Installing a local development server environment using WampServer (Video)

Hi, my name is Philip King, and welcome to this video guide on how to install a local development server environment using WampServer2.

In this step by step tutorial you will learn how to install and set-up a local development server environment using WampServer2 to obtain a complete Windows, Apache, MySQL and PHP setup.

WampServer2 is the Windows, Apache, MySQL, PHP software stack for Windows XP based systems. It is an ideal starter platform for creating a local development environment.

This video tutorial, Installing a local development server environment using WampServer2, is also available as a HD PDF file for download. You will need Adobe Acrobat 9 or better to view.

Overview

In most web design situation it’s advisable to have a local testing and development environment rather than work on a live web site if for no other reason than if you crash the web site you may loose your clients. Your local development machine needs to emulate the web, so you need a HTTP server (Apache), a database server (MySql) and an application server (PHP). This combination, for Windows based machines, is know as the WAMP software stack. For Mac machines, it is know as the MAMP software stack.

	W	Windows
	A	APACHE HTTP server
	M	MySQL database server
	P	PHP application server

If Internet Information Services is running you will need to stop the service before continuing. If you need further help with this, a Step by Step Guide is available on our web site.

 

WampServer2 For Developers

The WampServer2 software stack is the ideal solution for most developers. This software combination has the following advantages for developers:

1. They are all open source
2. They can be downloaded without any registration
3. They can be used freely without paying any licence fee (read the conditions)
4. They are cross operating system capable
5. There is an active community of developers supporting the software

 

Before We Begin

Before we begin the installation make sure you do not have any other servers, such as Internet Information Services, running. If you do have IIS running, go to your services panel and stop the service. Our website has tutorials on how to disable or remove IIS if you need help.

 

Download The Software

The first thing we need to do is download the software:

1. Go to their website at, http://www.wampserver.com/en/ (English version).
2. Click the menu download link to download the most recent version of WampServer2 and take note of the warning on the screen. An additional word of caution at this point, if you have an existing MySQL database this may also be deleted if it is part of the WAMP directory structure. So make a backup.
3. Select the download text box when you’re ready.
4. Click the save file button and save the file to a convenient location.
5. Once you have downloaded the installer executable close the browser and the download is complete.

 

Install WAMP

We now need to install WAMP so:

1. Run the WampServer installer executable and ignore any Windows Security warnings.
2. Click the next button at the setup window.
3. Read and accept the GNU licence agreement.
4. Click the next button.
5. Indicate where you want to install the WAMP server, I recommend you accept the default location, especially if you intend to run any PHP or MySQL tutorials as they will undoubtedly presume the default file path. The default just makes life that little bit easier.
6. Click the next button when ready.
7. You are then given the choice of selecting a quick launch icon and a desktop icon. Make your selection.
8. Click next when you’re made your choice,
9. and then click install,
10. If you have Firefox installed you will ask you if you want this browser as your default, make your selection.
11. You are then asked for the PHP mail parameters. The Apache server requires a SMTP server that can be used to send emails and an administrator email address for use with Apache. If you don’t have these details just accept the defaults, you can change them later if necessary.
12. Click the Next button.
13. To start the WAMP server immediately, ensure the launch WAMPServer2 option is selected,
14. and Click finish.

 

Summary

With the WAMPServer running, you will see the WAMPServer icon in your system tray, a white icon indicates everything started correctly.

1. Click the WAMPServer icon and the administrator interface menu pops up. This allows you to stop and start the server services and administer the software installed. For example, clicking the Localhostoption will display the default php page stored in your local root directory. When you see this page you know the PHP installation is working correctly.The file is located on drive C in the wamp, www directory as file index.php.
2. Scroll down this page until you see links to phpMyAdmin and phpInfo.
3. To see the PHP version and installed configuration setting click the phpInfo link. This page shows you everything you need to know about the PHP setup and how it’s configured on your machine. Study it carefully.
4. Click the back button when you’re ready.
5. Click the phpMyAdmin link to start the phpMyAdmin database application. This will probably be your control centre for administering your MySQL database. There are other applications around for this purpose but phpMyAdmin is one of the best.
6. Click the WampServer icon to active the WampServer menu when you’ve finished with the MySQL database and we’ll have a quick look at a few interesting items you need to know.
7. Select the Apache menu item to see its sub-menu. Of particular interest here is httpd.conf. This is the configuration settings for Apache.
8. Select the PHP menu item to see its sub-menu. Of particular interest here is the php.ini option. This is the configuration settings for PHP.
9. Select the MySQL menu item to see its sub-menu. Of particular interest here is the my.ini option. This is the configuration settings for MySQL.

 

Tuning Server On/Off

If you need to turn the Apache server and all its components off for some reason:

• Right click the WampServer icon to display its menu.
• Select the Exit option to stop WampServer.

To restart the Server and all its components:

• Select the Windows Start button.
• Select the Programs menu item.
• Select the WampServer menu item
• and finally select the start WampServer menu item.

Wait a few moments, and when the WampServer icon turns to a white gauge the server is running correctly again.

 

Congratulations

So, that’s all there is to setting up a local server environment using WAMPServer2.

Congratulations, you now have Apache, MySQL and PHP running in a Windows environment, everything you need in fact, to start web development. Although all of these software items can be installed individually, the WAMPServer2 software stack makes life so much easier.

Well, I hope you found something useful and enjoyed this session, please don’t forget to let me have your thoughts on this tutorial. See you soon.