Virtual Hosts

Mike: By default, when you install WAMP, it is closed to outsiders. So, I'd say it's pretty secure. I used to use it at my old job, and then allow intranet access so people could see things we were working on within the company.

I agree with Nathan about WAMP being pretty secure by default. You can add additional security by adding passwords to access the various aspects of WAMP (i.e., database, etc.). Another thing I recommend is a good firewall program such as ZoneAlarm that allows you to monitor incoming and outgoing connections. You can set it up so that it always allows certain connections that are often used. That way only 'suspicious' stuff will appear. Of course this configuration will take time and the more you auto allow, the more stuff could slip by you.

On a side note, does anyone know the differences between WAMP and XAMPP?

I have been using Apache installed locally on Windows similar to what Cody described in his post. you can have the ability to use different host names by editing the hosts file in the C:\windows\system32\drivers\etc of windows installations. this file allows you to map different host names to 127.0.0.1, and then you can place different values for the ServerName config option in Apache.

if you open the hosts file, you'll see localhost already in there. I'm pretty sure this is how windows knows what IP belongs to that word. you can enter as many of your own mappings as necessary.

I'm a little wary this practice because it adds a configuration item in an obscure place, but the ability to access multiple sites on my computer through different host names is worth it to me.

<VirtualHost 127.0.0.1:81>
  ServerName projectname
  DocumentRoot "C:/htdocs/projectname" 
  <Directory "C:/htdocs/projectname/">
    Options Indexes FollowSymLinks Includes
    Order deny,allow
    Deny from all
    Allow from 127.0.0.1
    DirectoryIndex index.php
  </Directory>
</VirtualHost>

this should allow you to access the site in C:\htdocs\projectname using http://projectname:81. I could add another VirtualHost section in the config using projectname2 for my ServerName and point that to a site located in C:\htdocs\projectname2, just add another line to the hosts file mentioned above pointing projectname2 to 127.0.0.1.

also note that the Allow from 127.0.0.1 of Cody's config only allows connections to Apache from the local computer, and nobody else, which is a good practice to ensure security.

Oops, of course underscores not allowed.

...sounds good to me.

They are two slightly different flavors of the same thing.  The advantage of XAMPP is the addition of PERL, the ability to choose PHP4 or PHP5 (and then switch when needed to match a live environment) and a fairly easy to use interface.

That's my 2 cents :^{>