How can I test cgi, php, .html offline?

Need to run php and cgi scripts on my local computer, what's the best ways?

[nguyen]

I am newbie here. Recently, my web host suspended my account for excessive use of resources. I didn't know running php files can take that much resource. So now I want to know if there are ways I can setup my own web server with the capabilites of running cgi and php scripts for the purposes of testing before I upload the files to my hosting provider?

I need something that will emulate that of an online hosting server but I don't need it to be serving pages on the Internet itself. I currently have a laptop and a desktop. My labtop is what I use to create .html files. My desktop currently has Redhat Linux 7.0 installed. I'm not too familiar with linux but I just installed it yesterday thinking maybe I can run apache on it and ftp to it from my laptop and upload the webpages, files, and then run it from the Linux box or I could run it from my labtop since there all connected to a router that's connected to the Internet via cable modem.

I'm not sure what I'm doing here but I want to be able to test my "site" before I upload it to my hosting company because I don't want to take up their resources for testing and running files.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

[roscoepico]

I use the Open Source web server - Xitami [xitami.com] on my PC to test pages locally. Easy to configure and does the trick.

[killroy]

I use apache (on windows). If u have a setup elsewhere, you can copy a minimal version wich uses jsut a few files and have it running "like hte big boys" in no time.

SN

[nguyen]

hey guys,

would those alternatives enable me to run cgi scripts and php?

[Majinboo]

There's also phpDev which is a packet with php, mySQL admin, Apache and... and... one or two more softs and I don't recall right now. It doesn't run SSL though but you can get the module, I just don't know how to set phpDEV to use nor have much time to check about it... can be done though.

would those alternatives enable me to run cgi scripts and php?

Don't know about Xitami but with phpDev, you will have to install PERL too in order do run cgi scripts

EDIT: you can download it (phpDev) at www.firepages.com.au

[nguyen]

thanks guys

i installed perl on my windows xp recently so I should have that. I'm off to setting things up...thanks again.

[coolmacguy]

Recently, my web host suspended my account for excessive use of resources.

You should get a new host.

[nguyen]

yes, I really didn't have any choice. they terminated my account. i'm still wondering what happened though so i can avoid it in the future.