does anybody know where...?

akaray7181

does anybody know where i can find some free php hosting with mysql and smtp enabled so i can test out scripts that can email form content to me.

ive googled it, but i don't know which host has smtp enabled and lot of the hosts aren't really free.

One of the hosting services i liked and signed up for was good except that it disabled smtp and i really need to email the form contents to my inbox so i can evaluate certain things. Please private message me the link or just reply to this post. thanks.

MichielM

Set up a local server on your own home machine. I did it to test and develop and and it works just great. Also handy for all the other things you would like to test in the future.
I use wamp: it's free. open source and it runs apache, has phpmyadmin, mysql, php and all the other stuff we like to use. I downloaded mine at heir home base. They have a realy nice way of showing you how things work (realy simple actually). Okay enough raves--- here's their address:

http://www.wampserver.com/en/

Have fun!
Greets, Mitch

oops: forgetting the reason for your request here: with wamp you can easily set the smtp mail function to 'active' or 'on'. when you run the server you can open the icon in your tray: under the option php extensions you simply check the smtp function and you are all set and ready to go.

akaray7181

well, that would work except for the fact that i do not have a dedicated server with a static ip that would be able to work online.

I want to use this site to demonstrate some of my skills to prospective employers.

so it needs to be online and my online provider is verizon dsl and they have one of these all in one switch/router/dslmodem devices that hide my real ip address from me.

It changes it to 192.168.1.whatever. that kind of private address can't go online and that's the one that's listed in the private address and i never bought a static ip from them. so i need to find a free host online with smtp enabled.

bradgrafelman

If it's just for testing, then it shouldn't really matter if your webserver is accessible by the internet, right?

Even if you do need to allow external access, it's not hard to setup port forwarding on the router so that any connections on port 80 to your router are forwarded on to a private IP of your choice (e.g. your desktop). Otherwise, you might try searching around here in the Echo Lounge for "free host" - I know there have been topics discussing webhosts, but normally the discussion focuses on the "cheapest" paid service, not a "free" service.

bradgrafelman

If it's just for testing, then it shouldn't really matter if your webserver is accessible by the internet, right?

MichielM

akaray7181;10880320 wrote:
well, that would work except for the fact that i do not have a dedicated server with a static ip that would be able to work online.

I want to use this site to demonstrate some of my skills to prospective employers.

so it needs to be online and my online provider is verizon dsl and they have one of these all in one switch/router/dslmodem devices that hide my real ip address from me.

It changes it to 192.168.1.whatever. that kind of private address can't go online and that's the one that's listed in the private address and i never bought a static ip from them. so i need to find a free host online with smtp enabled.

Read carefully: (with Wamp) you do not even need to be online at all 😉
Wamp will act as a dedicated server and sets up a 'web environment' all on your machine .
This means that you get everything you want withthout the use of the web to begin with.
You simply test -and demonstrate- your site in your browser.
Check it out:
Wamp's address (on your machine) is

http://localhost/

Wamp -by default- installs on your drive C and will have a pre installed directory called www.
Put your test site in wamp's www directory, start wamp and open your browser>>
type in the address bar:

http://localhost/[I]yourtestsite's root dir[/I]/[I]yourtestindexpage.php[/I]

and you'll have your test site actively running on your own machine[/COLOR]

Just do it and see for yourself.🙂

All the coders and programmers set up a testing environment this way without ever having to be on line.