An entire web server on a flash drive.

[blurredvision]

I'm starting to get ramped up to learn a little PHP and MySQL in some spare time at work. But, I really do not want to install Apache/PHP/MySQL on my test bed (although I could)....I'd rather have a portable version that I could put on my 4GB flash drive. Does such a thing exist? Are there any packages out there that installs everything on a flash drive that would allow me to have my entire test site reside on the flash drive, and I'd be able to run everything from it no matter what computer I was on?

I figured if there are complete OS's out there that boot from a flash drive, maybe something like this is possible as well. Thanks guys.

 

[tfinch2]

XAMPP

http://www.apachefriends.org/en/xampp-windows.html#521

 

[911paramedic]

http://www.apachefriends.org/en/xampp.html

I'm not sure if it will run on its own, but it will run on linux, and you can get linux to run on a flash drive.

I love this little program, great for testing sites locally and being able to turn it on and off quickly is a huge bonus, unlike IIS.

EDIT: Beat to the punch while typing, who knew it would be this busy in here this morning...

 

[blurredvision]

Originally posted by: tfinch2
XAMPP

http://www.apachefriends.org/en/xampp-windows.html#521

So I'll just point to the installation directory to the flash drive, and everything should work fine no matter which computer I plug it into?

 

[skrilla]

I run xampp on my 128 meg usb drive I think it is xampp lite to be exact. Just copy over the files and start it up... runs fine for me on multiple computers.

 

[reverend boltron]

WOS

This is by far the best one I have used. It's very small. If you have problems, let me know.

 

[JACKDRUID]

microsoft virtual PC 2004 is free... use it to create a virtual computer to run your webserver.

 

[heymrdj]

I use XAMPP on my 4GB Flash Drive.

Actually my all time greatest event was a full Debain linux install on a 4GB flash drive with php/mysql/apache/perl/ISPConfig control panel. But hardly any space left for sites My friends 16GB flash drive works perfect for it though

 

[blurredvision]

I've been running XAMPP on my flash drive for a week now, and it works great. I can plug it in, start the apache and mysql servers, and be ready to go. Thanks guys, this is exactly what I needed!

 

[tfinch2]

Originally posted by: JACKDRUID
microsoft virtual PC 2004 is free... use it to create a virtual computer to run your webserver.

That solution is way more complicated than what the OP wants.