Installing Local Server

We will discuss the installation of local server called Local Host. It could be used to develop websites offline with the CMS Joomla 1.5. This installation is intended for the Operational System Windows XP. We shall install the Local Host using the program http://wampserver.com. After entering the site choose "English" and press "Download the latest release of Wampserver".

Click the icon "DOWNLOAD WampServer 2.0i" to download the file.

Save the file to an appropriate place on your computer. Click twice onto the wampserver.exe icon to start installation then click "Run" and "Next". Following instructions press "I accept the agreement" and click "Next". Accept the directory proposed for storing the program or change it and press "Next". Check both items for installing icons and press "Next". Finally press "Install". The installation is completed, press "Next" and then "Finish".

WampServer icon appears inside the icon tray which is a sign we have already a local server on the computer. Click left on the WampServer icon.

From the popup menu choose Apache >> Apache modules. Find rewrite_module and click on it to activate it. In the same manner choose "Put Online" and "Start All Services". Now click left on the WampServer icon and choose Localhost. The Localhost screen appears.

Important: If the installation of WAMPSERVER failed probably you use Skype and one of the options is set in wrong way. Open Skype and choose consequently Tools>>Options>>Advanced>>Connections. If the option "use port 80 and 443 as alternatives ..." is checked, uncheck it and press Save. Now install the WAMPSERVER.

Installing Joomla 1.5

Let us now install Joomla 1.5 into the Localhost. The latest version of Joomla 1.5 you can download from http://www.joomla.org/download.html. Download the latest version full package.

Save the zip file in an appropriate situation. Make a new folder and name it say "mysite". Move the zip file of Joomla_1.5 inside this folder and unzip it there. Click left on the WampServer icon and choose www directory. Move the folder "mysite" inside this directory. Now click left on the WampServer icon and choose Localhost.

In the address window appears http://localhost. Add "/mysite" to the end. Now the address window should look like http://localhost/mysite. Push "Enter" and the installation page of Joomla appears.

Choose the language and click "Next". The next is pre installation page – press "Next". It is followed by License page - press "Next". Now we have got to the page for configuring Data Base.

For "Database Type" leave "mysql". For "Host Name" type "localhost". For "Username" type "root and leave the "Password" empty. For "Database Name" type whatever you want. After clicking "Next" the Database will be generated automatically by mysql. Next page is to determine FTP connections. Directly press "Next".

This page is for basic adjustments. For Site Name type the name of your site. Further type your e-mail and Admin Password with confirmation. Remember this password you will need it. If you want the sample data to be installed press the button "Install Sample Data". Press "Next" and if you installed Sample data the final page appears.

Mind the red caption and delete the installation folder from the directory "mysite". This is necessary because otherwise you will not be able to enter the site. The username for entering administrative panel is "admin" and the password is the one you have to remember earlier.

Now you can access the site choosing from the wampserver icon "Localhost" and typing in the end "/mysite" . It should look like this: http://localhost/mysite. Click "Enter" and the home page of Joomla appears (empty template if you did not install sample data earlier). This is so called "Front end". If you add to the address "/administrator" (http://localhost/mysite/administrator) and press "Enter" you are now reached to the administration login. Type username "admin" and the appropriate password and press "Login".

Finally you have got to the so called "back end" where you can create and manage the content of the site.

Nikola Meranzov