Apache Friends Support Forum

Okay I started a new topic because I think this is a new problem.
I went to this web site:
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/ubuntu/i ... ment-85006
Followed the instructions.
I ran this command:
/opt/lampp/lampp start
I get this response:
No such file or directory
Well it all downloaded and when I run "local host" in my browser I get "It Worked!"
Okay if it worked then why can't I control it?
I understand that I am in the wrong directory and need to make some changes.
I just have no idea what to do right now.
I type this:
/var/www/ start
It tells me this :
is a directory
No s@$& its a directory.How do I execute my files out of the directory.

Sorry I am frustrated.This has been going on for a few days.
Any help would be much appreciated.
I am a brand new Linux user and very new to the terminal.
I am clearly missing something simple here.
I will keep working and post updates.
Thanks for the help.

Update:
I installed rapache interface.
Now I can see how to start/stop my server,but in windows there is a panel where you can control apache and mysql separately.
Also, I can access them from my browser and set up and install my folders and files from there.
I am not finding the controls for all of this anywhere.
Any help or links would be much appreciated still working on a solution.
Thanks