Installing Apache 2.2

[Asher01]

I intend learning to code in PHP on my own PC instead of using my webhosting account. So I read that I need to install Apache, MySQL and PHP.

I have installed Apache and tried configuring it using this guide:
http://johnbokma.com/windows/apache-...-hosts-xp.html

However, I can't seem to get anything to work... I keep getting 403 errors saying that I don't have permission to access / on this server.

Although I very loosely know what Apache does, I have never used it before, so I would like to know if there is a beginners guide to Apache anywhere. Anywhere I read for help is full of jargon assuming the reader is already experienced in using Apache.

I'll explain what I've done so far, as per instructions on the site I posted.

I've installed Apache with basic settings only changing these values as shown:
Network Domain: localhost
Server Name: localhost


I then, using my browser, tested 'http://localhost/' and got the page "It Works" ... also works under 'http://127.0.0.1/'

However, I want to make an almost duplicate replica of my website so I've made these folder directories on my PC:

C:\Documents and Settings\Asher\My Documents\Virtual_Server\localsiteabc.com.au\server\public_html

I've substituted the actual website name for 'localsiteabc.com.au'

I've then gone to the ' \conf ' folder for Apache and created a file ' virtual-hosts.conf ' and added a line in ' httpd.conf ' that reads Include conf/virtual-hosts.conf

In ' virtual-hosts.conf ' I have added the following lines:

NameVirtualHost *:80

<VirtualHost *:80>
    
    ServerName lc.localsiteabc.com.au
    DocumentRoot "C:/Documents and Settings/Asher/My Documents/Virtual_Server/localsiteabc.com.au/server/public_html"
    
    CustomLog logs/lc.localsiteabc.com.au.access.log combined
    ErrorLog logs/lc.localsiteabc.com.au.error.log
    
</VirtualHost>

I have then made sure that in the ' system32/drivers/ect/hosts ' I have these:

127.0.0.1       localhost
127.0.0.1 lc.localsiteabc.com.au

Apparently, I should be able to now use my browser to go to ' http://lc.localsiteabc.com.au/ ' or ' http://localhost/lc.localsiteabc.com.au/ ' ?? ... I just get 403 errors

It would be much appreciated if somebody could tip me as to what I need to do to get Apache running.

Asher

[chris0]

Why not install WAMP ?

WAMP is a package containing apache + mysql + php ,
which i doubt you will have similar problems ..

in case you dont want the above solution,
i tried myself setting up apache alone a while ago,
i just downloaded the "Win32 Binary" from here: http://httpd.apache.org/download.cgi
and i got not problems at all

[Asher01]

Originally Posted by chris0

in case you dont want the above solution,
i tried myself setting up apache alone a while ago,
i just downloaded the "Win32 Binary" from here: http://httpd.apache.org/download.cgi

That is what I have downloaded, I'm not having trouble finding where to get Apache, I'm trying to set it up.

Originally Posted by chris0

Why not install WAMP ?
WAMP is a package containing apache + mysql + php ,
which i doubt you will have similar problems ..

Mainly because I don't want WAMP ... I want to set up Apache properly if possible. Plus, I'm pretty sure I read somewhere on the Apache site that they don't recommend you download Apache pre-packaged with other software. :-/

[Asher01]

Hellllloooo?

[Inigoesdr]

Check your error log to find out what the 403 is caused by.

[Asher01]

Sigh... after almost a week of near hair-pulling-out frustration I've finally figured out what was going wrong and got it all fixed and up and running exactly how I want it to plus more. I hope...

Besides the fact I never heard of Apache before a few weeks ago, let alone knew how to use it... I'd like to think that at least 50% of the problem lies in the fact that I'm using Microsoft Windows ... if all else fails, blame Microsoft.