Setting Up Your Own WampServer

Apache, MySQL and PHP has been the desired combination for most web developers both freelance and corporate users. Apache HTTP web server, handles browser requests and helps deliver content thorough the internet to your browser. PHP is a scripting language that can manipulate information held in a database and generate web pages dynamically each time content is requested by a browser. Finally, MySQL is an open-source database which stores information on the backend.

In this article we will discuss about how to setup this trio combination on your local Windows based system. There are several ways to get these services running locally. Each service, by itself, has Windows installers. But once the programs are installed, you need to know how to configure the services. That may not be simple unless you happen to be a system administrator. WAMP provides a package installation for these services, making configuration much easier.

WAMP is an acronym formed from the initials of the operating system Microsoft Windows and the principal components of the package: Apache, MySQL and PHP. WampServer is a Windows web development environment. It allows you to create web applications with Apache, PHP and the MySQL database. It also comes with PHPMyAdmin to easily manage your databases.

WampServer installs automatically (installer), and its usage is very intuitive. You will be able to tune your server without even touching the setting files. In my experience, this is the fastest way to get up and running these services on your windows system.

Step 1: Download the latest WampServer. http://www.wampserver.com/en/download.php

Step 2: Run the installer. It will warn you to uninstall any prior versions if you have installed that already. You can use the defaults and it should install without problem.

Step 3: Start the services. You will see a small icon in your taskbar. Left click on it (right clicking does not display the right menu) and select “G0online”. The icon will then make a little animation, and your services will be online.

You can view your homepage at http://localhost/ in your web browser.

Thats it! Wamp is now running. You are ready to install your application, or start learning some PHP! The public website directory is ‘c:wampwww‘.