Creating a local test server
The first main difference between setting up a local test environment versus through the host is that when you decide to test locally, you will need to install PHP, a web server, MySQL, and PHPMyadmin. If you test through your host, you will not need to go through this process because they have it setup on their side. Please don’t be scared, though. Setting up these programs is not particularly difficult, plus I will walk you through them step by step.
As I mentioned in the Decide Where to Test Your Site section of How to Start Your Own Website, when you test locally you are basically creating a server on your own computer, which means you need to install a web server, MySQL, PHPMyAdmin, and PHP. If you test through your webhost, you will not need to set up these programs. Below are the 4 items you need to install. I know, it seems like a lot, but they are actually fairly easy setups that should not take too long.
1. Install a web server. The two main web servers are Apache and Microsoft IIS. I will be providing instructions for Installing Apache.
2. Install PHP. As a very basic definition, PHP is a server side language that is used to make sites “dynamic,” and it is necessary in order for Drupal to work. Click here for instructions for Installing PHP.
3. Install MySQL. Now, you need to install a database, and although you can use any database (Microsoft Access, for example), MySQL works the best with PHP. Click here for instructions for Installing MySQL.
4. Install PHPMyAdmin. PHP MyAdmin is a much more user friendly interface to use with MySQL. Although this is technically an optional step, you must be crazy if you don’t use it. Click here for instructions for Installing PHPMyAdmin.
Have any luck? Hopefully that wasn’t too bad.
What you do next depends on what program you are using to test your site. If you are using Dreamweaver or Drupal, siteforstarters.com has articles on how to use those, or if you still haven’t decided, you may want to read the Getting Started article. See the links below.
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