Ed Tech 552 Apache Server

7/28/2019 Ed Tech 552 Apache Server

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Apache Server &

Dynamic DNSUsing XAMPP and NO-IP

Ginger HuntEDTECH 552

April 10, 2013

Ginger Hunt Apache Server & Dynamic DNS, Page 1


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Getting Started

Overview: The Apache Server and Dynamic DNS project consists of

three major steps necessary to set up my home computer as a server

and create a webpage hosted by my own server. The first task was to

download and install an Apache server. The second task was to test

the local area network. The final task was to publish the server onto

the Internet. We were given the option to publish another type of site

through our server for extra credit. I chose to publish a Joomla site.



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Background: All of the

instructional videos for this

project were based on a

Windows machine. I am more

comfortable with Apple

products so I decided to use

XAMPP on my iMac running

OS X Mountain Lion. Other

products I used included an

Apple Airport Extreme,

Comcast Arris TM772 router, Adobe Dreamweaver through Adobe

Creative Cloud, DNS through No-IP, the Macrospikes CSS templatefrom Freetemplates, and Joomla.

Network Diagram: Comcast is

my Internet Service Provider.

The newly installed cable line

currently runs from the back of

my garage, under the side door

to the Arris router. An ethernet

cable connects my AirPort

Extreme to the router. All of my

hardware devices, including the

printer, are currently running wireless

connections due to the construction on my

house (which is why I am operating out of

the garage!). I used my iMac for the project, but use the Samsungtouch screen with Windows 8 to run Packet Tracer. The screen shot

of my Packet Tracer doesnt accurately show the ethernet cable

between the modem and router or the wireless connection from the

router to the iMac.



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ProceduresStep 1:Download

the XAMPP server

The video for the

course

demonstrated how

to download a

WAMP server for

Windows. I watched

the video and thenfound a video on

downloading

XAMPP to a Mac .

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdWcIEpyO0U) I was able to use

a lot of the steps in the Windows video once I found all the correct

places on the Mac. For instance, the XAMPP file was already

unzipped when I opened the download and the www folder inside

the WAMP folder is actually the htdocs folder in XAMPP. It was a

little more time consuming having to translate the steps, but I

learned a lot about both operating systems.

Step 2:Test the Server at LAN

First, I needed to download a free web template. I have to admit this

was frightening because when I took 502 almost a year ago, I had alot of trouble using CSS templates with CS5. This time though, the

CSS template downloaded and opened perfectly with CS6. I changed

some of the information and saved it. Next, I started the XAMPP

server. The control panel is very different from WAMP so I spent a lot

of time pouring through the XAMPP folders to see what was in each

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdWcIEpyO0Uhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdWcIEpyO0U


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one. I took a guess and changed the index.php file in XAMPP to

index.php_BAK and then the CSS template to the index.html. I tested

out the local host and it worked! Finally, I was supposed to work on

changing the root password of the MySQL server. However, I was still

a little shaky on the details so I skipped ahead to Part III. I ended up

changing the root password as one of the last items on my checklist.

Step 3: Publish to the Internet

I went to No-IP to sign up for a free account. I downloaded and

installed the Mac version. While I was looking at the options, I

decided to pay for a domain name. The video covered free names so I

became a bit lost. I ended up spending a few hours

trying to figure out what I paid for and where it

went on my computer. Because I paid for a name, I

didnt need to pick a host name. However, I was

only able to access my site through the IP address

for about an hour. I thought I had done something

wrong- I even posted it in the forum to see if



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anyone else had the

same problem. I

went back in to add

a host name for the

second time and the

name I had paid for ended up working. I eventually found a post from

Dr. Hung explaining it could take No-IP a while to connect the dots.

The next step was to set up port forwarding because my server was

connected to a wireless

router. However,

because I paid for the

service, the No-IP

application gave me a

choice of manually

entering my IP or

using their service to

get around the routerproblem so I used their

plan. I did go in and

open Port 80 on my

AirPort Extreme for

web sharing anyway.



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Unfortunately, when I did this, I thought it would be a great idea to

put on a time limit for Port 80. I chose 5pm-10pm. At exactly 10 pm

my entire Internet went down. I was unable to reset the Airport and

am waiting until 5pm tonight for it to open back up!

Step 4: Revisit the root password of the MySQL server

I watched the video on changing the root password provided by Dr.

Hung a sixth time. I went back into PhpMyAdmin and followed the

directions. I changed the password online and went into the XAMPP

folder to reset it there as well.

Step 5: Extra Credit: Setting up a Joomla siteI wasnt sure I would have time to set up another site using a different

platform, but I was really interested in a few extra points! I would

like to learn more about Moodle, but for now Joomla seemed the best

bet at 10:00 at night. I watched the video provided by Dr. Hung and

then downloaded

Joomla 3.0. I created a

new data base in

PhpMyAdmin

according to the video. Then I went into XAMPP copied the Joomla

folder into the htdocs folder. I changed the name to Joomla3. Next I

went to localhost/Joomla3 and nothing appeared. I uninstalled and



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reinstalled Joomla three times with no luck. I

Googled the problem high and low. I finally

came to trapecista.org/wordpress/?p=135. This

site had precise instructions for using Joomla,

XAMPP, and a Mac. I ended up creating another database in

PhpMyAdmin. The instructions on the site warned you needed the file

permissions to be read and write. I thought because I had them set

correctly under my admin name it would work. I ended up having to

change the file permissions to read and write for everyone in order to

get Joomla to open. I followed the rest of the instructions and it

worked!

http://livepage.apple.com/http://livepage.apple.com/


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Step 6: What I learned and how php+MySQL environments can be

used in facilitating teaching and learning.

This entire lesson was new for me so the most important thing I

learned is that I can take a topic like servers and make it work, even

on a different operating system. This environment is going to be

extremely helpful in my position as a technology integration

specialist. I met with my Principal this morning and explained my

project. I am going to continue with the lesson on my own time and

learn to set up Moodle. I will then be able to bring online professional

development opportunities to teachers in my school district! If all

goes well with teachers, I may even start my 5th grade students inMoodle. What a wonderful opportunity for such young students.

These are the students growing up with online college courses. The

earlier I can reach them, the farther they will be able to go! Thanks

Dr. Hung! Your instruction will go farther than you realize!


Ed Tech 552 Apache Server

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