Can Apache be a 'personal' web server?

[MhueD]

FYI--Am an Apache-newbie (though I have 25 years in IT)

I installed Apache 2.0.x for Windows XP sp2 because I want to learn it on my development machine, without any current connection to mission critical sites with clients. During the install I didn't know what domain/server name settings to type in to get it just to be a 'local' app...if that is a doable thing! Anyway, the program seems kind of unhappy without these settings...

Also, where in the config file do I go to fix this problem once I know what strings to enter...looked for a section on this and somehow missed it...
Thanx!!!

 

[feherke]

Hi

Sorry, I do not understand which program is unhappy and how it express its unhappiness.

On my machine Apache's configuration file is

c:\Program Files\Apache Group\Apache2\conf\httpd.conf

Feherke.

http://rootshell.be/~feherke/

 

[MhueD]

1) I found the httpd.conf file easily right off...what I meant was that I could not see WITHIN it where the server/domain strings could be changed (if I in fact should need to do that to 'point' my machine to itself as a server)
2) I would define unhappiness as being the fact that there is no Apache2 process running and no apparent way to start one...
Probably it is my mind at fault...

 

[feherke]

Hi

if I in fact should need to do that to 'point' my machine to itself as a server

Correct. That is the operating system's service.

127.0.0.1       localhost MhueDserver test

I would define unhappiness as being the fact that there is no Apache2 process running and no apparent way to start one...

Would never be thinking to this one...

When I installed Apache, the installer created a link on my desktop, "Start Apache in Console". I use that. ( Currently I mostly use LightTPD, and I start Apache only when needed. )

So better let yourself guided by Apache's developers and read "Running Apache as a Service".

Feherke.

http://rootshell.be/~feherke/

 

[MhueD]

guess that I am lost...not sure how to get found.

I did go to the NT command line and change the directory to the Apache bin...ran Apache -k install and got that the program could not bind to port 80, so maybe my system has a special problem. There is no firewall, but I don't know what else could be it. Also, I am still not clear on my original query, which is whether I am providing the right name-strings in my conf. file and where I would do that...

 

[smah]

Is IIS running (or some other web server) that might be listening on port 80?

For apache's ServerName directive, localhost is acceptable.

 

[MhueD]

OK...some progress...found Skype blocking port 80, Apache is running. However, same question:

NameVirtualHost *:80

<VirtualHost *:80>
     ServerName localhost
     DocumentRoot c:\program files\apache group\apache2\htdocs
</VirtualHost>

<VirtualHost *:80>
     ServerName DrupalTest
     DocumentRoot c:\program files\apache group\apache2\htdocs_DrupTest
</VirtualHost>

This section prevents Apache2 from starting. What do I call this machine so that it host one or more 'local' (non-web) development 'sites'...?

 

[smah]

I'm not sure that it would prevent apache from starting, but add quotation marks around your paths - you have a space character.

NameVirtualHost *:80

<VirtualHost *:80>
     ServerName localhost
     DocumentRoot [!]"[/!]c:\program files\apache group\apache2\htdocs[!]"[/!]
</VirtualHost>

<VirtualHost *:80>
     ServerName DrupalTest
     DocumentRoot [!]"[/!]c:\program files\apache group\apache2\htdocs_DrupTest[!]"[/!]
</VirtualHost>

Also have a look at the error log for any clues about what is happening. You can 'call' these different servers whatever you'd like; you'll just need to do something about name resolution outside of apache.