ARCHIVE: Alternative localhost packages for use with Drupal

if you want to learn how to use drupal, and do not have access to an online host where you can upload the files to, you are limited to a localhost solution. this still provides a testbed for drupal, with all the functionality you'd get online (even mail if you take the time to set it up)

there are several ways to get a localhost solution, you could for example use drubuntu http://groups.drupal.org/node/6260 which provides a whole ubuntu host with a lamp setup (linux, apache, mysql and php). you'd then need a virtual machine to use it (or, i haven't tried but suspect you could burn it to dvd and use it as a live cd)

or, you could make a remaster of lamppix - though seeing as it hasn't been updated since early last year, lamppix may not be the best solution to use, instead just a minified knoppix remaster.

or, you could use a package like xampp (http://www.apachefriends.org/en/xampp.html) that is a lampp solution that allows you to then download drupal, and after starting the 'server' use it as you would a host. the filesize is relatively small, nothing has to be 'installed', and comes in various flavours for the different os'. xampp also comes with a mailserver - that doesn't have to be set up. xampp is released under the gnu general public license. `

Localhost for Drupal on Windows

If you have a laptop running Microsoft Windows Vista Pro 64bit, you could use WampServer v2.0 which has Apache, MySql, and PHP compiled for windows and runs right out of the box. This has proven to be a very stable alternative for Windows XP and Vista in both 32 and 64 bit versions. With WampServer v2.0 youI don't need to boot into Ubuntu to work on a website locally, this allows you to continue work on other projects that requires windows and then work on websites as needed.

For those using Windows as your OS, give WampServer v2.0 a try.