How to install XenForo locally to your PC using XAMPP Lite

Kaiser Regular Member

Joined:: Nov 15, 2010

Messages:: 6,744

Likes Received:: 1,132

This is a simple guide for installing XenForo to your PC using XAMPP.
This is very useful for testing out add-ons, making changes, etc. without affecting your live site.
You can even swap the MySQL database between your live site and PC using phpMyAdmin.
You can also up/download any files between your installation directories.

You can even build your site completely on your PC then upload the forum directory to your server, import the database and have a fully working site. All you need to change is the Board URL in the ACP.

This guide assumes you have Windows 7 (64) and are installing XAMPP Lite. Other OS and XAMPP versions may have slightly different steps, or require different software.
Note it will not be necessary to chmod any directories.

The first thing you need to do is download XAMPP Lite, you can get it from here (.exe file):
http://www.apachefriends.org/en/xampp-windows.html#646

Install the XAMPP software

Click on the .exe file
Leave the destination folder as C:\
Select Y or N to add shortcuts to the Start Menu and Desktop
Select Y to proceed
Select N to make a portable XAMPP without drive letters (unless required)
Press X to exit

Start the XAMPP Control Panel

Start the Apache service and allow Firewall access
Start the MySQL service and allow Firewall access

Set up security

Click on the Apache service Admin button on the XAMPP Control Panel
Click Security
Click, or browse to http://localhost/security/xamppsecurity.php
Set the password for the MySQL section
Password: root (choose your own password)
Set the password for XAMPP directory protection
User: root (choose your own user name)
Password: root (choose your own password)
Restart the MySQL service

Create the local database

Click the MySQL Admin button on the XAMPP Control Panel or browse tohttp://localhost/phpmyadmin/index.php
Create a new database
Name: my_db (or give it the same name as your live install if you want to use the same database locally)

Install XenForo

Download the XenForo software and unzip it
Create the C:\xampplite\htdocs\community directory
Copy the contents of the unzipped XenForo /upload directory to the /community directory
Browse to the install directory: http://localhost/community/install/
Click on Begin Installation
Enter the server details
MySQL Server: localhost
MySQL Port: 3306
MySQL User Name: root (or whatever you used in the step above)
MySQL Password: root (or whatever you used in the step above)
MySQL Database Name: my_db (or whatever you used in the step above)
Then just set up the ACP options as per a normal installation except for the Board URL which will behttp://localhost/community

And that's it.
Your local install will now be available from your browser at http://localhost/community/

Each time you want to access it, all you have to do is run XAMPP and start the Apache and MySQL services.
Click to expand...

http://xenforo.com/community/thread...oro-locally-to-your-pc-using-xampp-lite.8257/

Kaiser, May 26, 2011

#1

ShadyX and Ashley.S. like this.

Sakura Regular Member

Joined:: Jun 4, 2010

Messages:: 262

Likes Received:: 45

Nice guide. To bad I don't have a Xenforo license to even test it. I can only use the demo which only has its limits. I can't test add-ons or anything like that.

Sakura, May 26, 2011

#2

Kaiser Regular Member

Joined:: Nov 15, 2010

Messages:: 6,744

Likes Received:: 1,132

Sakura said: ↑

Nice guide. To bad I don't have a Xenforo license to even test it. I can only use the demo which only has its limits. I can't test add-ons or anything like that.
Click to expand...

Its pretty useful for all software not just xenforo. I havent installed it yet but I plan to.

Kaiser, May 26, 2011

#3

SpacewardAsh Lurking From Space

Joined:: Jan 2, 2011

Messages:: 211

Likes Received:: 683

Location:: Falmouth, Cornwall, UK

First Name:: Ashley

Good tutorial, I don't have Xenforo but it certainly helped me get a localhost set up and working

SpacewardAsh, May 27, 2011

#4

Kaiser likes this.

ShadyX Regular Member

Joined:: May 11, 2010

Messages:: 354

Likes Received:: 49

I already have xampp on my pc installing on xampp is just like a regular install, but on your pc. i have 5 test XenForo boards on my local and i use them to test new addons or make changes before i make them live on my forum

ShadyX, May 27, 2011

#5

Kaiser likes this.

Kaiser Regular Member

Joined:: Nov 15, 2010

Messages:: 6,744

Likes Received:: 1,132

Ashley.S. said: ↑

Good tutorial, I don't have Xenforo but it certainly helped me get a localhost set up and working
Click to expand...

Yea, its a great tut, and its doesnt have to be used just for xenforo, basically the same for every script.

ShadyX said: ↑

I already have xampp on my pc installing on xampp is just like a regular install, but on your pc. i have 5 test XenForo boards on my local and i use them to test new addons or make changes before i make them live on my forum
Click to expand...

I finally got the time to set it up, just need to move AdminBB on it for testing.

Kaiser, May 28, 2011

#6

ShadyX likes this.

Log in or Sign up

How to install XenForo locally to your PC using XAMPP Lite

Kaiser Regular Member

Sakura Regular Member

Kaiser Regular Member

SpacewardAsh Lurking From Space

ShadyX Regular Member

Kaiser Regular Member

V-Xenforo - Xenforo theme ported to vBulletin.

xenforo to xenforo importer/merger

Alien Soup LITE Skin Now Available!

XenForo.com Running XenForo 1.2

Share This Page

About Us

Quick Navigation

Follow us on Twitter

Log in or Sign up

Useful Searches

How to install XenForo locally to your PC using XAMPP Lite

Kaiser Regular Member

Sakura Regular Member

Kaiser Regular Member

SpacewardAsh Lurking From Space

ShadyX Regular Member

Kaiser Regular Member

V-Xenforo - Xenforo theme ported to vBulletin.

xenforo to xenforo importer/merger

Alien Soup LITE Skin Now Available!

XenForo.com Running XenForo 1.2

Share This Page