Installing XAMPP
debian:~# wget http://kent.dl.sourceforge.net/sourceforge/xampp/xampp-linux-1.6.5a.tar.gz
(command downloads XAMPP to the server)

debian:~# tar xvfz xampp-linux-1.6.5a.tar.gz -C /opt
(command extracts the downloaded archive file to /opt:)

Starting XAMPP
debian:~# /opt/lampp/lampp start
(Apache, PHP, MySQL, & ProFTPD will start)
Starting XAMPP for Linux 1.6.5a…
XAMPP: Starting Apache with SSL (and PHP5)…
XAMPP: Starting MySQL…
XAMPP: Starting ProFTPD…
XAMPP for Linux started.

Test XAMPP
Check to see if your installation was successful. Navigate to http://yourdomain.com. You should see the XAMPP splash page.

XAMPP Start Page

XAMPP Security
XAMPP is setup to be used in a development environment. The base configuration of XAMPP has NO SECURITY and should not be used as a live web server.

Missing security in XAMPP:

1. The MySQL administrator (root) has no password.
2. The MySQL daemon is accessible via network.
3. ProFTPD uses the password “lampp” for user “nobody”.
4. PhpMyAdmin is accessible via network.
5. Examples are accessible via network.
6. MySQL and Apache running under the same user (nobody).

To fix or close all these matters simply call
debian:~# /opt/lampp/lampp security

The command will start an interactive program.
XAMPP: Quick security check…
XAMPP: Your XAMPP pages are NOT secured by a password.
XAMPP: Do you want to set a password? [yes] yes
XAMPP: Password:
XAMPP: Password (again):
XAMPP: Password protection active. Please use ‘lampp’ as user name!
XAMPP: MySQL is accessable via network.
XAMPP: Normaly that’s not recommended. Do you want me to turn it off? [yes] yes
XAMPP: Turned off.
XAMPP: Stopping MySQL…
XAMPP: Starting MySQL…
XAMPP: The MySQL/phpMyAdmin user pma has no password set!!!
XAMPP: Do you want to set a password? [yes] yes
XAMPP: Password:
XAMPP: Password (again):
XAMPP: Setting new MySQL pma password.
XAMPP: Setting phpMyAdmin’s pma password to the new one.
XAMPP: MySQL has no root passwort set!!!
XAMPP: Do you want to set a password? [yes] yes
XAMPP: Write the password somewhere down to make sure you won’t forget it!!!
XAMPP: Password:
XAMPP: Password (again):
XAMPP: Setting new MySQL root password.
XAMPP: Change phpMyAdmin’s authentication method.
XAMPP: The FTP password is still set to ‘lampp’.
XAMPP: Do you want to change the password? [yes] yes
XAMPP: Password:
XAMPP: Password (again):
XAMPP: Reload ProFTPD…
XAMPP: Done.

Check the XAMPP Security page

Controlling XAMPP

XAMPP Directories

Stop XAMPP with this command:
debian:~# /opt/lampp/lampp stop

Uninstall XAMPP with this command:
debian:~# rm -rf /opt/lampp

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