Installing Apache,mysql + Php (windows)

INSTALLING APACHE,MYSQL AND PHP on WINDOWS
============================================
Assumptions:
----------
 your using windows  NT technology ( any later than win ME. i.e 2000,xp,nt,more likely xp.)
 i your root drive is C:\

I assume your installing packages for development purposes(web dev. etc )
on a local machine.

Lay hands on the following tools (windows version)
 php,apache,mysql. download, zip versions(for php) and windows installer versions for mysql and apache .






MYSQL
=====
DOWNLOAD MYSQL FROM --------
DOWNLOAD THE ONE WITH THE .zip /msi installer.
 open on your machine and by double clicking,
when installing , install as typical,choose the 'typical'
option.
when requested to 'create a new account' click
'skip sign up'.
uncheck the 'configure mysql server now ' check box.
click finish button to finish the database server installation.

To start mysql server under windows :
 open your 'command prompt window'
 click Start button on windows xp windows screen(bottom left of screen)->all programs->accessories->command prompt.
click the command prompt icon to open a new command prompt window.
 on the window u'd most likely see
:
 boot drive:\Documents and Settings\computer name>
e.g
 C:\Documents and Settings\[your computer name] >
 navigate to the directory where Mysql was installed:
 > easiest way is by backing out of current directory till your at the systems root directory.
 so type :
 cd,  [press Enter] i.e C:\Documents and Settings\computer name>cd,
cd,   [press Enter] "    " ""     
 when u got only root drive on the screen stop.
[next navigate to the Mysql 'bin' directory:
type:
 >cd P* * /My*/M*/b* [ - takes u straight to server 'bin' directory]
 the objective is to start the database server daemon , without it being started  u cant begin using the database.
>type mysqld[space key]--standalone[Enter key]
 i.e.
 mysqld --standalone [enter]
 the cursor should be blinking on a new line, signifying the start of the database.
Now the database daemon thread has been start , u can now access the database.
> Open another command prompt window.
 [by clicking ]start button->all programs->accessories->command prompt.
navigate to the 'bin' directory of the Mysql server ,as u did before,previously.
 but this time u want to create or manipulate a database.
>type at the command prompt.[bin directory]
 mysql -u root [enter]
 u should see the following message on the command prompt screen:
 "Welcome to the Mysql monitor. Commands end with ; or \g.
 Your Mysql connection id is [number] to server version: [server version]
"
 Type 'help;' or '\h' for help. Type '\c' to clear the buffer. "
the "-u " command signifies "user"and the "root" is the username.
"
 
mysql>
 to quit mysql> prompt
type: \q; "
if u see this your database start up was successful!
 to access a database or view the list of   databases type at the
'mysql' prompt.
show databases[semi colon]
ie. mysql>show databases;
 dont forget the semi-colon;
 
That's all about setting up mysql. next.
Setting up Apache web server.
=========================================
installing Apache web server
=========================================
Apache http server is the free web server for serving your html pages and  other resources to the web. it's your web server.
download it from -apache.org.
 i'll assume u have the installer downloaded to your system.
 -
 to install Apache:
 >double click the installer icon to begin installation.
>click 'next' on the Welcome page.
>accept the license terms and click next
>on the server information screen your required to enter network Domain.
  i assume your installing the package for development purpose,
 on a local machine.
 in the 'Network Domain' text box, enter
 -> localhost
 for server name : enter -> localhost
 -> enter an email address of your choice.
 in the Email Address section.->ur_email_id@localhost
 finally click the 'for All users radio button.'
 localhost is the name of your localmachine for development purposes.

>click the 'next' button to proceed with installation
 select the 'typical' set up option
>click the 'next' button.
>Accept default destination folder, and click 'next'
>click the 'install' button to commence installation [- the install wizard commence installation , may take some time ]
>Click the 'finish' button to complete the apache http server installation.
 - when successfully installed a purple feather appears on the bottom left side of your windows tray with a green light on ,signifying that the  web server is on and running.
 
 >u have to configure the web server but hold that off until after the php installation.

======================================================================
 INSTALLING PHP VERSION 4.
=====================================================================
 
 
 download the zip file and click on it to open.
> unzip it to a directory on your system.
 e.g C:\unzipped\php4.0.4 etc
 > FOR unambiguity or to avoid clustering it with other zip files
 u can change the destination folder to sth more meaningful.
e.g C:\PHP\  (from C:\unzipped\php[version no)
 > i use C:\PHP
 
 next step is to configure the PHP files to work with the web server .
 your going to move some files around and modify some things.
 so lets go.
>navigate to the where u unzipped the php files to.
 e.g C:\unzipped\php[version no]
 this example uses php 4.
       the folder should contain the following files and sub folders.
 FOLDERS {cli,dlls,extensions,mibs,openssl,pdf-related,PEAR,sapi}
 Files {php4ts.dll,php.ini-dist,php.ini-recommended,etc}
 for web development purposes, php will be installed as an Apache[the webserver] module. it will work with the web server to parse your php script embedded web pages.

   -> rename the php.ini-dist file to  php.ini. the file should change to a notepad with a gear icon. or an iconified notepad.
  -> open the php.ini configuration file and make the following changes.
    a)
  look for the following lines :
 short_open_tag = On. 
  //this allows u to contain php script in <?  ?> tags. it unsafe and unrecommended except for learning and testing purposes.
 to turn it off. set the value to 'Off'[Off without the inverted commas]
 
 i.e
 short_open_tag = Off  [no semi-colons permitted.]

b) switch of 'magic quotes'
 magic_quotes_gpc = On
 after 'switching off' it should read :
 magic_quotes_gpc = Off
 
 resave the php configuration folder and close it.
> i.e save as php.ini and exit notepad.

 look for the following line and set its value to 'Off'
> since your setting up php to run as a server module u'll have to transfer the interpreter to the web server's bin directory.
 > copy the php file , php4ts.dll to
apache's 'bin' directory.
 server's bin directory should be:
 root drive[or wherever Apache was installed]/
  e.g
 C:\program files\Apache Group\Apache2\bin
  >  copy [or cut] php4ts.dll [ the script interpreter] to the 'bin' directory .
 if u've come this far u aint doing bad at all. your almost there.
 Finally copy  the configured php.ini file (notepad with gear icon)
 to your window's directory[folder].
 ie. C:/Windows
next :
 configure the web server to work with the script interpreter==================================================================
 > Open the server configuration file.
 click Start menu->All Programs->Apache HTTP Server [version no]->(sub menu)Configure Apache Server->(sub menu) Edit Apache httpd.conf Configuration file (click on this file to begin server configuration)

>make the following changes to the httpd.conf file.
 [Web server configuration file ]



 a) indicate the directory where your web pages will be stored.
 This is a folder where all web pages u  create will be stored. 

 Create the folder and place the location address in the httpd.conf file.  
 e.g lets create a folder called -"MyWebFolder" in C: (c drive.)
 and point apache to it.
 Change the following line in httpd.conf file
 DocumentRoot "C:/Program Files/Apache Group/Apache2/htdocs"
 
 to 
 [where your web folder is located i.e C:/MyWebFolder (enclose with quotation marks )]
   [ your config file should like this after the change ] 
 DocumentRoot "C:/MyWebFolder"
 repeat the same change to the following lines-still httpd.config file.
<Directory "C:/program Files/Apache Group/Apache2/htdocs">

 change it to this :
<Directory "C:/MyWebFolder">

 Recap:
So far we've transfered php script engine to web server directory,
 Included command to Load server module,
 and pointed the web server to a designated public folder for our web pages.
next.
  include commands to enable the web server distinguish and process
 code embedded pages [by calling the php interpreter saved in 'bin']. 

 > Find the following lines in the httpd.conf file that begin with the phrase:'AddType application/'
 e.g
   AddType application/x-compress .z

 type:(include the following two lines note the space b4 the .php )
 AddType application/x-httpd-php  .php 
 AddType application/x-httpd-php-source   .phps


c)Load the web server module engine module:
 Look for the following line:
 LoadModule foo_module modules/mod_foo.so
 #
 type on a new new line below the '#' sign the following.
 [there should be no '#' before this instruction set ]
  
type:
LoadModule php4_module PHP/php/sapi/php4apache2.dll
  if using php5 it willbe php5_module, the core thing is to point the 
web server to the apache2.dll file in 'sapi' folder of the extracted php package,
so specify the path to this file[php4apache2.dll] as it appears on your system.
 
 

 resave the httpd.conf file [web server configuration file] and close notepad.
 

    Restart your system to register all the changes u've made so far.

 installation and configuration is finished. TEst the work to see if it's without glitches.
======================================================================
TESTING SERVER SET UP 
======================================================================
1) create a plain html file and save it to our web server directory.
 (C:MyWebFolder)
  open notepad :
    start menu->All Programs->Accessories->notepad.
  type the following and save as Test.html.

 <html><body><h2>Hello world - AMP set up </h2></body></html>
 2)
 view the file :

 open a web browser and type in the address column
http://localhost/Test.html
 3)
 for the php test :
  open notepad again and :
 type the following>
 
 <?php //short tags have been turned off remember
 
 print "hello work. successfully installed php ";
 
 print "<br> i am a web designer wannabe ";
?>

 save the file as hellowork.php ,for type:
 save as 'All File' type instead of 'text' 
and save to your web folder, i.e C:\MyWebFolder.
 
 to preview files .
 fire up explorer or whatever browser your using and type in 
 http://localhost/hellowork.php
 if all goes well,
 u should see some text on the screen else, 
 
 u gat trouble-shooting to do!!.hello work!?>

Very helpful post.

The URLs for the various packages are as follows:

MySQL: http://dev.mysql.com/downloads
Apache: http://httpd.apache.org
PHP: http://www.php.net/downloads.php

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