How do I set up a PHP server?

I had a friend helping me do this, but he is being extremely slow so I'm trying to figure it out myself.

I want to set up a free php server that you can send a username to, receive a question specific to that user, then send the response back to the server.

Here's what my friend did, but as I said, I'd like to learn how to do it on my own:

http://rsdealings.com/trevor/auth.php?username=tlu...

http://rsdealings.com/trevor/question.php?username...

Can anyone help? I've never used PHP before, so I'll need instructions from the bottom up. I'm sure I could figure out the actual language, but it's the server I'm having trouble with.

Update:

"do you have an actual server that needs PHP/SQL support, or are you looking to register for a free PHP/SQL host and create a site using PHP?"

The latter. I just need a simple server, like the one shown in the links. I'll be using the results in a client-side vbs script (Don't tell me how I could do it better, I'm trying to learn as much as I can on my own :P )

Comments

  • PHP itself doesn't run as a server per se. It runs through a web server like Apache, Oracle, or IIS. If you pay for web hosting you can usually get PHP support in all but the most basic packages. You can install PHP on your own computer, but for web access (like the scripts you have linked) you'll also need an HTTP server, or web server, like Apache (my preference because it's free, open-source) or another of the dozens available.

    You can also use PHP for non-web things, like writing system-maintenance scripts, manipulating large numbers of text files, or even full blown desktop applications.

  • do you have an actual server that needs PHP/SQL support, or are you looking to register for a free PHP/SQL host and create a site using PHP?

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