newbie101?

[healimonster]

So I am very new to the web-hosting thing so I don't know a lot.

 

But I do know I have a domain, and I downloaded apache and I am running that domain off of apache on my own web-sever.

 

So today I downloaded the oscommerce software to see if I could get it up and running under my domain.

 

I followed the directions telling me to put the catalog into my htdoc folder and also put the admin folder in the htdocs folder but rename it.

 

then It said to go to mysite.com/installation or whatever it said.

 

that site didn't show up but a folder list did when I just went to mysite.com and I could click on the installation link and start the installation walk though.

 

 

I got to the database page asking for the name of the database, the login, the password.

 

Ok I know I have no idea what this database is that it is looking for? I am pretty sure I don't have one.

 

What am i doing wrong, what is a database (in this context), do i need to create one? How do I successfully complete the install so I can tweak and manage the site like anyother site?

[utahcon]

healimonster -

 

I had the same question at this point.

 

You need to make sure you have MySQL installed so that you can continue.

 

You can get it for free at http://www.mysql.com

 

Once you have that installed you will want to fill in the blanks with the needed info (you dont have to build the database just install mysql) and it will do the rest for you.

[healimonster]

Thank you very much.

 

I will try that.

 

Do you or anyone else know of an online resource such as a manuel or some great threads or posts that I can print out.

 

I don't have a printer right now, but I am at work and I can print as much crap as I want.

It is just easier to have paper copies of instructions, manuels, and general help that are for computing issues. It is always a little pain in the ass to try to read help from a website when you are working on another aplication.

 

Thanks.