PHP on localhost?

[soccerdudez8]

I am just venturing into the language of PHP, so i am a newb at this. but is it possible to set up an apache server to run on a localhost, or do you have to own a domain to user the server? for example, pws on win98 broadcasts onto a localhost like http://r########. i have winXP home so IIS wont work, but apache will. how do i set it up?

[Justin]

Yea, you can run it on localhost. If you want an easy way to set it up, check out this site http://foxserv.net/portal.php.

[TheBeansprout]

You can run stuff fine on localhost. I find that the best documentation is the Apache documentation itself, included with the download, and also on www.apache.org

Tip: If you want to run Apache 2.x, there's some compatability problems with ZoneAlarm, and also with Xp Home if you don't have SP1 installed.

[imported_Muddy]

http://sourceforge.net/projects/phptriad/
this makes ur life much easier. It is a 1 installation of php, mysql and phpmyadmin

[gsoft]

I do not suggest any PreBuilt Packages like PHPTriad learn the right way first off it will make it easier in future. trust me on that.

[soccerdudez8]

Thanks. I've looked around and i am going try apache.

[CFRickFC]

One thing you may want to do if you are runing IIS is to get the latest critical update from Microsoft because there are a few IIS Exploits out there. Apache runs pretty good on windows, concidering it is linux native. I think the newest apache is more tuned for dynamic pages and what not. IIS Is more of an ASP kind of thing, those 2 things don't mingle well without some patch work.