Standalone server
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Standalone servers are compilations of programs that run on a single PC, but emulates what the same set of programs will do when run on a server over the Internet. They usually contain a web server (such as the Apache HTTP Server), one or more languages, and one or more databases.
Standalone servers that run PHP and MySQL include:
- Xampp
- Uniform Server
- Jsas (Joomla) (Based on Uniform Server)
- Msas (Mambo) (Based on Uniform Server)
- Xsas (Xoops) (Based on Uniform Server)
- vtiger CRM
In the above list, Xampp can be configured to run either PHP4 or PHP5 through the use of a batch (.bat) file. Xampp can also be configured through its built-in configuration program. On the other hand, the Uniform Server, depending on version, can only run one version of PHP. Uniform Server version 3.1 and below (eg. 3.0) will run PHP4, and any version above 3.1 (eg. 3.2) will run only PHP5. However, Uniform Server 3.3+ can be configured to run PHP4 using a PHP4 plugin provided at Sourceforge.net.
Apart from Xampp and the Uniform Server, all the others are compilations of application programs based on Uniform Server running PHP4. When unzipped, Xampp takes up about 200 MB of disk space, compared to about 30 MB for the Uniform Server. In addition, unlike the Uniform Server, Xampp is initially configured to run from the root folder of a drive. A combination of these reasons, namely, flexibility and small size, makes it more attractive for software developers to configure applications in the Uniform Server, so that they can be run with a single click.
The importance of distinguishing between PHP4 and PHP5 is that applications written in PHP5 will not generally run using PHP4, and vice versa. Backward compatibility is not consistently maintained between PHP5 and PHP4.
Standalone Servers that run Java and MySQL include
- BigApache (Tomcat server)
When transferring files between a standalone server and an Internet server, it is essential that the settings (including directory path, database name, .htaccess and .ini) are identical. If not, the application will not run. In addition, for an application to run on an Internet server, the relevant database tables from the standalone server has to be transferred. This can be achieved via a text file of SQL commands that drops and creates the tables, and inserts the required records.
[edit] Portability
In order to avoid creating registry entries, some standalone servers, such as Xampp and Uniform Server, need not be installed into a computer. They provide an option whereby the user can run a batch file to start and stop the server and database engine. The advantage of this arrangement is that the whole system can be carried along in a portable drive, such as a thumb drive or a portable hard drive. The user can then run a complete application in a public computer, such as a computer in a library or Internet cafe, without having administrator rights to the computer.
While XAMPP is not fully portable like the Uniform Server because it needs the setup run, the Uniform Server on the other hand is fully portable and mobile, plus it is secure and a great way to go.
With the above arrangement, a portable standalone system will be able to run tens of thousands of open source software. These software are freely available at sites such as Sourceforge and Freshmeat. One can easily find applications that range from computer games to scientific and business software.
