Setting up a test server (CS3, Abyss)

Hey Guys

I have a php site that I want to run on a local server. I don't know much about it. I've downloaded Abyss Web Server and I'm using Dreamweaver CS3.

I've installed Abyss and it seems to be working properly. It gave me an IP address and when I access it reads, "Abyss Web Server is running correctly on your system. You should now change this page with yours."

When I open up Dreamweaver I go to the Site Definition area. I add the information in for the local server, using the folder that I have the website saved at on my PC.

I go to Testing Server and choose PHP MySQL as the Server Model. For access I choose local/network. For the Testing Server Folder I use the same folder that I referenced in the Local Info area, which is where the website is saved on my PC. For the URL prefix I use http://localhost/.

When I access the index.php page in Dreamweaver using the Testing Server option I get the usual blank screen.

I've tried selecting FTP instead of local/network but I'm not exactly sure of what to enter for the FTP host (localhost? the IP Abyss gave me?). I entered in my Login and Password in Dreamweaver, the one I created with Abyss. At this point I'm not exactly sure what they're asking me for in some of the fields, but when I try to connect it tries to log into the server but finally times out and says it cannot make a connection to the host...

My firewall is disabled for Abyss.

Any tips? I'm a newbie....

 

I'm not familiar with Abyss, but I'd say that the FTP option is probably for sending files to a remote server. You could, of course, run an FTP server locally, with its home directory set to the web root - but that's not useful at all. It'd probably be best to stick with the "local" option.

As for why you're getting a blank page: is PHP's error reporting on? The page you're trying to access could be throwing errors at you which are being hidden (trouble connecting to MySQL?). Or maybe the page has no code in it.

 

I would use XAMPP if your having problems with Abyss.
http://www.apachefriends.org/en/xampp.html

Run the security setup from http://localhost then you should be able to run PHP scripts no problem.

 

Thanks for the responses so far. I think I need to back up and learn a little bit about the structure of a test server. I'm not exactly sure how Dreamweaver, the test server, and my browser work together.

I have Abyss installed and a firewall exception. I have a password and login. I've downloaded and installed PHP. I've gone through the process of adding PHP functionality in Abyss through the server control panel.

The php code is in a folder than contains the script I bought. I'm not starting from scratch, I'm looking to modify existing code.

I go to "New Site" in Dreamweaver and give the site a name. For the "Local Root Folder" I chose the folder that contains the code. I'm assuming that it's asking me where the code is located. For the HTTP address I used "http://localhost/".

Under "Testing Server" I chose PHP MySQL as the Server Model and for Access is listed as Local/Network. They asked me the location of the testing server folder and I pointed it to the folder in Abyss where the testing documents go (htdocs). For the URL prefix it reads "http://localhost/."

I open the site in Dreamweaver and I select "Testing server." I double click on index.php and the code pulls up but the design page is blank (like what happens when you work with PHP an no server). I select to preview the page in Firefox and the browser pulls up but the page is blank.

My guess is that I'm not setting up the folders and urls correctly...?

I went ahead and tried to cut out Dreamweaver and I copied the site directly into the htdocs folder of Abyss then pointed my browser to http://localhost/index.php. Another blank page... Abyss has an index.html file that pulls up when I point my browser to http://localhost/index.html and it tells me that the server is running correcly and to replace that file with my own index.html file.

In the server configuration on Abyss I originally selected "Fast CGI/Local pipes" and I've also tried CGI/SAPI but the result was the same...blank page. The step-by-step process for setting up PHP in Abyss mentioned that sometimes that selection can be a problem.

Thanks

 

Dont go to the trouble of setting up programs to work together. When you install XAMPP it has all things you need included in the package and even then just save your project in a folder and copy it to the htdocs/wwwroot folder yourself.

 

Yup, I agree. Try XAMPP and let us know how you get on. :nod:

 

Alrighty, I'll give it a shot. I was going to give Abyss one more try but there doesn't seem like much of a point now. I'll let you know how it goes.

 

Quick question about XAMPP....

I'm installing it now, and it's asking me if I want to install Apache, MySQL, and Filezilla as a service. Do I check those boxes? I'm assuming that I do...

 

Yes.

-hl718

 

I went ahead and installed the software with all 3 services selected. I turned the firewall off. I copied and pasted the contents of my site into a folder I created called "new" in the htdocs folder. I have Apache, MySQL, FileZilla, and Mercury all running.

I accessed http://localhost/ and saw the index page for XAMPP which says it's working properly.

I pointed my browser to http://localhost/new/index.php. The result is a blank screen.

I selected "Service" in XAMPP and turned on the modules for Apache, MySql (already chosen by default), FileZilla, and Mercury. Again I pointed my browser to http://localhost/new/index.php. The result is a blank screen.

 

I just set up a server for my own project using windows 2003. I used a few guides i found online. Try using this:

http://webdevtips.co.uk/webdevtips/developer/serverstuff/index.shtml

 

Hey Guys

Just wanted to say thanks for your help. I wasn't able to get things running in the end because I ran into a few walls in other areas and finally just handed off the web design to a pro. I think the issue was with the script I was using, not that I had set things up incorrectly.

If anyone else needs help with this issue you might want to check here:

http://www.tanguay.info/web/tutorial.php?idCode=phpDevelopment&sectionIdCode=installApache

It's a newbie friendly explanation for setting up test servers. This is what I needed to make sure I was doing everything correctly. I thought it might help someone else.

Laters,
Eric