Part 1 - Web Server

Introduction

Now I decided to learn more about some of Open Source Content Management System (CMS) like Joomla, Drupal, CMS Made Simple and e107. These CMS and also most of the CMS require PHP (server-side HTML embedded scripting language) and MySQL (open source database), and most importantly a webserver.

Click here to see the list of the CMS.

When I said webserver, it doesn’t mean those expensive server offered by our country webhosting company. What I means is your normal Personal Computer, equipped with require programs and services installed which listens to HTTP (and other web requests) and serves content. Now day, setting up a webserver is easy.

Hardware requirement?

My test machine is 5 years old PC with this specs:

Athlon XP 2500 (1.8Ghz)
256Mhz DDR Ram
Windows XP SP2

So, anything newer than this PC can work properly.

Software?

Automatic Installation (Packages)

Currently, there are a lot of webserver package or also known as all-in-one webserver. These packages are a bundle of apache, mysql and php. Most of the packages also include phpmyadmin, a web based database management system. User only need to install the package and it will automatically install and setup your computer.

This is the list of the webserver package (please give comment to add other):

1. EasyPHP
2. XAMPP
3. Abyss Web Server
4. WAMP (Windows)
5. MAMP (Machintosh)

Some of the package offered Lite version. This Lite version is a small version of the package with basic function but still can serve as a webserver. Some of the Lite version can be save and run in a thumbdrive like XAMPP Lite. They are ready-to-run webserver, no installation required.