First install Apache2, PHP5, Mysql, Phpmyadmin in that order.
WEBROOT
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Then lets setup ~/public_html as webroot rather than /var/www/ (because it requires root privileges to modify there which is a pain!):
1. Copy the existing website configuration (virtual directory):
sudo cp /etc/apache2/sites-available/default /etc/apache2/sites-available/mysite
2. Modify the following of mysite:
gksudo gedit /etc/apache2/sites-available/mysite
/var/www -> /home/USERNAME/public_html
3. enable mysite and disable default
sudo a2ensite
sudo a2dissite default
sudo /etc/init.d/apache2 reload
/home/USERNAME/public_html can now be accessed as webroot in webbrowser as http://localhost
PHP
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Setup PHP at this file: /etc/php5/apache2/php.ini
short_open_tag = Off (only use <php ?>? rather than non-standard <? ?> (inverted <)
error_reporting = E_ALL | E_STRICT (see all errors including the E_STRICT ones)
display_errors = On (obvious…)
display_startup_errors = On
html_errors = On
Remember to run this to update the apache configuration:
sudo /etc/init.d/apache2 restart
MYSQL
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user = root
Remember to use innoDB as storage engine for mySQL databases as it enables transactions and much more.
PHPMYADMIN
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access phpmyadmin at localhost/phpmyadmin (use “root” as user)
External guide with lots of more stuff including security: https://help.ubuntu.com/10.04/serverguide/C/httpd.html