Web server with Apache, PHP and MariaDB (MySQL)

This is a simple to setup, easy to use web server running on Windows.

Tested with the following versions:

• Apache 2.4.63
• PHP 8.3.20 (phpMyAdmin does not seems to work on 8.4 or higher)
• MariaDB 11.4.5
• phpMyAdmin 5.2.2

Installation

The web server relies on third party packages. Those need to be downloaded and added to the web server folder.

Start by cloning this repo to your PC:

git clone https://github.com/dannyvanderpol/web_server.git

Add Apache

Download the binaries from: https://www.apachelounge.com/download

• Extract the files to web_server/apache.
• Delete the web_server/apache/htdocs folder.
• Delete all files in the web_server/apache/conf folder.
• Copy the file 'web_server/config/httpd.conf' to the web_server/apache/conf folder.
• Set the correct server root for the Apache web server. This must be an absolute path starting with a '/'. So if your web server is on C:\my_projects\web_server, the server root is: /my_projects/web_server/apache.

Add PHP

Be sure to download the thread safe version. Only this version contains the Apache module. Download the PHP binaries from: https://windows.php.net/download

• Extract the file to web_server\php.

The configuration should already be set up.

Now the web server should be working. Run the file start_server.bat and choose option 1 to start the web server. Open a browser and go to: http://localhost:8080. This should show a simple HTML web page. Check if PHP works by opening the PHP info link.

Add MariaDB (MySQL)

MariaDB is a clone of MySQL and has some advantages over MySQL. We will not discuss that now here.

Download MariaDB from: https://mariadb.org/download

• Extract the file to: web_server/mariadb.
• Create the data folder for the databases: web_server\mariadb\data
• Run web_server/mariadb/bin/mariadb-install-db.exe to create all required tables.

Run the file start_server.bat and choose option 2 to start the MariaDB server. Connect to the server by running: connect_mariadb.bat. Now you can execute SQL queries (e.g.: show databases;). Quit by typing exit.

Close the MariaDB server and run the file start_server.bat and choose option 3 to start all. Open a browser and go to: http://localhost:8080. Open the link for testing the MariaDB.

The server is now fully operational.

Add phpMyAdmin (optional)

The application phpMyAdmin provides access to the database using a web interface.

Download phpMyAdmin from: https://www.phpmyadmin.net/downloads

• Extract the file to: web_server/htdocs/phpmyadmin.
• Copy the file web_server/config/config.inc.php to web_server/htdocs/phpmyadmin.

Run the file 'start_server.bat' and choose option 3 to start all the servers. Open a browser and go to: http:\localhost:8080/phpmyadmin. Check if everyhting works as expected.

Add services

Apache and MariaDB can be added to the Windows Services. After installation, the services can be managed through the Windows Services application. Note that before uninstalling a service, the service must be stopped first. Note that administrator rights are required for installing and uninstalling services. Note that after installing and running the services, the batch file for starting the server might not work.

Apache:

• Install service: web_server/apache/bin/httpd.exe -k install
• Remove service: web_server/apache/bin/httpd.exe -k uninstall

MariaDB:

• Install service: web_server/mariadb/bin/mariadbd.exe --install
• Remove service: web_server/mariadb/bin/mariadbd.exe --remove