Monday, September 8, 2008

Installing Apache Web Server on Windows Vista Systems

Windows Vista's User Account Control (UAC) may cause permission issues in your Apache installation. The first step to running the apache web server on Windows Vista is to get the MSI package of Apache from the Apache Web Site. Download the MSI Package from http://httpd.apache.org/ .You can download any one depending upon your need.
Say if you want to have SSL precompiled to you Web Server Configuration, you download this package :
Win32 Binary including OpenSSL 0.9.8h (MSI Installer): apache_2.2.9-win32-x86-openssl-0.9.8h-r2.msi
If you don’t want SSL then simply use this one,
Win32 Binary without crypto (no mod_ssl) (MSI Installer): apache_2.2.9-win32-x86-no_ssl-r2.msi
Note: At the time of writing this article, Apache 2.2.9 was the latest version.

Installing Apache:
1. Click the Start ORB
2. Search for Command Prompt [START > ALL PROGRAMS > ACCESSORIES >COMMAND PROMPT]
3. Right Click on the icon and Run as Administrator.
4. Navigate to where you have the Apache MSI saved at (e.g. cd c:\Users\username\Documents if the file is saved to your Documents Directory)
5. Run the Apache MSI Installer with the command:
c:\Users\\Documents> msiexec /i apache*.msi
6. Select Next
7. Accept the terms in the license agreement.
8. Select Next
9. Fill in your server information if it is known. A typical setup will use the "for All Users, on Port 80, as a Service" option. If setting up as a test machine, you may use localhost as the Network Domain and the Server Name. Select Next.
10. Select the Typical Setup
11. Choose a Destination Folder for the Installer to place the program files into. Note: the default Apache Installer location is C:\Program Files\Apache Software Foundation\Apache2.2.
12. Select Finish
13. If a Firewall is enabled, make sure that port 80 and port 8080 are unblocked and open.
14. To test if the Apache server is running, open up http:\\localhost in a browser. A plain black and white page should come up that reads "It Works!"
Making Changes To httpd.conf
1. Click the Start orb
2. Search for Notepad [START --> ALL --> ACCESSORIES --> NOTEPAD]
3. Right Click on the icon and Run as Administrator
4. Now Select File > Open from Notepad’s Menu and browse for apache configuration file.
The changes to apache web server configuration file is needed if you want to change to run apache on different port, or say you want to switch off the directory browsing, but that is different part of story. For now you have successfully setup, Apache Web Server on your Window’s Vista System.