The following describes how to do this in ubuntu, but if you want it very simply, use a VM device: LAMP device .
XAMPP may also be workable, but I used this only in windows.
In ubuntu:
sudo tasksel
select LAMP and it will configure apache etc. In the middle of the installation, it will ask for the mysql password.
The files live in / var / www, but this can easily be changed in vhosts (I use the subdirectory of my home folder, which is often copied). A quick check of the ubuntu online documentation should show you the correct files to edit (since I think there have been changes after endurance).
Subversion and phpmyadmin are a good idea, as I'm sure you know.
a2enmod will enable mod-rewrite, etc., since it is not enabled by default.
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