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n00b, need some help with Web Site


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Ok, here is the deal. I am trying to set up a site with an invision board and movable type. I would like to have the homepage have moveable type weblog on it and then have a link to a forum that I want to run. I am somewhat of a noob though. I have looked at the noobie guide here in the forum but I am a bit confused. It installed apache and php and mySql I guess, but don't I have to install thoose on my domain, like upload them through my ftp? Or are they simply programs that run on my computer? I guess I am just confused how this all works. I would really like to get this up and running, but reading through all the installation instructions, which I have done, I just seem to be lost. If you guys could offer any help, advice and just some general knowledge so I know what I am doing, that would be great. Thank you. :cry:

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Do you have a webhost? You probably don't want to run it off your computer, not unless you keep it on 24/7/365 and have a FAST upstream (DSL or Cable won't cut it). If you have a webhost, they have apache already set up. They probably provide php/mysql too (providing this isn't a free webhost or the free webspace from your ISP). You just have to follow the install instructions for MT and Invision :)

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Do you have a webhost? You probably don't want to run it off your computer, not unless you keep it on 24/7/365 and have a FAST upstream (DSL or Cable won't cut it). If you have a webhost, they have apache already set up. They probably provide php/mysql too (providing this isn't a free webhost or the free webspace from your ISP). You just have to follow the install instructions for MT and Invision :)

Hey Timdorr, thank you for your help. I really appreciate you taking the time. I have a domain and hosting that I purchased. I am pretty sure that they said that sql and php but I don't really know how to check this. I thought that meant that they support it, not that they have it already installed. So if i installed that thing in the newbie guide, do i really need it? So can I just download a moveable type template and upload it and watch it go? Im so dumb sometimes but I know once I get the hang of it, it will be easy. :(

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No, if they support it, then it's installed. Here's a quick breakdown on how it works.

You purchased a webhosting account. This means they are running a webserver for you that's in a nice controlled facility with lots of backup devices and a nice cool environment. It's like computer heaven :D Well, the computer they bought is most likely running the program called Apache. This peice of software is the webserver itself. It's what takes all the incoming requests for webpages and spits back out the appropriate files to the user. Now, as for PHP, you can think of it as a "plugin" for apache. it allows apache to take the file, and before sending it back to the user, execute all the php code in that file to make up a webpage. Then, there's mysql. Mysql is actually a separate program from apache and php. It's a server program that holds data for you. PHP can connect to the database and pull out information through special commands (in a language called SQL). It looks sorta like this:

<User>
   |
   |
<Server> . . . . (Mysql)
  :                        :
  (Apache)====(PHP)
     ^
   [files]

The User connects to the server, which is running both Apache (with PHP) and Mysql. Apache responds to the request and pulls up the file requested. If neccessary, it runs it through PHP. PHP may connect to the MySQL database (if the script makes use of it).

This is all running on the server, so you don't need to install anything. If you did, you'd have to install new programs for all kinds of websites. :s

So, assuming the webhost has all the required elements (and if they say they support it, that means they do), you're all set to just follow the install instructions with MT and IPB. You may need to set up a database for the two to work with (MySQL can work with several databases at a time, so you'll need to create one for it), which can most likely be done through your web host's control panel. Look through their docs for how to do so :)

Beyond that, it's just following the instructions for each software package. Try to avoid skimming things over and actually read it all. They didn't put down all those instructions for nothing :D

And if you have questions on a specific instruction, copy it over here and we'll try to help :D

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