Are you having problems using your iJoomla component locally?

Every Licensed component downloaded from iJoomla.com can be loaded on a localhost computer for development purposes

So, if you install it locally on your computer, you can access it in your web browser using the URL:

http://localhost

Even your production registered component can be used via this URL if you install it locally.

In this article I will provide you with the instructions on how to install apache, mysql and php to work correctly with ioncube on a windows system.

Ioncube is an encoding method that we use to protect our software from piracy and from users purchasing one copy and installing that copy on 100 website for example.  Why do we do this? because we spend many thousands of dollars developing these components and we feel that we have a right to protect our return for investment.

So, on with the Guide.

How to install apache/php propperly on a windows system without having to install ioncube, but be able to use it.
AND
How to setup your apache server to load PHP as a CGI program.

1. Install apache. (This guide uses 2.2.x)
   This guide assumes that you install it in the default location:
   C:\Program Files\Apache Software Foundation\Apache2.2
2. Install Mysql. (This guide uses 5.0.22)
   This guide will assume it is installed in C:\Mysql
3. Install PHP. (guide uses 5.2.1)
   This guide assumes you have installed it in:
   C:\PHP

Configuration of PHP:
Ensure that the php-cgi.exe program is in the C:\PHP directory

Edit the file C:\PHP\php.ini

Find the doc_root = variable and set it to:
doc_root = "C:\Program Files\Apache Software Foundation\Apache2.2\htdocs"

Ensure that the C:\PHP\ext directory contains the file php_mysql.dll
If it doesn't then you didn't select the extension in the php installation wizard.
If you installed from the zip file then you should have this file here already.

At the end of the php.ini file add:
[PHP_MYSQL]
extension=php_mysql.dll

Configuration of Apache:

edit the file C:\Program Files\Apache Software Foundation\Apache2.2\conf\httpd.conf

At the bottom of the file, add the lines: (Please copy and paste these lines.)
ScriptAlias /php/ "c:/php/"
AddType application/x-httpd-php .php .php5
Action application/x-httpd-php "/php/php-cgi.exe"
SetEnv PHPRC "C:/php"

NOTE: use the / character here and never the \ character.

Now, find the section:
<Directory>
    Options FollowSymLinks
    AllowOverride None
    Order deny,allow
    Deny from all
    Satisfy all
</Directory>

change it to:
<Directory "C:/Program Files/Apache Software Foundation/Apache2.2/htdocs">
    Options FollowSymLinks
    AllowOverride None
    Order deny,allow
    Deny from all
    Satisfy all
</Directory>

Save the file.
restart your webserver.

Test the installation

in the root of the website (C:/Program Files/Apache Software Foundation/Apache2.2/htdocs)
put a file named test.php
in this file put:
<?php
phpinfo();
?>
Open this file in your web browser using the URL
http://localhost/test.php

You should now see lots of php settings.
where is says "Server API" you should now see the value "CGI/FastCGI"

You've now setup php as a CGI with dynamic loading(a default option in php.ini) that will automatically load ioncube when installing our components

To be fully compliant with Joomla you should also change the magic_quotes_gpc option in the php.ini to ON also.