Your first decision is to choose which hardware platform and operating system to use. In most cases, you’ll choose a PC with either Linux or Windows as the operating system. Here are some advantages and disadvantages of these two operating systems:
- Linux: Linux is open source, so it’s free. It also has advantages for use as a Web server: It runs for long periods without needing to be rebooted; and Apache, the most popular Web server, runs better on Linux than Windows. Running Linux on a PC is the lowest cost option. The disadvantage of running Linux is that many people find Linux more difficult to install, configure, administer, and install software on than Windows, although Linux is getting easier to install every day.
- Windows: Unlike Linux, Windows is not free. However, most people feel that Windows is easier to use, and because it’s widely used, many people can help you if you have problems. If you plan a public Web site, with users accessing your Web site from the WWW, you need Windows 2000 or later.
I assume that you’re buying a computer with the operating system and software installed, ready to use. It’s easier to find a computer that comes with Windows installed on it than with Linux, but Linux computers are available. For instance, at this time, Dell, IBM, and Hewlett-Packard offer computers with Linux installed.
If you’re building your own hardware, you need more information than I have room to provide in this book. If you have the hardware and plan to install an operating system, Windows is easier to install, but Linux is getting easier all the time. You can install Linux from a CD, like Windows, but you often must provide information or make decisions that require more knowledge about your system. If you already know how to perform system administration tasks (such as installing software and making backups) in Windows or in Linux, the fastest solution is to use the operating system that you already know.
For using PHP and MySQL, you should seriously consider Linux. PHP is a project of the Apache Software Foundation, so it runs best with the Apache server. And Apache runs better on Linux than on Windows. Therefore, if all other things are equal and the computer is mainly for running a Web site with a Web database application, Linux is well suited for your purposes.
Other solutions besides a PC with Windows or Linux are available, but they’re less popular:
If you’re building your own hardware, you need more information than I have room to provide in this book. If you have the hardware and plan to install an operating system, Windows is easier to install, but Linux is getting easier all the time. You can install Linux from a CD, like Windows, but you often must provide information or make decisions that require more knowledge about your system. If you already know how to perform system administration tasks (such as installing software and making backups) in Windows or in Linux, the fastest solution is to use the operating system that you already know.
For using PHP and MySQL, you should seriously consider Linux. PHP is a project of the Apache Software Foundation, so it runs best with the Apache server. And Apache runs better on Linux than on Windows. Therefore, if all other things are equal and the computer is mainly for running a Web site with a Web database application, Linux is well suited for your purposes.
Other solutions besides a PC with Windows or Linux are available, but they’re less popular:
- Unix-based: Other free, Unix-based operating systems are available for PCs, such as FreeBSD (which some people prefer to Linux) or a version of Solaris provided by Sun for free download.
- Mac: Mac computers can be used as Web servers. Most newer Macs come with PHP installed. Installing PHP and MySQL on Mac OS X is fairly simple. There are fewer Mac users, however, so it can be difficult to find help when you need it. One good site is www.phpmac.com.
Your computer must be connected to the Internet. In most cases, you obtain an account from an Internet service provider (ISP). When you obtain an account from the ISP, be sure to discuss the type of use you intend. A simple user connection to the Internet is sufficient to transfer Web page files from your development computer to a Web hosting company. However, if you plan for users to access your Web site from the WWW, you need an Internet connection with more resources.
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