Section 0 - Prerequisites
XAMPP
Section 1 - PreSetup
Before you can begin setting up your webserver, make sure you port forward the following ports
Apache - 80, 443 MySQL* - 3306 FileZilla* - 21 *Optional, use only if you plan on using the software!
Section 2 - Installing
Run the XAMPP install that you downloaded from section 0.
If you get the following message
just ignore it for now.
My Recommended Install
Section 2 - Running
*If you had the warning from the beginning of Section 2, I highly recommend closing the Control panel, and run it again as Administrator.*
After installing you should see a window much like this one.
If you want the Server(s) to start when Windows starts make sure you click on "Service" if it is not a check mark.
If the server is currently running you'll see under "Actions" "Stop", otherwise it will say "Start."
To access your new web server go to "127.0.0.1 or localhost" in your web browser.
If you want to have someone else access your web server give them your IP.
Your IP can be found here.
If they can not connect, make sure you have port forwarded. You can check your port-forward status here or, if you are on port 80, here.
Section 3 - Adding Files
Navigate to where you installed XAMPP. You should see a sub directory called "htdocs." Drag and Drop your files there.
Section 4 - Security
If you are using MySQL change your ROOT password! This can be done via the XAMPP web control panel over localhost OR in your preferred SQL client.
Make sure everything in "/security/index.php" looks something like this
You can fix most of the Security issues at "/security/xamppsecurity.php"
Section 5 - Common Errors
E: My server won't start!
A: Make sure applications such as Skype are OFF.
A2: If you MUST have an application such as Skype open you can either change the settings in the application to use a different port than 80 OR change the port of the Apache server in the configuration.
E: I get an SSL error when I access my site with "https."
A: If you are on Chrome, download the certificate and add it under trusted. This will remove the SLL error for YOU only.
More errors and answers will be added upon request or if I remember them.