Googled and forum surfed but came beck home for some help. 
This is the install instructions from Xampp page.
apache friends - xampp for linux
Step 2: Installation - After downloading simply type in the following commands:
1. Go to a Linux shell and login as the system administrator root: su
1. Extract the downloaded archive file to /opt: tar xvfz xampp-linux-1.7.4.tar.gz -C /opt
Warning: Please use only this command to install XAMPP. DON'T use any Microsoft Windows tools to extract the archive, it won't work.
Warning 2: already installed XAMPP versions get overwritten by this command.
That's all. XAMPP is now installed below the /opt/lampp directory.
Okay here I go. Several things as I have never setup a server. I want a local host where I can work with an existing website without borking the actual site and maybe use it to learn php and some website development. Apache 2 server, PHP, and Mysql, phpMyAdmin, etc. Looking at Xampp but having trouble getting the tar to install per instructions in code quotes. Thought about logging in as root and unpacking in /opt but thought Iâd check here in the forums. I would like to be able to work with the ftpâd copy I have of the site from the remote host. To install a tar should be easy but I canât seem to get it.
I did install the server and packages with patterns in Yast but the configâs needed for local host and setting up the remote files for a local host that doesnât start at boot also eluded me. Decided to uninstall pattern and try Xampp.
Any help appreciated.