Installing Apache + PHP + MySQL

[Ultra Frosty]

This is how to setup Apache + PHP + MySQL on your Windows PC. I hope you like it:

Download and Install Apache

1. Download Apache 2.0.52 from The Apache Download Page, and run the installer, and follow what the directions say.

2. Select Custom from the Install Type and click next.

3. Make sure the second screenshot is the same as what your install looks like. Finish the install and goto http://localhost.

Note: The place to put your HTML/PHP files is: C:\Apache2\htdocs\

In your system tray you will see a picture thingy for Apache. You can use that to start, stop and restart the webserver. Apache has very, very advanced features that can only be change in the C:\Apache2\conf\httpd.conf file, after you change settings in this file, you must restart Apache.

Download and Install PHP

1. Download the PHP 4.3.10 Installer Package from PHP Downloads. (If you want to use extensions later on, download the Zip package. The Installer includes the MySQL extension).

2. Set the install type to 'Advanced' and proceed thru the installer. Follow the dialogs with the defaults unless you know what you are doing (in which case you probably wouldn't be reading this guide). Follow these dialogs to exactly how I have them setup.

Install Path

Only show errors in PHP pages.

Tells installer not to try to configure our Web Server.

3. Goto your C:\PHP directory and copy php4ts.dll to your C:\WINDOWS\system32 directory

4. copy php.ini-recommended to your C:\WINDOWS directory and rename it to php.ini.

5. Open up the C:\Apache2\conf\httpd.conf file in a texteditor like Notepad and find a list of words that say:

LoadModule

6. Add the lines:

LoadModule php4_module "c:/php/sapi/php4apache2.dll"
AddType application/x-httpd-php .php

to the end of the list.

7. Save the httpd.conf file and restart Apache.

8. Create a file called info.php and put the code:

<?
phpinfo();
?>

in the file, save and browse to http://localhost/info.php, if you see a page that is not blank, you have installed PHP correctly.

Download and Install MySQL 4.1

Note, MySQL does not work well with 9x/ME, and should only be used with NT/2000/XP/2003

1. Download MySQL 4.1 from MySQL

2. Run the installer

3. Make sure you select the "Complete Install" from the install type

4. Finish the install.

5. In the MySQL Server Instance Configuration, select Reconfigure Instance.

6. Select Detailed Configuration

7. You will have to read the summery of the choices. Choose "Developer Machine" only if you are going to be using MySQL like a large MS Excel Speadsheet. Choose "Server Machine" if you will be running Apache and PHP along with MySQL. Only choose "Dedicated MySQL Server Machine" if you are going to have a box dedicated to running MySQL, and nothing else, you should also have at least 2GB of RAM if you choose this option.

8. Choose "Multifunctional Database".

9. Choose the same drive letter as MySQL is on. Choose C:\MySQL\data for the path.

10. Read the discriptions for how many concurrent connections you will have and choose which is the most suited for you.

11. Make sure "Enable TCP/IP Networking" is checked and the port number must be 3306.

12. Choose the language character set to what you need.

13. Leave the "Modify Security Settings" unchecked and clicke next.

14. Click Execute and you'll have setup and optimized MySQL to your PC's specs.

Edited January 29, 2005 by b0b

[crackhbob]

Or you could just use one of the packages that does it all for you. :D

[Bowser265]

Or you could just use one of the packages that does it all for you. :D

You could, but that doesn't allow for much control. It's also useful to be able to set it up yourself on Windows, as one day you may want to on Linux, and it will be easier if you've got experience with setting it up on a different platform.

[Daylene]

oh thank you oh thank youoh thank youoh thank youoh thank youoh thank you

I needed this tut so bad :p

[rayjin]

is it alright if it's installed in another drive like "D:\" instead of "C:\" and change the config files accordingly?

btw, great tutorial!

hehe.. yay! 100 posts! :happy:

[draelas]

you know if you have an old computer, or some old parts to put one together, you should look into make a little linux web server. i did that with my old old 333mhz. works perfect. plus it does all the php, apache, mysql setup for you..

not that you need it, cuiz you've prolly already got your windows one going there. but cool none-the-less

[matt74441]

Very nice guide (Y) For those of you that want a very quick web server setup on a Windows machine, you should go here (1.7 is the newest version):

http://easyphp.org/telechargements.php3

Keep in mind that this isn't the newest version of everything. There are great setup instructions here:

http://www.canowhoopa$$.com/guid...php/install.php (Replace $'s with s's)

I'm all for setting up a webserver like b0b has shown you, but this is great for people who don't have the time, or if they are a little intimidated with the way b0b has shown us. I'm using this on my current webserver and it works flawlessly.

[Ultra Frosty]

The packages are good if you are completely lost by my tutorial, but if something in the package goes out of date (Apache, PHP or MySQL), you usually have a problem trying to upgrade just one. Also, if you find out that you don't need something later on, you can uninstall just that component.

[Paradoxcydal]

hmm i can use this :p i"hey how do i do that.." ----> /me gives link :blush:

:devil: thnx :devil:

[vhane]

I find it easier to install Apache, MySQL and PHP on FreeBSD than on Windows. It's easy when you have the FreeBSD ports system. Since it's source-based, you don't lose any flexibility: you can still select the relevant compile-time options. If you use the ports, you can also upgrade the relevant ports whenever new versions come out - without having to reinstall anything manually.

To install apache-modssl, mysql, and mod_php4:

1) Install MySQL first via the ports:

cd /usr/ports/databases/mysql40-server
make install clean

This will automatically download the latest sources for the mysql40-server port, compile and install it.

2) Install apache-modssl:

cd /usr/ports/www/apache13-modssl
make
make certificate

Follow the prompts to create the certificate. To remove the pass phrase from the RSA key so that we don't need to type in the pass phrase everytime we reboot the server:

cd /usr/ports/www/apache13-modssl/work/apache_1.3.29/conf/ssl.key/
openssl rsa -in server.key -out server.pem

Go back to the port directory to continue the install:

cd /usr/ports/www/apache13-modssl
make install
make clean

3) Install PHP:

cd /usr/ports/www/mod_php4
make install clean

Choose from the compile-time options that come up: ssl support and mysql support. Select anything else that you need and carry on with the install.

4) Edit the Apache configuration file /usr/local/etc/apache/httpd.conf

Add these lines in the file:

AddType application/x-httpd-php .php
AddType application/x-httpd-php-source .phps

[rob2090]

hey thank you I needed this one very bad :)

[nX07]

Thanks alot! :D

[olajideolaolorun]

Well why would I want to start installing things that can kill my computer like EasPHP and other packed servers that are about 170+MB? When I can download The Uniform Server that is a small mini server and great for public and testing use.

It is also under constant developing and very much less than 5MB unlike EasyPHP and others that are like 20-30MB?

[Ultra Frosty]

Well why would I want to start installing things that can kill my computer like EasPHP and other packed servers that are about 170+MB? When I can download The Uniform Server that is a small mini server and great for public and testing use.

It is also under constant developing and very much less than 5MB unlike EasyPHP and others that are like 20-30MB?

For the same reasons as I stated in the above post.

[rob2090]

hey can anyone help me, when I try to create a database in MySQL it tells me that access is denied for localhost. Any ideas ?

[rayjin]

by doing a simple test using <? phpinfo(); ?>, MySQL is NOT working, only PHP is working, what am i missing?

also, i'm a bit confused about step 9 in the tutorial

9. Double click on mysqladmin.exe and you will need to enter a username and password for your MySQL server. You will need to know this if you want to connect to your MySQL server remotely.

is it suppose to be winmysqladmin.exe???

[vhane]

hey can anyone help me, when I try to create a database in MySQL it tells me that access is denied for localhost. Any ideas ?

Somewhere in there is the answer to your problem :)

http://dev.mysql.com/doc/mysql/en/Access_denied.html

[Ultra Frosty]

hey can anyone help me, when I try to create a database in MySQL it tells me that access is denied for localhost. Any ideas ?

have you launched winmysqladmin.exe ? If so, as long as you have the same IP address as the server, you can use ' root ' for a username (no quotes) and either leave the password blank or enter a space for a password.

[eSouL]

another package i find excellent --> AppServ

[bubi]

What to do when you wanna use php mail()?

[::Gomez::]

How about php 5.0.1?

[Ultra Frosty]

You can visit PHP.net and search for a function, and you find documentation on how to use mail();.

PHP 5.0.1 is good, but it won't be mainstream for at least more 3 months. PHP5 supports better OOP, but somethings have changed that will give some scripts problems. I could have written this guide using PHP5, but if you have had the same amount of experience with web technology as I have, you would understand why I picked PHP 4.3.8.

[JustaPinoy]

THanks for the straightforward guide. I'm setting it up right now on my comp.

[::Gomez::]

You can visit PHP.net and search for a function, and you find documentation on how to use mail();.

PHP 5.0.1 is good, but it won't be mainstream for at least more 3 months. PHP5 supports better OOP, but somethings have changed that will give some scripts problems. I could have written this guide using PHP5, but if you have had the same amount of experience with web technology as I have, you would understand why I picked PHP 4.3.8.

Okey, i will install it with php 4.3.8 :)

Thanks for the explanation!

[mFC_]

FoxServ is another package that can get the job done for you... found out about it a year or two ago when i wanted to test some crap on the road with my laptop, worked like a charm!