I've actually never used LAMP before, but here's how I would do this manually:

Install Apache, PHP, MySQL and whatever else you wanted onto the computer you want the server to be on. If possible, set it with a static-IP address. If you don't care about typing in IP addresses instead of domain names, this would be all you'd have to do. Verify that everything is working properly on the "server" by typing in "localhost" in your browser and seeing if your index page appears. If so, then you're all set. All you'd have to do on a different computer is type in the server's IP address into the browser, and you should see your stuff.

I haven't done this very recently, but last time I did it, it wasn't that hard to do.

Good luck,
David

This is worth a look for development.

http://www.apachefriends.org/en/xampp-linux.html

They also have Windows and OS X versions.

This should only be used for development/testing. It is not hardened with security in mind for public web server usage.

There is also MAMP (http://www.mamp.info/en/index.html) for OS X, but MAMP hasn't been kept up to date as well as XAMPP.

Thanks!

I usually just put Ubuntu on an old box, I currently have one at home for freelance dev work, and one at the office for dev work there. The ubuntu server edition is pretty easy and straight forward to setup. The Server guide https://help.ubuntu.com/8.04/serverguide/C/index.html will easily walk you through setting up a LAMP server (Linux, Apache, Mysql, PHP). I'm not that much of an experienced linux user, but I can setup and manage an Ubuntu box with just the command line, so that's saying a lot, hehe.

-jamie

That totally works Jamie.

The one thing I like about having my dev environment on my laptop is that I don't have to have network connectivity to develop and test. Probably the only real advantage.

Shrop

I also run it local sometimes on my mac using MAMP. The main reason I keep it on its own dedicated box locally is because its always up. I can point a sub-domain usually dev.whateverdomain.com to the dev box and that allows others (clients, co-workers, etc) to be able to view the site for feedback or contribution. Also, my live servers use Ubuntu as well, and my only connection to them is command line only so its helpful to have it locally to test and learn before i break something on the production side. (which happens a lot anyway!)

If you are on a mac I'd definitely recommend MAMP if you want to run it without setting up an extra machine. Super easy to setup.

-jamie

So Jamie, does your dev server connect to the outside world or do you have it configured for internal access only?

I'd like to know more both!

I was thinking of running Ubuntu server like in virtual box or something in case I do something stupid and/or get hacked, would be easy just to revert the entire thing.

its accessible from the outside, I have the web ports and ssh setup in the firewall so i can get into it from wherever.

-jamie