe, which does basically the same thing but never crashes and is very easy to use. It works with Windows (at least NT 4.0 Workstation/Server and ABOVE)