I have been using Fedora Core 1 on my old PentiumII 550 machine for years. When I was learning (I still am) about mysql, php, and apache, all the tutorials talked as though these packages were manually installed in /usr/local/ so I removed all those packages via add/remove programs and then manually installed and compiled.

I recently 'inherited' and new HP 2.4GHz P4 and since I 'played' around with my old install's kernel so much, I decided to start fresh with this new machine.
So now my question is, does Fedora install these packages in odd places? Is it important that I compile myself and place them in /usr/local or is it just fine to install these packages from the CD and accept the odd location Fedora places them? (if they are infact odd locations)

When it comes to installing software, at least for newbies like me,
it's in general a good idea to stick to 2 simple rules:
-always use the latest, stable version available (if possible);
-use as much as you can the "standard" installations (eg on CD, from RPMs)
You can find RPMs on the internet easily.

In case of Apache, configuration can be difficult (you need to install additional modules,
etc).

You can practically always go for the "compilation and install" (typically tar -xvzf; ./configure; ./make;
sudo ./make install, in which case you can mostly configure where your software is installed.
If so, I advise you to:
-either stick with the defaults that the software installation uses (easiest way);
-or put all software in a few directories, to make your system configuration easier:
for instance, put all your locally installed software in /usr/local; your system stuff
goes in /usr and /bin, system administration stuff in /sbin or /usr/sbin; etc.

When you don't go for the compile&install, but use let's say an RPM or an installation CD,
the installation will put the software in it's default place for you. This means you don't
really need to worry where it's put.

I think the Apache RPM on Redhat uses the configuration directive --enable-layout=RedHat. That means that the data directory is /home/httpd/html and the configuration directory is /etc/httpd/conf/. While a lot of people use that, it isn't what is defined as the "standard" layout (./configure --enable-layout=Apache).

From Apache 'configure' page:

Okay - so being at work I decided to try to "yum install php mysql mysql-server php-mysql" I tried them individually, together, I cannot get past dependencies. I have always had these kinda problems with yum. This is always so frustrating. Will I have these dependency problems when I get home and try to install off the CD?

btw - Apache was installed, even though I unchecked it on the initial installation! It was installed in /etc/httpd/conf/ too, so I was okay there.
Just need mysql and php

You'll have the same dependencies, because they are the same packages.

If you have package maintenance built into your install cds (yes, Fedora does), that would be your best bet because while you will still have your dependencies there, the cd should figure out which rpms you need off of the cd to satisfy them. The downside is that you are getting dated rpms. The upside...it works!

The command to get you to the package menu on Fedora escapes me since it has been a while since I ran FC, but I remember selecting checkboxes for the packages I wanted and it would prompt me to put the appropriate install CD# into the drive.