by john attwood.
Not many disadvantages on Windows for Development Environment just depends on which WAMP stack you want to use. Definitely not all WAMP stacks are equal. I like XAMPP and Bitnami. I personally use Bitnami of late.
On Windows I cannot imagine a situation where you would want to separately install those elements since they are all native to a Linux environment. You would just be making a lot of work for yourself. Tweeking is one thing but install separately is not necessary because your just reinventing the wheel.
By "normal moodle" did you mean install on Linux ? You can still use the packaged installers and if you are going to roll out a number of servers you'll want the file structure to be the same which I like Bitnami for this as well. Also if your not experienced with Linux the packaged installers are the only way to go. There are many "CLI" syntactical issues you will be forced to deal with especially if you come from the Windows world. Some of those are no fun at all especially if you have a limited amount of time. The packaged installers give you a basic security model to work from you can tweek as you gain familiarity with the issues.
So if your migrating from Windows to Linux here are my tips if your not familiar with Linux:
*If either one has active users put into Moodle into "Maintenance Mode".
1. Identify your WAMP stack versions; Apache, MySql and PHP.
2. Find a LAMP stack with equal or newer versions. This might be available from your hosting solution, otherwise find one yourself. XAMPP or Bitnami. I'd go with the all in one. But if you "must" just install the Moodle module separately. (not covered here) follow stack instructions or manual moodle install instructions.
3. Match your Moodle version or go with newer if you must on the Linux server.
4. Once you've got everything installed and your "blank Moodle" up and running on the new Linux Server. You can access it from browser. Make sure you can login and everything is working click around inside your Moodle.
5 Go back to your WAMP server and backup the Moodle MySqldatabase. You can use phpmyadmin you should get a XXXX.sql file
6. Go to your Linux server copy the XXXX.sql file to it. You can use some type of GUI manager like; Control Panel, Plesk or Webmin.
7. Restore the XXXX. sql file to the Moodle MySql database that's sitting on your Linux server.
8. Copy over the "contents" of your moodledata folder from WAMP server to .../moodledata on Linux Server.
9. Login to Linux Server Moodle Course check your links check your user created data like something uploaded pic or word doc. Make sure they work. If they don't go back to moodledata folder check Linux permissions.
8. Set permissions on your moodledata folder to 755 (recursive) you can do this in Control Panel-File Manager, Plesk File Manager or Webmin File Manager whatever is available. Go back reload the page and check links again. IF this doesn't work go back a second time set your permissions to 777 (recursive)...repeat. If it still doesn't work...Welcome to Linux.
9. FFR (FDISK, FORMAT, REINSTALL)......or another way to say it delete start over from beginning or try your hosting service they might be able to help (don't get your hopes up) or find an experienced Linux admin to help you out. Or do a buttload of reading/tbshoot and figure it out yourself.
End Note:
Cutting and Pasting Linux Commands. This can work if your matched on Linux flavor (very important) and version (less important). I wouldn't do it on a production server because you can wind up hosing your server before you know it especially concerning Permissions. Permissions in Linux can really put the hurt on ya if you start getting slap happy and after you read though a few man pages and google articles on these type things, you will become....slap happy.
Hope this helps.
John