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Introduction
Web Server Application is a software that handles web page requests and responses.
Web Server also processes data using scripting language such as PHP.
One of the popular approaches to run Web-based application is through the use of Apache-MySQL-PHP package. Examples are XAMPP, WAMP and USBwebserver.
Apache handles web page requests and responses.
MySQL handles data storage.
PHP handles data processing.
This tutorial provides a step-by-step approach to understand how Apache-MySQL-PHP package works.
STEPS
1) Download and setup UsbWebserver Folder group.
1.1) Download UsbWebserver from www.usbwebserver.net
1.2) Extract the contents to C:\USBW
2) Test Apache Server
2.1) Double-click the usbwebserver program above.
Check that Apache and MySQL server indicator light is in green color.
Unblock the programs if the Windows Firewall asks your permission.
2.2) Click the localhost button.
Localhost is the default domain name for a web server that runs on a local machine.
8080 is a port number. Port number is a logic connection point between the web server program and other program that communicates with it.
A combination of domain:port-number is also called a socket.
3) Test MySQL Server.
3.1) Switch back to USBwebserver Control Panel.
3.2) Click the PHPMyAdmin button.
4) PHP Test?
So far we have tested Apache and MySQL.
Do we have to test PHP?
Actually Step 3 (running PHPMyAdmin) has indirectly tested PHP.
However, if you want to check PHP Configuration, you can repeat Step 2.2 and click the hyperlink at the bottom of the page to see PHP server configuration details. It is also important to check that some values are right and compatible with Joomla.
