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 Topic: Help with WAMP for forum |
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noquiexis
Joined: 14 Jul 2010
Posts: 4
Location: Northwest Ohio USA
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 Posted: Wed 14 Jul '10 2:26 Post subject: Help with WAMP for forum |
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Apache on Windows Users:
I would like help configuring my WAMP setup to test run forum software on localhost. This is what have to work with:
Windows Vista Home Basic 32 bit
Apache webserver version 2.2.15
Install program: Apache httpd-2.2.15-win32-x86-openssl-0.9.8m-r2.msi
Location of "httpd.conf" - C:\Program Files\Apache Software Foundation\Apache2.2\conf
MySQL version 5.1.48
Install program: mysql-5.1.48-win32.msi
Location of "my.ini" - C:\Program Files\MySQL\MySQL Server 5.1
PHP version 5.3.2
Install program: php-5.3.2-Win32-VC6-x86.msi
Location of "php.ini" - C:\Program Files\PHP
Simple Machines Forum version 2.0 rc3
Install program: SMF _2-0-rc3_install.zip
Location of "install.php" - C:\Program Files\Apache Software Foundation\Apache2.2\htdocs\public_html\Simple Machines
Simple Machines Forum client and server requirements: http://docs.simplemachines.org/index.php?topic=9
In presenting suggestions, please assume that the programs above have been freshly installed and are "out of the box". I may have missed something while pouring through the dozens of pages of documentation available. Positive suggestions only, please!
Posts similar to this on the Simple Machine Community Forum result in users being directed to sites like this one.
NOTE: This is on localhost for testing only. The actual website and forum are on a web hosting agent.
thank you,
noquiexis |
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glsmith
Moderator
Joined: 16 Oct 2007
Posts: 2268
Location: Sun Diego, USA
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| Posted: Wed 14 Jul '10 3:48 Post subject: |
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Looks fine to me except for the space between Simple & Machines
http://localhost/public_html/Simple%20Machines is probably the URL currently ... the space is url encoded to %20 but is considered an "unsafe character" because "Significant sequences of spaces may be lost in some uses (especially multiple spaces)" Id change it to simply "forum" or put an underscore between them Simple_Machines.
Change the DocumentRoot in httpd.conf to
"C:\Program Files\Apache Software Foundation\Apache2.2\htdocs\public_html" to make it
http://localhost/forum or
http://localhost/Simple_Machines
my 2 cents |
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noquiexis
Joined: 14 Jul 2010
Posts: 4
Location: Northwest Ohio USA
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| Posted: Wed 14 Jul '10 7:27 Post subject: |
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glsmith,
Thank you for the tip! I edited the Simple_Machines directory, the httpd.conf file, and the index.html file in 'htdocs' to reflect this change. The index.html file is how I access the Simple Machines 'install.php' file through Apache. I cannot access this file with PHP support through Internet Explorer directly. Since I want to go through Apache, this is not a problem.
I have two new questions:
My DocumentRoot is currently: "C:/Program Files/Apache Software Foundation/Apache2.2/htdocs" which would include access to any subdirectories thereof.
1. Should I put a new DocumentRoot as "C:/Program Files/Apache Software Foundation/Apache2.2/htdocs/public_html/Simple_Machines" in a VirtualHost container, with less strict file access?
2. In the WAMP setup tutorial, James Blond states that the MySQL server should be set up with no password for the root and anonymous account, but the install routine (MySQL Server Instance Config Wizard) insists on a password. Did I misunderstand? Since this instance of Apache will never see the internet, I hardwired the httpd.conf and php.ini files with my username and password. |
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glsmith
Moderator
Joined: 16 Oct 2007
Posts: 2268
Location: Sun Diego, USA
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| Posted: Wed 14 Jul '10 9:06 Post subject: |
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| Quote: | | 1. Should I put a new DocumentRoot as "C:/Program Files/Apache Software Foundation/Apache2.2/htdocs/public_html/Simple_Machines" in a VirtualHost container, with less strict file access? |
Actually, since you spoke of moving it to another server, I'd suggest mimicking the file structure of the host your going to be moving it to.
If it's going to be in
/home/username/public_html/simple_machines, the creat that directry structure on your hard drive like c:/home/username/public_html/simple_machines
If you're going to use Vhosts, make sure the first vhost is a duplicate of the docroot currently configured in httpd.conf, then add a second to SMF.
I do not understand the IE problem. There should be no reason you cannot go http://localhost/whatever/index.php unless php is not configured in Apache properly. Dumping IE's cache may help.
| Quote: |
2. In the WAMP setup tutorial, James Blond states that the MySQL server should be set up with no password for the root and anonymous account, but the install routine (MySQL Server Instance Config Wizard) insists on a password. Did I misunderstand? |
Yes you definitely misunderstood! He says "Secure the initial MySQL accounts MySQL access controls." he then says "Be aware that default both root and the anonymous account are set up with no password, so anyone can connect to the MySQL server as root."
"Default" means as it comes out of the box and he is warning you to the fact, that out of the box there is no passwords set. The first part implies create passwords for this account as I read it
on that note, 2 more cents;
I know you say this Apache will never see the light of day, but best practices would be to assume, even though it shouldn't see the light of day, that it will see the light of day somehow someway. Whether it be by your mistake, or things completely out of your control, best practices should be followed period. By doing this you develop things more secure from the get go and have less headache and/or surprise in the long term.
This is to the best of your knowledge of course, we can't all be gurus, I'm certainly not. The more effort put in defense means the more effort needed to get passed the defenses and the better the chance of survival. |
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noquiexis
Joined: 14 Jul 2010
Posts: 4
Location: Northwest Ohio USA
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| Posted: Wed 14 Jul '10 19:44 Post subject: |
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glsmith,
Thanks again for the advice! I started from square one about six weeks ago when our online forum and chat started having problems.
Although Apache and PHP are working, I am not sure MySQL is on board yet. I just read about MySQL connectors last night. As of yet, I have been unable to get the Simple Machines install routine to run. It stalls out after the "Database Server Settings" page. That was when I hardwired my username and password into both Apache and PHP, but that did not help.
I will have no admin access to the online forum. I would only be running the forum and chat for testing. I just thought that if I could get a working copy here, I might be able to offer some advice with 'real world' experience.
This is an all-volunteer non-profit community, and our server admin took a hike! The owner of the website and forum is paying for the web hosting with the revenue from recycling pop cans! 
Since I knew nothing about these programs, or how they behaved, the learning curve has been straight up! One thing nice about retirement is that you can devote all of your energy to a project like this.
In addition to the hunders of pages of online documentation and several online forums, I checked out a few books from my local library. What I need is to get a "WAMP for Dummies" and go through that.
I may just dump all of the WAMP programs, and re-install them according to James Blond's tutorial.
thank you again,
noquiexis |
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noquiexis
Joined: 14 Jul 2010
Posts: 4
Location: Northwest Ohio USA
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| Posted: Fri 16 Jul '10 7:42 Post subject: |
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I was correct about MySQL not communicating with the other programs. I found a script called mysqlinfo.php that revealed a problem in the connection to the MySQL server.
The connection has been repaired, and I was able to install the forum on my LAN. I did remove my password from the php.ini file as suggested.
My thanks to glsmith for the advice! |
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