Martin Crockett

WAMP: Apache, MySQL and PHP on Windows (DIY install)

Files used:

• apache_2.0.55-win32-x86-no_ssl.msi Link Win32 Binary (MSI Installer)
• mysql-essential-4.1.15-win32.msi Link Windows Essentials (x86)
• php-5.0.5-Win32.zip Link PHP 5.0.5 zip package
• pecl-5.0.5-Win32.zip Link Collection of PECL modules for PHP 5.0.5

Install Apache 2. Use the ‘only for the Current User, on Port 8080, when started Manually’ option. Setup Type -> Custom. Remove the Build Headers, APR Iconv and Apache Documentation. This leaves just the Apache Runtime.

Start the Apache web server from the Start menu. (”Start Apache in Console”). Browse to http://localhost:8080/ You should see the “Seeing this instead of the website you expected?” test page for the Apache installation.

Install MySQL 4.1. Setup Type -> Typical. For the first time, MySQL installs under Program Files. Skip Sign-Up to MySQL.com. Run the Configuration Wizard. Select ‘Detailed Configuration’. Select ‘ Developer Machine’ to use the minimal amount of memory. Select ‘Multifunctional Database’ for general purpose databases. Select ‘\MySQL Datafiles\’ under the C: drive. Select ‘Decision Support’. Keep TCP/IP Networking checked. Select ‘Standard Character Set’ (maybe ‘Best Support For Multilingualism’ would be better for UTF-8 support). Install As Windows Service. Service Name: ‘MySQL 41′ (personal preference). Leave the Port Number at 3306. Set your root password. Execute.

Install PHP 5. Extract files to C:\PHP-5.0.5.
Copy the php.ini-dist file from the C:\PHP-5.0.5 folder to your C:\WINDOWS directory and rename it php.ini. Uncomment any extensions you are going to use in this file (lines 563+). At the moment, I’m using just Curl, G2 and MySQL.
Change line 457:
extension_dir = "./"
to
extension_dir = "c:/php-5.0.5/ext/"

Go to the C:\Program Files\Apache Group\Apache2\conf folder and edit the httpd.conf file.
Add the following after line 515:
ScriptAlias /php/ "c:/php-5.0.5/"
AddType application/x-httpd-php .php .php5
Action application/x-httpd-php "/php/php-cgi.exe"
SetEnv PHPRC "c:/php-5.0.5"
Change line 321:
DirectoryIndex index.html index.html.var
to
DirectoryIndex index.html index.html.var index.php index.php5
Restart Apache.

Create a file called phpinfo.php under C:\Program Files\Apache Group\Apache2\htdocs
Add this code to it:
< ?php
phpinfo();
?>
In your browser go to http://localhost:8080/phpinfo.php and you should see the test PHP screen.

To follow: PHP/MySQL integration, PECL update.

Your mileage may vary.