What's needed for a test server?

[eLIANT]

I am in the process of setting up a development/test server on my Windows98 PC. Then I can build and test my sites before uploading to my Linux host.

I understand a FREE developer's version of MYSQL is available. Is there also a free/cheap version of Apache?

What else will I need if I'll also be using PHP?

Are there any good sites that address this topic?

[MstrBob]

Apache, MySQL, PHP are all available free of charge.

http://www.mysql.com/products/mysql/
http://httpd.apache.org/
http://www.php.net/downloads.php

That'll pretty much set you up I'd reckon.

[grailquester5]

eLIANT,

MySQL and Apache are BOTH free - what's known as Open Source.

You can download them here:

The Apache Software Foundation (http://www.apache.org)
MySQL - the world's most popular open source database (http://www.mysql.com)

(dang I wasn't fast enough!!!) ;)

[eLIANT]

If folks here compete to see who can reply first, then this is a great forum.

Thanks to you both, and additional advice is still welcome from anyone.

[webgovernor]

Here's some advice,
use the manual install with Apache,
not the installer, -or- use the installer first, THEN
after you've gained some experience with it,
then manual install. Apache reccomends the manual install.
(I had problems with the installer.)

Either way, it's a great program, I love it.

Oh, and if you're used to PHP4, and you install php5,
then the register_globals is off in 5 by default.

You'll have to declare all incoming post and get vars.
(good practice anyway).

In any case, Good Luck!

[Stephen Philbin]

Hast register globals been off by default in PHP 4 for a while now too? I thought it was anyway. *shrug*

I always install all my software by compiling from source now. I just find it easier to do it that way now. Compiling from source means I know where everything is going and what everything can and can't do. Installing them wampp things is different entirely though. Completely alien to me. Moving strange files about or something if I remember rightly.

[webgovernor]

Hast register globals been off by default in PHP 4 for a while now too? I thought it was anyway. *shrug*

Well, in maybe late versions of PHP4,
but in PHP 4.3.10, I know it's on by default,
one of my hosting companies uses that version...

wampp? Win+Apache+MySQl+Perl+Php?

I had a problem with perl anyway...

[scragar]

I'm not sure about defaults for previous versions, but you should always check the PHP info before you start, that' common prectice(that and checking on each page anyway).

[webgovernor]

On that note, just place
phpInfo(); inside a php page.

When you run that page,
it'll display all kinds of information.