Setting Up A LAMP Development System

[ebstr]

I am now getting into this stuff and recently bought a WROX book called
"Beginning PHP5, Apache, MySQL Web Development"

The book sets up AMP on Windows. I would like to build a dedicated
development system to work on the Book but I would like to use
Linux.

Can anyone recommend the best Linux version distribution for such a development system?

Thanks,,,
ebstr

[bpat1434]

CentOS 4.x or 5.x

I use CentOS 5 as my dev server at home, and CentOS 4 as my live server (datacenter doesn't have 5 yet). At work we use FreeBSD on both dev and live servers.

With the right repositories (Atomic Rocket Turtle's) you can easily install php/mysql/apache/perl/python and other software.

That isn't to say that Ubuntu Server isn't good, or Fedora isn't good, it's just that CentOS is the free "version" of RHEL. So you get all the stability of RHEL in a free package. Other people choose to use Debian based distros (Ubuntu, Debian) and yet some others choose BSDs (FreeBSD, OpenBSD, etc). It's a matter of personal preference and just what you like in a linux flavor; however, at the server level, I think they're all pretty-much equal except for how you install things (apt-get, aptitude, yum, portage, etc.). Nothing wrong with any of them, just different software to get the same end result.

[ebstr]

bpat1434
Thanks for that quick response!
I am not familiar with CentOS, although I have seen it offered
by a couple of hosting companies I have dealt with.

I was looking at Ubuntu which seems to be popular.
But I am confused with the distros!

Do I have to install the Server edition or the Desktop edition
or both? I need something with a good GUI!

Also can you send me the link for CentOS so I can have a look?

Thanks

ebstr

[bpat1434]

Honestly, you don't need anything with a GUI because chances are you won't ever see your real server, so you should try to not rely upon a GUI. Everything can be done via SSH and command line items.

CentOS is housed at http://www.centos.org

The GUI is really one of a few flavors: Gnome, KDE, XFCE and others. You can use what you want. Ubuntu uses Gnome by default (so does CentOS), but you can install KDE or whatever desktop manager you want.

You will really only need the server edition. The difference in editions is just packages. One is set up already with apache/mysql/postgre and PHP while the other isn't. If you're installing Ubuntu on a server, use the server release. If you're using Ubuntu for your every-day desktop computer, download the desktop edition.

[ebstr]

bpat1434

Thanks a lot!
will check it out!!
Thanks a lot!

ebstr