The other tool that you can use to set up a test environment is the stand-alone server environment for Joomla! packaged in GNU form by www.ravenswoodit.co.uk. This tool, which is extremely popular, is a self-contained, MySQL, Apache, Joomla! environment that runs on your Windows Desktop.

As you see in the graphic, the Joomla! site is running on my "localhost", which in this case, is my XP desktop.

The setting up of this is very easy and quick. You launch it by clicking START.BAT; this fires up the Apache, MySQL, and Joomla!. In about a minute, the browser opens and you have a completely self-contained Joomla! site to test and develop on.

You as the developer, have full access to any part of it, allowing you to "clone" out the site when you are done. This tool is HIGHLY recommended for your test environment.

One note of caution: If you are running this on your Windows desktop, STOP the IIS service if running. The instance will generate an error if IIS...