WAMP, Drupal, and Windows 7

Ask any web designer, sometimes the hardest part of designing and coding a site is watching it run live.  Fortunately for us, WAMP allows us to run ‘Virtual Networks’ on our machines.  One of the many features allows us is a platform with which to install Drupal.   One of the methods that the Design4ge Team has adapted, is using WAMP as a test site with which to test and configure the Drupal, Wordpress or Joomla templates before their ‘live’ introduction onto the web server.  There are a few complications to setting this up, and few resources to find help.  Here we have laid out a step by step process to install WAMP on Windows 7, configure our server, and then install the Drupal site.

Correct WAMP Download

One of the first things to know, is the WampServer2.0i version that you are prompted to download from the WAMP website is not compatible with Drupal.  Once you click to download, cancel the download and click the link provided for additional versions and download the WampServer2.0h.  As small as this may seem, the mySQL library used in WampServer2.0i is not compatible with that of Drupal.   

WAMP Port Errors

Once installed, your WAMP server will prompt you to use the default setting LocalHost and then have a second data entry box asking for an e-mail address with a generic you@yoursite.complaceholder.  Leave the LocalHost setting and enter your e-mail address to the data box.   Next if you have Mozilla Firefox installed on your system, WAMP will prompt you if you want to use Firefox to view your site, click yes.  Once installed, the WAMP Server quick tray icon will show in your start menu.  Left click on the icon and a window will provide you with a menu.  At the top of the menu is localhost, once clicked, a Firefox window should open and display your WAMP Server Homepage.  If you can see this screen, then you should have no Port Issues.  If for any reason you don’t see your WAMP Server Homepage, I would suggest looking at Port errors.  This occurs when two programs like Skype and WAMP attempt to communicate through the same generic port 80.  This can be easily changed, but to make it easier we have attached steps to the method. 

1. Left Click on the WAMP Server Icon in the System Tray                  
2. Click on the PHP Menu Selector
3. Select the httpd.conf icon
4. Inside of the httpd.conf file you can select which port you want to run your virtual network through.  (Note that Skype Generally uses default port 80)

Installing Drupal on a WAMP Server

Download and Prepare Drupal Install Files

Drupal install files can be found at http://www.drupal.org.  All Drupal install files come in a compressed .tar or .gzip format.  Once downloaded and uncompressed, copy the Drupal file folder into your WAMP Folder.  It should look something like C:/WAMP/WWW.  (So your new site would be saved as C:/WAMP/WWW/*Mysite* or etc. 

Apache Configuration

The Apache Configuration file is saved on your computer as the httpdf.com.  If you are using the default WAMP install it will be located at c:\wamp\bin\apache\apache2.2.6\conf\http.conf.  I found it easier to again left-click on the WAMP Icon in the System Tray.  Then select the Apache menu, and the first file shown should be your httpd.conf file.    Once opened locate the line that reads

            ServerName LocalHost:80

            Now copy and paste the following code below the ServerName line you just found.

                                                               NameVirtualHost *:80 

<VirtualHost *:80>

  DocumentRoot "c:/wamp/www/"

  ServerName localhost

</VirtualHost>

<VirtualHost *:80>

  DocumentRoot "c:/wamp/www/mysite"

  ServerName mysite.localhost

  ServerAlias mysite

</VirtualHost>

Setting Up the mySQL Database

We are going to use phpMyAdmin to set up our SQL account.  To do this open your browser and type in http://localhost/phpmyadmin .  Once loaded, type the name for your database into the Create New Database field.  Then simply click create and you will have it set up.  Lastly add a custom user, click the privileges tab, set your username and password and close your browser.  Be sure to give your custom user full access to administrative tools. 

Installing Drupal on WAMP Server 

Installing drupal is as easy as opening our web browser, and typing in http://mysite.localhostand you should see the language selector.  Next you should be prompted to enter your database information, username and password.  Hit save, and continue to complete. 

From this point, your site should be fully installed and functional.  I would suggest turning on clean-urls so it’s easier to track your pages. Feel free to drop a comment and let me know what you are doing with your WAMP or Drupal project, as I love to hear what other people are thinking.