Site Maintenance

SusanMoore

I'm not a complete programming novice (pretty close, though) and I've bought a couple of PHP and MySQL books.

I have commercial Web site that's PHP-driven and uses a MySQL database. I want to take over as much of the site maintenance as possible and I need to know what software I need to do so.

I know I need to install PHP (duh). I can use the MySQL tools from my Web site's admin screens, so I don't think I need to install MySQL on my own computer.

I'm confused about whether I need to install Web Server software. Do I need to install Apache? I have full Internet access from this computer now. Do I need IIS or PWS -- or both?

Please help. I have plenty of hard drive space, so that's not the problem. I just don't want to install software I don't need.

Thanks in advance,
Susan Moore

jabba_29

Hi,

If you have a web interface, you don't need to install anything on your PC.

However, if you are thinking about making changes to actual code etc, then it would be best to try to copy the hosts environment as much as possible.

To this end, I would check out the server information (phpinfo), then download the software similar to what is on your host.

I would imagine that your host are on a *nix box, so unless you are lucky, you are probably on windows. However, they will probably be running apache that runs fine on windows too (though obviously a few differences).

The version of mysql shouldn't matter too much, but that information is on the info page as well.

If you are going to test on you own machine then you do need a server - I would avoid IIS / PWS for the reasons stated above.

Hope this helps. Need more, let me know.

Jamie

bastien

web server...use PWS IIS Apache, Xtami host of others...what is the host OS?

PWS will not work with XP...IIS is a better choice though more complex to set up correctly...

but you will also need a editor to macke changes...again there are tons to choose from...google search will show you options

SusanMoore

Sorry for not being more specific.

I'm running Windows Me and use either HomeSite or Arachnophilia as HTML editors.

Thanks for all the help!!🆒

Elizabeth

Susan,
are you going to be hosting your own website then on your own servers, or are you going to keep your site with external hosts? The only reason you would want to install web server software is if you plan on hosting your own site... which opens a huge pandora's box.

If you are going to keep your site on someone else's server, then you can utlilize their MySQL (as long as this is an option 🙂 ) and administer it either via telnet (I recommend putty - http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/download.html) or via phpMyAdmin (http://www.phpwizard.net/projects/phpMyAdmin/)

You can also upload your php files and test them via the internet in a temporary directory... this may sound less than optimal, but imho it's the easiest way to make sure they actually work in the real environment. It's like rehearsing for a play in the back yard... it may work there, but when you transfer it on to a stage and add costumes and an audience, it will probably be a whole lot different and you will most likely have to implement major changes LOL.

HTH

-Elizabeth