What is Apache and do I need it?

[DannyITR]

I'm going to be installing VB very shortly. I succesfully installed VBLite (took me days of trying).

Now that I know what to do, I want the real deal. As I'm scanning the forums for any other info I may need, I see people talking about installing apache and php4. I must admit I have no idea what these are or if I need them. My site is on a dedicated server administered by me. When I loaded VBLite, my filenames were config.php3 and install.php3 so I'm guessing I have php3. I heard php4 is faster but I don't know if I want to start messing arounf with the programming and all the other stuff that I saw people talking about. Someone said it's better to run apache but I don't have the knowlege to get into the programming.

Do I need to be an expert programmer to have a fast board using apche and php4?

Is it possible I already have apache?

Thank you.

[nuno]

You can check what version of PHP you are using by creating a simple phpinfo.php file with the following code:

<? phpinfo(); ?>

[DannyITR]

I'm new to this VB stuff. I have no idea how to do what you just told me to. Do you mean go into notepad and copy that line? Then what do I do with the file after that? Does it go on my server? In which folder? How do I use the file to find the info? What about the apache? I didn't see anything in the faq that would help.

You must think I'm really dumb but I'm not. You have to understand that I had never head of MySQL or PHP before two weeks ago and just heard of the word apache today. I'm really good with computers and even programming with C++ but I have just never come accross this stuff.

Thank you in advance.

[nuno]

yup, thats it, notepad, then upload it to your server and load it in your browser.
This file will answer your questions :)

[Mark Hensler]

Originally posted by DannyITR
You must think I'm really dumb but I'm not. You have to understand that I had never head of MySQL or PHP before two weeks ago and just heard of the word apache today. I'm really good with computers and even programming with C++ but I have just never come accross this stuff.hahah... You one of those system programmers? I have an instructor who is like that. Really great at C++ and UNIX and whatnot, but never got near the web stuff. ;)

[DannyITR]

I have a dedicated server with CI-Host. DO I need to bother with this Apache stuff or will VB run just fine?

[rylin]

Originally posted by DannyITR
I have a dedicated server with CI-Host. DO I need to bother with this Apache stuff or will VB run just fine?

CI-Host use apache for their webservers, as long as you're on a "Unix Dedicated" plan (they might've changed the name, but it should be similar).

As for php, i vaguely remember them sticking to php 3.x a while ago, but if you put <?php phpinfo(); ?> in a file, upload it to your webserver and go to http://yoursite.com/filename.php, we'll know for sure