Recommended Tests

So you want apache huh.  Well, here we go.

First you need to get apache, easiest thing to use is the MSI Installer.  You can download this at http://httpd.apache.org/download.cgi grab the "Win32 Binary (MSI Installer):" current is apache_2.0.52-win32-x86-no_ssl.msi - It's about 6.6 MB

I myself use Linux, but I still should be able to walk you through Windows APACHE setup.  It is fairly simple, but when we get into PERL and PHP it may get tricky.  Here goes.

• 1) open the installer
• 2) Next, Accept the terms.. blah blah, you Will then get to the Server Information screen. If you don't have a domain name you are going to point to this don't worry just make something up (see ref-1) also for now we are going to select the default "port 80" setup.  Some hosts (most Cable providers block port 80, but I will give more info on how to get around that later in this guide.
• 3) Choose "Typical Install" don't bother wasting your time with custom... there really isn't any custom install options.  Click through to the install screen (next, next, next)  Done with the install.. click finished
• 4) Now if you have firewalls or antispyware software running you will have to allow Apache to open an outbound connection.  For instance, I have Microsoft Antispyware and Windows Firewall running.  Right after the install both of these programs should pop-up and ask you what  you want to do... accept and un-block (ref 3.a & 3.b)
• 5) Now you need to open apache so you can get a feel for it, It should already be running in your tray.  Go down to your tray and right click what looks like a play icon.  Then select open apache monitor (ref 4) this is where you are going to restart apache if needed... go ahead for now and close the window - click okay (or... don't worry, go ahead and click the X .. it will still be running)
• 6) Next make sure Apache is working okay, go ahead and type your local IP in your browser, for instance I am behind a router so my IP of my machine is 192.168.0.200, so in a web browser type http://192.168.0.200.  If you don't know your IP go to [start] >> [run] >> type ipconfig and it will show you your IP
  
  Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
  (C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.
  
  C:Documents and SettingsCA3LE>ipconfig
  
  Windows IP Configuration
  
  
  Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:
  
          Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :
          IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.200
          Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
          Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
  
  Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection 2:
  
          Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
  
  Pulling up your IP in a browser should show you the page in "ref 5"  -  Now if you were pulling this up outside of your home you will need to pull this up via your external IP address, a quick way to find out what that address is to go to http://www.testmy.net/whois.php and that script will show you your IP (it says "Check your IP XX.XX.XX.XX")
  
• 7) NOW, say you are like me and you are behind a router.  You will need to forward your ports with-in your router to get this all to work.  How this works is your router is going to get the request from the internet.  It needs to know which computer on your network to send the request to, if it doesn't know.. the router will assume that the request is for itself... Routers are all different when it comes to this.  My suggestion if you don't know how to forward ports with your router is to go to the manufactures website and research "Port Forwarding"  -  I will use my router as a reference point.  1) Go to your routers IP address in a web browser, mine is http://192.168.0.1/ 2) Go under Advanced / Ports -  You will see a start port, end port and server IP address text box you can fill in. 
  
  If your host allows you to use port 80 you are going to type the following
  

  Start Port ***	End Port ***	Server IP Address ***
  80	80	192.168.0.200

  
  If your host does not allow you to use port 80 you are going to type the following
  

  Start Port ***	End Port ***	Server IP Address ***
  8080	8080	192.168.0.200

  side-note: (you can make up a port if you'd like... but you may want to make sure the port isn't being used by anything else on your system)
  
• Now that you have ports forwarded you can go ahead and edit httpd.conf.  If you have followed my ininstructionso a tee and your host doesn't allow you to use port 80 you will NEED to edit your conf file.  This is located at...
  
  Code:
  C:Program FilesApache GroupApache2confhttpd.conf
  
  
  First thing you need to edit in that file is the listen port,  Go ahead and do a search for "Listen 80" -  Any line in this conf file, by the way, that has # before it is not read by the system (that is called commenting out a line, just to let you know)... back to the lecture at hand (name that song.. lol) when you do a search for that you should land RIGHT on the field to edit the listen port.  change this to say
  
  
  Code:
  Listen 8080
  
  This will make your server viewable on port 8080 instead of port 80.  after you edit that save the .conf file and restart apache, look back to step 5 if you forgot (already  ) how to restart.  After a re-start open your local IP in a browser to test this out... although this time you will need to open (again, my IP for instance)
  
  
  Code:
  http://192.168.0.200:8080
  
  If it's working GREAT... now your ready to publish
  
  There are MANY more options in httpd.conf -- too many for me to go over, for the most part there is documentation inside the httpd.conf file before each option so you know what everything is.
  
  Here is a couple of options I have set for the testmy.net server...
  
  Timeout 300
  KeepAlive On
  MaxKeepAliveRequests 0
  KeepAliveTimeout 30
  
  And... the options below are only for Linux/Unix I believe... but have made a huge performance increase to my server.
  
  MinSpareServers 25
  MaxSpareServers 35
  StartServers 15
  MaxClients 100 #doesn't mean max users online
  MaxRequestsPerChild 0
  
  ... AGAIN TIME TO PUBLISH
  
  [li]Open the folder
  
  Code:
  C:Program FilesApache GroupApache2htdocs
  
  If you'd like... delete everything in this folder.  This is where you put your files for the website.  If you would like to change the location of these documents you need to edit httpd.conf -  edit the line
  
  
  Code:
  DocumentRoot "C:/Program Files/Apache Group/Apache2/htdocs"
  
  change to (for instance)
  
  Code:
  DocumentRoot "C:/wwwroot/"

For the most part you are ALL done... let me know if you need help installing PERL or PHP.  You can get PERL at http://www.activestate.com/Products/Download/Register.plex?id=ActivePerl (Active Perl is a windows onyl app) and you can get PHP from http://www.php.net direct like is http://www.php.net/downloads.php you want to get "PHP 4.X.XX installer" or "PHP 5.X.XX installer" for windows, if you have Linux you should know what to get ;)

After you get that stuff installed you can run PERL and PHP scripts.  You will quickly find out why APACHE kicks Microsofts IIS (Internet Information Services) ASS!  ENJOY!

no problem.

I hid your IP, ya shouldn't really post that too much

ANYWAY, i can't see your server at either port 80 or port 8080 ~~ if you can see it from your end still try port 6676 - make sure you re-start apache.  I will teach you more after you actually get it to where people can see it

Nope, I am getting nothing.  Do you have a router?

hey, CA3LE, no router here, PPPoE connection!  ;)

hey, dagger, I'll check that out!

thanks guys!
indestructable
 

Hey, CA3LE does Cox block port 80
Man, I wish I knew all this stuff when I was born.

   I do!!! I host my own site and have for a long time but my problem is I can't get more than one site hosted from my single pc!!!? Any help there I use the virtual host and everything!!! Also my other problem Is I can't figure out how to port forward tried everything even DMZ!!! So I don't use my router when I can avoid it any help thanks!!!? Also I have the same setup as cable on my router ip of 192.168.0.1 to access and Ip of I think 192.168.0.100 for my pc not sure any help would be appreciated thanks!!!?