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Setup Apache 2, MySQL 5 and PHP 5 on Windows in 5 minutes

Although we all agree that Linux is the ideal platform for this kind of applications can still happen to have the need to install Apache, MySQL and PHP on Windows. The main problem here is not so much to install individual applications, in what configure because they integrate perfectly. And on Windows this may be more difficult than Linux in which steps are to be made clear and precise.

In this situation we can come to the aid XAMPP, an installer particularly suitable for Windows (although there are still versions for Mac OS X, Solaris and Linux) that lets you install in one operation a package including Apache, MySQL and PHP already preconfigured and ready for use, with a unified management console. Indeed, to want to be precise the bundle XAMPP installs and configures your PC on the following applications:

• Apache HTTPD 2.2.8 + Openssl 0.9.8g
• MySQL 5.0.51a
• PHP 5.2.5
• PHP 4.4.8
• phpMyAdmin 2.11.4
• FileZilla FTP Server 0.9.25
• Mercury Mail Transport System 4.52

Here's how you have to do to get your installation working within 5 minutes:

1. XAMPP for Windows downloaded from this page by carefully selecting the version with 'Installer.
2. Before you start the installation should look out for not having any running program that takes up port 80 on your PC, particularly take care Skype (if it is installed and running) which by default uses port 80 as an alternative for connections input. To disable this option select "Tools => Options => Connection" and check that the checkbox is not checked.
   
3. Start the installation wizard and installation directory as left the default "c: \ XAMPP" (This will prevent a number of potential problems with permits especially if you use Windows Vista):
   
4. Select installation options: in particular, you can choose to leave active or not the option that installs the server Filezilla FTP Server:
   
5. After the start of the installation files and the creation of services
   
6. If there is no particular problems to ternine dell'installazioone window will appear the following:

At this point, the suite Apache + MySQL + PHP is already up and running: thanks to XAMPP Control Panel you can have full control of the three services installed, configured to fit your needs booting (Automatic, Manual, ...)

You can check the operation of your installation by simply opening a browser address http://localhost: you will be automatically redirected to the page default XAMPP from which you can check the operation of the various components already installed and ready for use:

Rather easy, no?

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