PHP/Apache Beginner Tips/Traps?

skorpioh

Hey guys, would love any help you can give me. Its my first foot on the ladder and am finding it hard to get the ball rolling, anything you can add would be great.
Thanks.

I am having trouble getting apache up and running, I'm running on Windows XP Home. Bought a guide to PHP but it explained in Win 2000 and I'm getting alittle lost.
If anyone could take the time to type out a basic 10 step guide i would be very greatful, and maybe a outline a few pit falls.

Cheers Guys

skorp

p

There's absolutley TONS of resources to setting up apache online.

Google, about and see what you can find. Then if you still have problems come baclk to us.

hostyle

Its easier answer particular questions, rather than give tips. Tell us what problem you are having, and you're sure to get an solution. Everyone is a beginner at some point.

seamus

I always thought the install guide for Windows was pretty straightforward. If you fully read it instead of glossing over it you shouldn't have any problems.

mneylon

If you grab one of the installation suites off Hotscripts.com you should be fine. Most of them are dead simple to setup as long as you read the manual

skorpioh

Well basicly my problem is the configuration of the "httpd" file.
Of the two books i bought they both tell me to configure it to host name and domain name etc.

1) To add a command such as " -d serverroot " you can type it in the httpd anywhere or is there another location to exec this command?

I understand your points, but I guess I'm very much out of my depth I google about for some help.
Thanks

hostyle

Sorry, but thats rather unclear. You're running apache n windows? That sounds like a linux command you just mentioned?

Have you tried running apache? And pointing your web-browser at http://127.0.0.1/ ?

To just get it working all I've usually had to do (initially at least) is change the "DocumentRoot" value in httpd.conf, then restart apache.

Webmonkey

Buy yourself this great book

PHP and Mysql webdevelopment SE http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/067232525X/102-3926126-1038501?v=glance

An Excellent read, seriously tho if you want to get to an advanced level in php, this book will help you. I rate it 5/5

skorpioh

Yeah my problem seems to located around the "DocumentRoot"
I added a location and it gave me a syntax error in relation to something called "Document tree"

http://127.0.0.1/ = The page cannot be displayed.

Must i change the Listen IP?

I'm sorry i cant be more clear just I'm not 100% sure what i should be telling you.
I'm told to edit the httpd file yet it doesnt tell me which factors to change. At the bottom i have changed these details :

<VirtualHost *:80>
ServerAdmin webmaster@mydomain.com
DocumentRoot /C:/Program Files/Apache Group/Apache2/interpub/www/docs/mydomain
ServerName mydomain.com.com
ErrorLog logs/mydomain.com.com-error_log
CustomLog logs/mydomain.com.com-access_log common
</VirtualHost>

I assume there is more to edit.

Webmonkey : I bought Apache,MySQL and PHP Web Development for Dummies :dunno: its not bad but its explaned in either a different OS(Explained in IIS) or as Hostyle said maybe even Linux.

Webmonkey

When you install apache it should by default set up. Make sure you install it as a service also so that it runs everytime you start your computer. (well that will just work for NT based systems, NT , XP, 2000 etc...)

The document root is the real address on your computer. For example you have your folder on C: as a folder called htdocs

Document root would = "C:\htdocs"

By default when you install, the htdocs folder is in the apache installation directory, usually in program files. The 127.0.0.1 IP, is the local IP of your machine. When you log onto the internet you will be asigned with another IP, this IP should also redirect automatically the apache.

I would try re installing it, it shouldn't be that hard to set it up, well at least with the windows installer wizard verison of Apache, maybe you just downloaded the files on their own and have to configure it manually then.

This is the installer version:
http://ftp.heanet.ie/mirrors/www.apache.org/dist/httpd/binaries/win32/apache_2.0.49-win32-x86-no_ssl.msi

Uninstall your current version and install that. Install it as a service too, it will give you that option, as far as i know unless its MySQL i'm getting mixed up with

hostyle

DocumentRoot /C:/Program Files/Apache Group/Apache2/interpub/www/docs/mydomain

1. Why is there a / at the beginning?

2. No need for it to be inside a <VirtualHost> blobl either. Search httpd.conf for DocumentRoot, there should be one near the top, not inside a Virtualhost block.

skorpioh

WebMonkey thats what the version i got same file. It auto installed, the services auto run when i boot yes. But when i go to start i get an error, which says :

DocumentRoot Takes one argument, Root directory of the document tree.


Ok this is all that i have edited in the httpd file.

ServerRoot "C:/Program Files/Apache Group/Apache2"

ServerAdmin skorp@mydomain.com

ServerName [url]www.mydomain.com:80[/url]

DocumentRoot "C:/Program Files/Apache Group/Apache2/Webpages"

<Directory "C:/Program Files/Apache Group/Apache2/Webpages">

UserDir "My Documents/My Website"

<VirtualHost *:80>
ServerAdmin webmaster@mydomain.com
DocumentRoot /C:/Program Files/Apache Group/Apache2/interpub/www/docs/mydomain
ServerName mydomain.com.com
ErrorLog logs/mydomain.com.com-error_log
CustomLog logs/mydomain.com.com-access_log common
</VirtualHost>


Thanks alot for this guys.

Webmonkey

Create a folder on your C drive called htdocs and change the document root to

DocumentRoot "C:/htdocs"

Delete

<VirtualHost *:80>
ServerAdmin webmaster@mydomain.com
DocumentRoot /C:/Program Files/Apache Group/Apache2/interpub/www/docs/mydomain
ServerName mydomain.com.com
ErrorLog logs/mydomain.com.com-error_log
CustomLog logs/mydomain.com.com-access_log common
</VirtualHost>

.....Back up ur http.conf before doing this tho.

hostyle

Originally posted by Webmonkey
Create a folder on your C drive called htdocs and change the document root to

DocumentRoot "C:/htdocs"

Why bother? Hes already picked a valid path. Unless theres a spaces problem with paths for apache (in which case explaining as such would be helpful) ?

Webmonkey

Well for troubleshooting purposes, just start with a very basic path, less things can go wrong

skorpioh

Ah super changed the DocumentRoot to "C:/htdocs", and she started with no problems/errors.
And deleted that other stuff at the bottom.

What the best way to test it now?

http://localhost/test.php

Test.php being the name of my test file with :

<?php
phpinfo();
?>

hostyle

skorpioh: Feck off and try it out Come back if you have good "meaty" questions we can chew on. Glad we were able to help.

Could well have been a spaces in path problem, nice one Webmonkey.

Webmonkey

skorpioh

lol ok

Thanks for the help, dont worrie you'll get one soon