By tone1 on

I have never used Drupal, Or PHP, Or MySql...

I want to set them up and use them so bad, but it seems that just installing it is completely insane. I use GoDaddy as a host and I tried to look for a help on that and it was all negative, then I was looking at moving to BlueHost and it was all negative, then I looked for Site5 and it was all negative.

Can someone please help me?

I need to find a good combination to pick:

Drupal Version: ?
MySql Version: ?
PHP Version: ?
Site Host: ?

I dont have anything installed on my computer or a host yet so this will be a complete new download and set up from scratch. So if you can please give me a good combination idea and a help on installing it the right way first.

Please forgive me I am a complete ROOKIE, Noob, or Idiot if you would say.

Thanks,

Tone1

⋅ Categories: Drupal 5.x

Comments

jscoble’s picture

jscoble commented

And you use windows, you might want to download xampp and Drupal 5.6 and play with them locally first. That is the easiest way to get it running locally.

Here is a howto for Xampp + Drupal:
http://drupal.org/node/161975

There is a XAMPP version available for Linux, but I don't have any experience with it since I install everything myself on Linux.

Once you have your site to the point where you want to deploy it on the internet, you can easily move your local setup to a host, but that is a bridge to cross later.

Good luck.

jscoble’s picture

jscoble commented

I should have read your post a little better, you do have a hoster. You will probably find negative experience with just about every major hoster since everyone has different needs and expectations.

Playing with Drupal locally will help you understand what you need to accomplish what you wish and look for an appropriate hoster based on your needs for your sites.

thomasmurphy’s picture

thomasmurphy commented

Fantastico is an automatic script installer which some web hosts use. It can automatically install drupal for a web hosting account, I haven't tried it out yet but am just about to, maybe look out for a web host that runs that software? I'll let you know how it goes for me...anyone else?

jscoble’s picture

jscoble commented

I would not recommend fantastico or any other install scripts like those. Do a search on fantastico on this site to see decide for yourself.

Deploying Drupal yourself is fairly easy and it will save you many headaches down the road.

BTW, most large hosters offer fantastico or other similar install scripts.

Randon’s picture

Randon commented

Hello Guys

I am the same postion like Tone1 - Scared and terrified. I am getting use to using XAMPP, writing basic php scripts and looking at it on a web page.

I want to start using Drupal 5.6 but I don't know how install and configure. I don't know where to start.

Yes, I am also a rookie and an idiot.

Can you please help me.

Thanks

Randon

tm’s picture

tm commented

start here (read first, then read again) >> http://drupal.org/getting-started. take your time; this is good foundation material. don't get tripped up on taxonomy; it is probably the most powerful, and confusing, part of drupal. not understanding it out of the chute will not stop you from moving forward, but you should try to get a handle on it at some time in the future.

i would be more concerned if you had no trepidations, actually, especially if cms installations are brand new to you. fear makes you "normal;" how you deal with it will determine how far you get.

sounds like you got the hard part done, getting your server environment going. great thing about working with local installations; the worst that can happen is that it does not work. destroy the evidence and start over. as recommended by others, learn to install drupal yourself and get comfortable with it; it should become second-nature. the developers have done a really good job in trying to get new people over that part and into the "building the site" portion.

oh, and have fun!

tone1’s picture

tone1 commented

I still needed to know what version of which to download on to my computer...

Also a possible combination that someone is using..

Hosting: ?
PHP Version: ?
MySql Version: ?
Drupal Version: ?

That way I can make sure I have everything right the first time. Instead of me installing the wrong uncompliant versions.

Right now I am using:

GoDaddy Hosting: Linux server.

But if I should change this please let me know so I can find a Hosting Service that will work correctly.

Thanks,

Tone1

tm’s picture

tm commented

threaded discussions...!

based on discussion threads (you should search by each potential hosting service), you will get good/bad mix of reviews/experiences across the board. a system requirements list is in the aforementioned getting-started pages.

my own setup:
Hosting: i build my own, so i cannot help you there (apache 2.2.6 on windows server; don't ask)
PHP Version: 5.2.5
MySql Version: 5.0.45
Drupal Version: 5.x, whatever is the latest

i would suggest matching your hosting environment, if possible. whatever it is (phpinfo will tell you a lot, beyond the brochures). and keep the troubleshooting-faq in your pocket, just in case.

good luck!

jscoble’s picture

jscoble commented

I am assuming you are using windows. I always use named virtual hosts in my test environment so if you wish to connect to your drupal using just localhost, some of these details may change. One advantage of setting it up with virtual hosts is that you can easily add more test sites if you desire. These are just the basic steps to get connected to a Windows Xampp test environment. Please refer to one of the install guides for more details, including mod_rewrite configuration, php.ini memory settings,etc.

The basics:
-Download the latest version of Drupal, which is currently 5.6.
-Log into MySQL using MySQL query browser.
*If you do not have this, go to MySQL.com->Developers and on the right you will see some download links. Under MySQL GUI Tools click on the 5-0r12 link, download and install
-Run the following SQL, replace the emphasized words with your own values.

CREATE DATABASE database;

GRANT SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, CREATE, DROP, INDEX,
ALTER, CREATE TEMPORARY TABLES, LOCK TABLES
ON database.*
TO 'username'@'localhost'
IDENTIFIED BY 'password';

FLUSH PRIVILEGES;

-unzip drupal into xampp/htdocs/ directory.
-if your using virtual host, make sure you configure it using the xampp/apache/conf/extra/httpd-vhosts.conf file. The document root should point to the same directory that your Drupal's INSTALL.mysql.txt file is in.
-make sure any ServerNames you entered in the virtual host configuration has been added to your host file, which is usually in /windows/system32/drivers/etc/directory.
-restart apache
-open browser and go to your test domain.

You should have a drupal screen prompting you to select your database and enter database/user information.

Congratulations!

jw4nvc’s picture

jw4nvc commented

Since you used all CAPS in your Subject line, I guess you're referring to Hesitation, Excuses, Limitations and Longing (HELL). Those were among the intense feelings going on in me when installing 5.x on a brand new GoDaddy account a month ago.

In case it helps you at all, I'd like to report that the Drupal part was a cakewalk. That was a very pleasant surprise. Unfortunately I encountered several very UNpleasant surprises related to the GoDaddy interface and configuration.

I didn't take any notes, so can't offer much specific help. One thing I do recall is that after doing the things required by GoDaddy to enable runnning Drupal, each step often involved waiting for the change to take effect on my account. This wasn't clear to me in the GoDaddy interface, but after the first time it happened I managed to remember that as a possible cause when something didn't work as expected after I'd configured it on GoDaddy.

As has been pointed out, it's easy enough to delete an installation and start over. So my advice is to read the directions and as the ad says: Just do it!