Xampp hamachi project!

Have you ever wanted to run php scripts on your own computer tweak them out the way you want. Test them privately with your online friends. Perfect your work then upload your website to your web hosting service. Or maybe you just want to run your own private website locked out to only certain members you choose. Well Xampp with Hamachi is the perfect solution! Xampp includes everything you need in a one package download for hosting your site on your computer listed below:

* Apache HTTPD 2.2.9 + Openssl 0.9.8h
* MySQL 5.0.51b
* PHP 5.2.6
* PHP 4.4.8
* phpMyAdmin 2.11.7
* FileZilla FTP Server 0.9.25
* Mercury Mail Transport System 4.52

Vista Note:
Because missing or insufficient write permissions in the c:\program files folder of the default vista installation, I recommend to use alternate folders for XAMPP e.g. c:\xampp or c:\myfolder\xampp.

Hamachi is a zero configure VPN virtual private network using a secure tunnel with encryption based 256 AES technology with a built in chat window. Arrange multiple computers into their own secure network, just as if they were connected by a physical cable. Imagine the possibilities! Picture below:

You must install Xampp in a TOP LEVEL Directory like C:/Xampp or D:/Xampp or it will not work! After you Install and reboot goto Xampp directory and run Xampp_Start.Exe DO NOT CLOSE THIS WINDOW hit your Windows Key to minimise the window.

Load Firefox (or IE7) type in h**p://localhost/xampp in the address bar and hit enter or go button in browser. You should now see the xampp built in splashscreen webpage. If you dont see the page then go to the FAQ link for more help from the authors site. At the Xampp html page it should say Congratulations: You have successfully installed XAMPP on this system! On your left there is a orange toolbar under the welcome goto the STATUS page and check that all systems you want running are ACTIVATED Highlighted in green! Example below:


Next goto Security tab to set passwords see faq for more info on passwords. Once passwords are set goto the security tab and everything your going to use should say secure.

These XAMPP pages are no longer accessible by network for everyone SECURE
The MySQL admin user root has no longer no password SECURE
PhpMyAdmin password login is enabled. SECURE
A FTP server is not running or is blocked by a firewall! UNKNOWN
PHP is NOT running in "safe mode" UNSECURE If do you want to offer PHP executions for outside persons, please think about a "safe mode" configuration. But for standalone developer we recommend NOT the "safe mode" configuration because some important functions will not working then.
A POP3 server like Mercury Mail is not running or is blocked by a firewall! UNKNOWN

The XAMPP default ports:

ftp 21/tcp # File Transfer [Control] (XAMPP: FTP Default Port)
smtp 25/tcp mail # Simple Mail Transfer (XAMPP: SMTP Default Port)
http 80/tcp # World Wide Web HTTP (XAMPP: Apache Default Port)
pop3 110/tcp # Post Office Protocol - Version 3 (XAMPP: POP3 Default Port)
imap 143/tcp # Internet Message Access Protocol (XAMPP: IMAP Default Port)
https 443/tcp # http protocol over TLS/SSL (XAMPP: Apache SSL Port)
mysql 3306/tcp # MySQL (XAMPP: MySQL Default Port)
AJP/1.3 8009 # AJP/1.3 (XAMPP: Tomcat AJP/1.3 Port)
http-alt 8080/tcp # HTTP Alternate (see port 80) (XAMPP: Tomcat Default Port)

The PhpMyAdmin tab is the tab your going to be using for now on more than anything else. Once your in Php MyAdmin goto Create Database and type in a name like wordpress or Invision power board ipb for short. Use the standard Coallation setting and press create tab now logout. Thats it NOW it will say it needs tables just close out the whole page your done with that part but DO NOT CLOSE the Xampp_Start window it always has to be minimised to work!

Next goto directory \xampp\htdocs this is where you want to put all your fresh new scripts like \wordpress, \ipb, \CMS, \Flashsite, pretty much any Php MySQL script. Then follow instructions for how to install your script usually its like h**p://localhost/ipb/install.php for wordpress it would be h**p://localhost/wordpress/wp-admin/install.php then follow the onscreen installation instructions.

When throwing Hamachi in the mix you must change the config files to answer on Hamachi address 5.xxx.xxx.xxx with Invision power board. IPB has an option during install to what address you want to answer calls on. You will also have to make custom firewall rules to let apache out (Check above ports) Use portchecker in xamp directory). After that anyone on your hamachi network has access to your board as long as its running that is! Use h**p://5.xxx.xxx.xxx/ipb/index.php? or h**p://5.xxx.xxx.xxx/wordpress. NOTICE no / after wordpress. Wordpress 1.7 (Free) and IPB 2.3.5 (Not Free) were both tested along with pretty much any script I threw at it ran perfectly under windows XP Pro sp2.

In conclusion, this is an excellent way to do web development on your own computer without having to be on the web at all (Unless your using hamachi) You can test all kinds of scripts! Create your own site, test it, then upload it to a host with your own domain name. Using the hamachi method u can have a tester on the other end or groups, teams working on one or more projects. Or logon to your private board from anywhere in the world! The posibilities are endless! I love this software and consider it a must have for anyone interested PHP MYSQL Web Development!

Related Links:

Xampp
LogmeinHamachi
Server to go
Wamp
Http File Server