phpdev - pages without server?

[bassleader]

I am using phpdev on my home PC to learn php, having used ASP at work for a couple of months. I'm a bit concerned that I can still generate my php pages without there being any evidence of a server running. I was expecting some sort of error - like the 50x problems I get when I goof up with IIS.

What I have done is cleared my cache, made some changes to my files and then changed my firewall settings to try and stop Apache working as a server. As far as I can make out it isn't running anyway - it's not in the close program box and there's no icon in the system tray. What I'm trying to say is that I can't make it not work.

Can someone explain what's going on?

BL

[firepages]

Hi, which version of phpdev do you have ?

[bassleader]

phpdev423.

BL

[Socraties]

Here is a rather dumb suggestion, Sounds to me like you are either using WinNT or Win2k. Have you gone into the services panel and stopped apache from there.
Some people get confused if it is not in task manager as a running program and it still runs. Try stopping the apache service running from the services panel.

[bassleader]

I'm on Windows 98 SE, though I think it could be me that's being dumb. I've noticed that when my PC starts up now there is a DOS window labelled APACHE that appears briefly before the desktop, start button and so on. If I then start up phpdev I can stop the service with Apache Monitor.

What spooked me initially was seeing my php pages without having started up the server, though I think it kicks off automatically when I switch my PC on. Is this really what's happening, or am I being another client-side muppet?

BL