XAMPP is a suite of programs that includes web server, database, administration and programming interface. It is one of the most robust and reliable web servers around. XAMPP is available for Linux, Windows and Mac systems. The installation of this software package is as simple as its configuration and use. Having a personal web server allows you to work directly locally on your laptop or desktop, to be able to develop websites or programs for online use in total autonomy. XAMPP guarantees a safe and reliable development environment and the result of your work can be easily shared at a later time. XAMPP allows you to configure all the tools necessary for the correct functioning of the web server without any difficulty or problem. This article explains how to install and configure a personal web server using the XAMPP program suite.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Install XAMPP
Step 1. Visit the Apachefriends.org website using your computer browser
This is the web page from which you can download the XAMPP client.
Step 2. Click on the link corresponding to the operating system installed on your computer
XAMPP is available for Windows, Linux and macOS systems. Click on the button corresponding to the operating system on the computer on which you want to install XAMPP. You will be automatically redirected to the correct download page and the installation file download will start immediately.
If the download does not start automatically, click on the green link click here displayed at the top of the page.
Step 3. Double-click the installation file
Once the download is complete, you can start installing the program directly from your browser window or from the "Downloads" folder. The installation file name will have the following format, depending on your operating system: "xampp-windows-x64-XXX-0-VC15-installer.exe" on Windows, "xampp-osx-XXX-0-vm. dmg "on Mac and" xampp-linux-x64-XXX-0-installer.run "on Linux.
If a warning message appears stating that your computer's antivirus software is adversely affecting the installation process, temporarily disable it, then click the button Yup to complete the installation.
Step 4. Click the Next button
As soon as the welcome screen of the XAMPP installation wizard appears, click on the button Next to continue.
Step 5. Select the XAMPP services you want to install, then click the Next button
Being a suite of products, XAMPP has a wide variety of services, including platforms PHP, MySQL, Apache, phpMyAdmin and much more. Click on the button Next to install the full package. Alternatively, uncheck the check buttons of the services you don't want to install and click the button Next to continue.
Step 6. Select the folder where you want to install XAMPP, then click the Next button
The new screen that appears will ask you where you want to install the programs that make up your personal web server. By default, the path "C: \" is used, in the case of a PC. This is most likely the optimal choice. If you need to change the installation folder, click on the icon depicting a folder and choose the computer directory where XAMPP is to be installed.
If you are using a Mac, when you see the XAMPP icon appear with an arrow pointing in the direction of the "Applications" folder, you will need to drag the "XAMPP.app" file to the "Applications" folder to copy the files inside the directory indicated
Step 7. Keep clicking on the Next button until the XAMPP installation starts
When the Bitnami information screen is displayed, click on the button Next to continue.
Step 8. Click the Finish button
When the installation process is complete, click on the button Finish.
Step 9. Select the language you want to use and click the Save button
Click on the icon with the flag of the language you want to use (for example English or German), then click on the button Save. After the installation is complete, the XAMPP control panel will open automatically.
Part 2 of 2: Configure XAMPP
Step 1. Double click on the XAMPP icon that appeared
It is characterized by the stylized letter "X" placed on an orange background. The control panel of all the services that make up XAMPP will be displayed.
Step 2. Click on the Start button for the "Apache" and "MySQL" services
This will start the Apache web server and the MySQL database.
- If you are using a Mac, click on the button Start visible in the "General" tab, access the tab Services, select the option Apache and click on the button Start, then select the item MySQL and click the button again Start.
- After clicking on the "Start" button, two information pop-up windows may appear.
- Sometimes after clicking the "Start" button the Apache web server does not start properly. Normally this occurs due to the fact that the port used by the Apache web server is already in use by another program. This conflict very often happens with Skype. If the web server does not start properly and Skype is running on your computer, try closing the Skype application and restarting the Apache server.
- To change the Apache port number click on the button Config corresponding, open the file "httpd.conf", then change the port number listed under "Listen" to the one you prefer. At this point open the file "httpd-ssl.conf" in the "Config" section and change the port number visible in the "Listen" item using the one you prefer. Click on the button Netstat to view the list of all ports used by each program.
Step 3. Click on the Apache Admin button
If the program is working correctly, you should see the XAMPP web dashboard. You can click on one of the icons visible at the bottom of the screen to examine the list of add-on modules that you can install and use within XAMPP. The list includes WordPress, Drupal, Joomla !, Mautic, OpenCart, OwnCloud, phpList, phpBB and others.
Alternatively, you can visit the URL https:// localhost / using any internet browser
Step 4. Click on the "MySQL" Admin button
The phpMyAdmin web dashboard will appear. From the appeared page you will be able to configure and manage the PHP platform databases.
Step 5. Create a new database (optional)
If you need to create a new database in order to test the functionality of the website you are developing, follow these instructions:
- Click on the tab Database to view the list of databases present;
- Assign a name to the database by typing it in the "Database name" field;
- Click on the button Create.
Step 6. Set a security password for the database (optional)
If you want to set up a login password for the MySQL root user, follow these instructions:
- Click on the tab User accounts;
- Click on the button Edit privileges user "root @ Local Host";
- Click on the button change Password;
- Type the password in the appropriate text fields;
- Click on the button Run located in the lower right corner of the page.
Step 7. Troubleshooting
If after setting a PHP database login password you get the "Access Denied" error message when you try to open the phpMyAdmin dashboard, please follow the instructions below. When you want to use the phpMyAdmin administration page in the future you will need to enter the password you set:
- Click on the button Explorer displayed on the right side of the XAMPP control panel;
- Access the "phpMyAdmin" folder;
- Open the "config.inc.php" configuration file using the "Notepad" program or another text editor;
- Change the value of the parameter "$ cfg ['Servers'] [$ i] ['auth_type'] = 'config';" from "config" to "cookie";
- Change the value of the parameter "On $ cfg ['Servers'] [$ i] ['AllowNoPassword'] = true;" from "true" to "false";
- Click on the menu File the text editor;
- Click on the option Save.
