Alternative apache + php install

gaekwad · 2020-12-19 11:14:13

phiw13 wrote #327650:

If you found some time, a simple ordered list for VirtualBox would be great — a plain .txt file suffices :-). TY.

Consider it added to the list.

Destry · 2020-12-19 11:38:31

Being my mbp is 10 years old and tops out with High Sierra (10.13.6), I should probably look at an alternative situation too, at least for Apache. I’m not using mamp, though. I tried that many years ago and didn’t like it; that’s what had me go native to begin with, which fit better to my tendency for lower footprint.

Last edited by Destry (2020-12-19 11:41:35)

gaekwad · 2021-04-08 11:42:11

Resurrecting an old thread to add Devilbox to the list for consideration.

Bloke · 2021-04-08 12:55:56

Ooh, shiiiiiny.

gaekwad · 2021-04-08 18:03:45

Yeah, the TLS stuff is interesting – I haven’t used it in anger yet, I’m way behind the curve on all things container-y, but there’s some really interesting stuff in there.

phiw13 · 2021-04-09 02:23:08

gaekwad wrote #329720:

Resurrecting an old thread to add Devilbox to the list for consideration.

Hmm. Interesting. The intro text / documentation on that GH page is quite a little heavy on insider jargon, though. After reading the page I am not very clear on the install/config route. One thing I will credit MAMP, despite my general heavy dislike for their attitude and the poor UI of the installed package, is the excellent human readable documentation. Full praise for that.

–^–

For my own needs, I went the Homebrew route, their Apache & PHP (8 & 7.4) packages. Works nicely on MacOS 11. I use the MySQL 8 package directly from Oracle, with its easy-to-use-and-configure MacOS installer.

Algaris · 2021-04-12 08:00:16

After trying various solutions on my Mac I decided to setup my own Ubuntu server.

On the server I install PHP, MySQL, and any dependencies that are needed for my projects. I now do all of my work on the server using a Samba share to the www folder so that I can open and save files from my Mac.

For my servers I’ve used an old iMac and just recently a Raspberry Pi 4. Currently I’m thinking about building a PC to run True NAS so that I can have multiple servers to keep my various projects separate from each other.

—edit— Fixed typo.

Last edited by Algaris (2021-04-12 10:20:50)

gaekwad · 2021-04-12 08:56:01

Algaris wrote #329782:

After trying various solutions my Mac I decided to setup my own Ubuntu server.

On the server I install PHP, MySQL, and any dependencies that are needed for my projects. I now do all of my work on the server using a Samba share to the www folder so that I can open and save files from my Mac.

For my servers I’ve used an old iMac and just recently a Raspberry Pi 4. Currently I’m thinking about building a PC to run True NAS so that I can have multiple servers to keep my various projects separate from each other.

This is literally what I did & still do. Works really well. I use a Pi 2 for simple sites, Pi 3B more complex stuff, and eBay is great for picking cheap ones if you’re patient. TrueNAS is what I use for NAS storage here in the office, and once you get your head around the terminology, it’s fantastic.

Last edited by gaekwad (2021-04-12 08:57:41)

Algaris · 2021-04-15 07:38:24

gaekwad wrote #329784:

This is literally what I did & still do. Works really well.

I got fed up of constantly tinkering with my Mac (and invariably bodging something up) to get my web dev environment up and running. In the end I decided I just wanted to keep my Mac and dev environment separate. Every now and again Linux shows me how much I have to learn when I end up banging my head against permissions because I can no longer save files to or delete files from my Samba share (usually a quick sudo chmod -R ugo+rw /var/www/html fixes this) but it makes for an interesting ride as I learn more about administering Linux servers. I just have to beef up my knowledge about security and hardening them.

I settled on the idea of TrueNAS when I found you can easily spin up and destroy multiple virtual machines as needed. I realised the amount of tinkering and different projects I like to work on was unsustainable on one server as not all of the software would play nice together. Originally I thought of Raspberry Pi’s, now that you can run a full version of Ubuntu Server on them, but that would mean buying multiple Pi’s. So TrueNAS seems the way to go. I was originally looking at the open source Xen Hypervisor but it’s way above my knowledge and ability to setup.

gaekwad · 2021-04-15 08:09:12

Ross, it’s like you’re in my head. Exactly what I’ve done, too. Bravo!

jakob · 2021-04-15 08:15:35

Algaris wrote #329782:

After trying various solutions on my Mac I decided to setup my own Ubuntu server.

gaekwad wrote #329784:

This is literally what I did & still do. Works really well.

You’re both way ahead of me on this. Someday maybe I’ll get to that but I still like to be able to quickly switch from work to home or garden and not be tied to infrastructure. (As if to prove the point, O2 have managed to switch off our work DSL broadband connection without switching on the new cable connection leaving four freelancers stranded and at their mercy. Having a local dev environment is handy in such cases).

phiw13 wrote #329732:

For my own needs, I went the Homebrew route, their Apache & PHP (8 & 7.4) packages. Works nicely on MacOS 11. I use the MySQL 8 package directly from Oracle, with its easy-to-use-and-configure MacOS installer.

I have almost this setup except with Laravel Valet which sits on top of those homebrew components. It adds DnsMasq to the mix which makes every folder in the /Sites folder (or whatever you use) immediately available as foldername.test (custom exceptions are possible). It’s basically silently there in the background; no virtualhosts, no etc hosts file. Setting up a site is basically copying a folder and initiating a database, then running /setup. Switching from laptop to work computer (with same username on both) means just copying across the folder and importing the db.

One caveat is no .htaccess as it uses nginx in the background. I was unsure about that to start with but in practice you have no exposure to nginx and Textpattern’s expanded url schemes has made it less necessary to “resort to” .htaccess. Textpattern works with the standard valet driver and I’ve found a custom driver for txp is not necessary.

gaekwad · 2021-04-15 12:40:21

jakob wrote #329832:

One caveat is no .htaccess as it uses nginx in the background. I was unsure about that to start with but in practice you have no exposure to nginx and Textpattern’s expanded url schemes has made it less necessary to “resort to” .htaccess. Textpattern works with the standard valet driver and I’ve found a custom driver for txp is not necessary.

Make some noise if you need some help with Nginx, I only started learning it since makss added a bunch of support for it in Textpattern back in a previous branch, and now it’s my go-to for nearly everything.

This link should take you to the current / latest incarnation of the textpattern.com Nginx server block on GitHub, which has been honed & tweaked over the years.

Last edited by gaekwad (2021-04-15 12:40:31)

phiw13 · 2021-06-22 00:07:30

Related – a PSA:

The next release of macOS –macOS 12 “Monterey”– removes the pre-installed PHP. via Michael Tsai

My Homebrew based install works quite well. I’ve added a monthly TODO note to my calendar to remind me to check for (eventual) updates.

Destry · 2021-12-27 12:00:45

jakob wrote #329832:

I still like to be able to quickly switch from work to home or garden and not be tied to infrastructure.

Yep. I love this mobility, and I just used it over the xmas weekend.

I have almost this setup except with Laravel Valet which sits on top of those homebrew components. It adds DnsMasq to the mix which makes every folder in the /Sites folder (or whatever you use) immediately available as foldername.test ; no virtualhosts, etc.

That is new to me, and though I don’t really mind setting up virtualhosts, I’ve not liked having to remember editing the hosts file in tandem. I might give valet a try in the short term.

My late 2011 mbp is miraculously still running, but showing signs of glitches and trackpad failure and is horribly supported by Apple anymore.

But I’ve decided I’m not buying anymore Apple laptops (even now we’ll be able to work on them…too late). I can’t justify the high cost and resource consumption for another shiny Apple thing unless, as Pete mentioned once, I can find a refurb 2014 and make that the daily office caddy, which I might still have to do if the current goes belly up.

As for web dev and hosting my own domain and sites, which is all I need to worry about anymore, I think I am ready to try a raspberry pi. They even have an interesting pc setup now, the keyboard and hub 400, so maybe that’s a laptop replacer. At 109,95 €, it’s a lot cheaper than even the cheapest Apple product. Just need a screen to plug onto. I can live without the offsite mobility, as long as I could move around the house via wifi.

(What’s the average lifespan of an RPi, Pete? The late 2011 mbp cost me a about 1.2K and 10 years seems about end of life for it. If a RPi lasted three years, that’s still a big savings over a decade, and Apple laptops are a lot more expensive now, too.)

And the more I read about setting up a stand-alone solar-powered system (de Decker does his off the balcony of his apartment) the more I think I can pull it off. In fact, for me, I think setting up the web server software and router configurations will be the hardest part, not the power. So that goal is on the radar. We only need to move first (a long struggle of a story) so I can know if good sunlight will even make it feasible, but I think I can run four websites easily enough with the right panel/battery arrangement, and even a small wind turbine can be wired in to the controller to provide more charge in the night hours, helping to ensure 24-hr uptime through nights/winter.

Overall goals:

Low footprint/impact web design
Green/sustainable hosting (myself, eventually)
Low cost/impact hardware/software
Decentralized / privacy-respecting

I’m getting there with 1.
2 will take at least another year.
No better time than the present for 3.
4 is inherent.

First step is to just get the RPi and local dev/hosting set up. I need Txp, so an amp stack on RPi will be a necessary learning exercise for me. The solar elements and live hosting will come later, lodgings permitting.

Last edited by Destry (2021-12-27 12:02:45)

gaekwad · 2021-12-27 15:42:19

Destry wrote #332333:

What’s the average lifespan of an RPi, Pete?

I have owned ~50 or so RPi over time, and I’ve had maybe 10% fail at a physical level. Ballpark: I would expect 4-6 years from an RPi, less if you rag them hard and more if they’re idle most of the time.

The most common point of non-permanent failure in my experience is the SD card. Get a high endurance card and you’ll get more life out of it, but factor in they will fail at some stage (i.e. take backups).

Don’t get RPi 2 as they have contemptible spring clips on their SD slot and they’re hateful things. RPi 3 are a good compromise, they will run AMP stack stuff just fine and they’re at a lower price point than the RPi 4, plus there’s good stocks generally. Get a good power supply, the official one is worth the money but any 5V DC @ 2A wall wart would do the job just fine. A stable 5V supply is invaluable. Get a powered USB if you intend to attach stuff to it, as this leaves the power for the main board and a much happier experience all round.

I have ended up moving away from RPi for dev stuff since I’m reducing the amount of stuff in the office (Stef can likely attest there was a lot of hardware crammed into one room), and I’m Marie Kondo-ing my way to a better life.

I may have a very old build guide for Textpattern + AMP on Raspbian somewhere in my stash, I’ll have a look – you’re welcome to a copy of it should I find it. It was intended as a series of blog posts but never made it that far, so crib as you need to.

Textpattern CMS support forum

#16 2020-12-19 11:14:13

Re: Alternative apache + php install

phiw13 wrote #327650:

#17 2020-12-19 11:38:31

Re: Alternative apache + php install

#18 2021-04-08 11:42:11

Re: Alternative apache + php install

#19 2021-04-08 12:55:56

Re: Alternative apache + php install

#20 2021-04-08 18:03:45

Re: Alternative apache + php install

#21 2021-04-09 02:23:08

Re: Alternative apache + php install

gaekwad wrote #329720:

#22 2021-04-12 08:00:16

Re: Alternative apache + php install

#23 2021-04-12 08:56:01

Re: Alternative apache + php install

Algaris wrote #329782:

#24 2021-04-15 07:38:24

Re: Alternative apache + php install

gaekwad wrote #329784:

#25 2021-04-15 08:09:12

Re: Alternative apache + php install

#26 2021-04-15 08:15:35

Re: Alternative apache + php install

Algaris wrote #329782:

gaekwad wrote #329784:

phiw13 wrote #329732:

#27 2021-04-15 12:40:21

Re: Alternative apache + php install

jakob wrote #329832:

#28 2021-06-22 00:07:30

Re: Alternative apache + php install

#29 2021-12-27 12:00:45

Re: Alternative apache + php install

jakob wrote #329832:

#30 2021-12-27 15:42:19

Re: Alternative apache + php install

Destry wrote #332333:

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