First install your system; either a base install of Debian or Ubuntu Server or the full desktop install, depending on what else you want to use it for.
Start a terminal and type “sudo apt-get install apache2”
Type “Y” when prompted to accept the new packages
When it completes, open up a web browser and point it to http://localhost/ or the IP address of your box. If Apache has installed you should see a congratulatory message.
In your terminal type “sudo apt-get install apache2-doc”
In your terminal type “sudo apt-get install php5”
Type “Y” when prompted to accept the package changes.
In your terminal type “sudo apt-get install mysql-server”
Type “Y” when prompted to accept the package changes.
When the MySQL Server install wizard starts enter a root password for the database when prompted.
Repeat when prompted
In your terminal type “sudo apt-get install php5-mysql”
In your terminal type “sudo touch /var/www/info.php”
Now type “sudo nano /var/www/info.php”
In the nano editor type “<?php phpinfo(); ?>” then press Ctrl and O followed by Ctrl and X to save and exit
In your terminal type “sudo /etc/init.d/apache2 restart” to restart Apache
Point your web browser to http://localhost/info.php and you should see information about your PHP set up, including a section about MySQL
Ive got a good tutorial on my site for setting up a debian/ubuntu LAMP server, with support for remote administration.
See here:
ttp://www.jamesben.net/?p=60