How to install and configure Apache 2.2 on Windows xp
Before starting, make sure that you are using the same version of Apache web server that is used in this tutorial.
Apache file name:
apache_2.2.4-win32-x86-no_ssl.msi
Download Apache 2.2 Here.
Please Note:
This tutorial is primarily for Windows XP, and does not cover 95, 98, ME or NT 4.0
If you are wanting to install Apache on older, systems you should read here. Furthermore, this tutorial is for getting a webserver going on a windows pc for testing and web developement purposes. It does not cover high traffic server configurations or networks.
It is recommended that you read this before installing Apache on any Windows platform.
First - Check md5 hash and File Name
Before starting an installation make sure that the file that you downloaded has not been corrupted since it left Apache's servers. This is done with what is called an md5 hash. An md5 hash is a 32-character hexadecimal number. Much like an human fingerprint, an hash is unique. It lets you know that the file arrived unaltered. To ensure that you got the correct file, and that it was not intercepted or replaced midstream, it is always a good idea to check for a file's original hash before you open it. When you download your copy of Apache, you will see a link that looks like this:
apache_2.2.4-win32-x86-no_ssl.msi.md5
The above link will give the HASH of the file you should be using for this tutorial. It should give you the following number:
585d0905072f94f4a6c2d7c391bf8dca
Copy this number and save it.
Check the authenticity of the Apache file you downloaded
There are several programs on the net that produce md5 hash. If you want to, you can download this one -->WhitSoft Development and Matt Whitlock. It has a graphical interface and is easy to use. Download it, look for a file called md5.exe, and open it. When it opens it will give you the option to navigate to a file that you want to hash. Go to where you extracted your Apache server and click it. You will get a little gray box on your desktop with a number in it that should read:
585d0905072f94f4a6c2d7c391bf8dca
Now if all has gone well, you have downloaded your Apache webserver software, produced a hash, and the generated number matches the one given above. Otherwise...
- Make sure you downloaded the right file. (apache_2.2.4-win32-x86-no_ssl.msi)
- Make sure you are downloading from an Apache approved mirror or apache.org itself.
- Double Check the hash numbers
- Download the file again from a different mirror on apache.org
If for some reason you cannot ever get your file's hash numbers to match then you may need to check for things like firewalls, worms and viruses. Delete the file if the hash is wrong, it could contain malicious software. If your hash numbers all add up, however, then it's time to install Apache On Windows xp.
Instructions -- Installing Apache on Windows xp
Installing the Apache webserver on windows is very easy. Apache comes with an auto-installer that guides the user through the process. In this example I will simply follow the prompts and install my server with default values. This will be the quickest and easiest way for me to get started.
1)I will navigate to where you have extracted my Apache Web server, click and open it.
You should see a window that looks like this:
- Click The Next button.
- Read the Apache license and click next again.
- Read the short documentation and click next.
2)Now you should see a window that asks for your domain name, server name, and email address:
a.)Assuming that you are installing this on your PC and you probably are not hosting your own web site, you should simply enter "localhost" in the first text box where it asks for the network domain
.
b.)Enter "localhost" in the next one too where it asks for "server name."
c.)The bottom box asks for an administrator email address. Enter what ever you want.
d.)Next it asks you if you want your server to serve pages on port 80, or if you would rather serve them from a different port. For the sake of simplicity, I suggest that you go with the first option. Just be aware that when you choose the first option, your apache server will serve web-pages out to the Internet when you're online. This is not a serious security risk as long as you are not putting sensitive data down into your htdocs folder. Choosing option one will also make sure that Apache starts automatically. If you choose "start Apache manually" and serve from a different port you will have to type all your URLS like this "www.localhost:8080." This tells your client or browser software what port to look for. A full Discussion of ports is beyond the scope of this tutorial.
e.)Click Next and choose "Typical."
f.)Choose a directory to install in and click next.
d.)Final step -- Click install
3)Check Your Server installation
Open whatever web-browser you are using and type "http://localhost" into the address bar. You can also use http://127.0.0.1. If your server is online and working, you should see something similar to this.
Look to the bottom-right hand side of you desktop. You should see a little icon that looks like:
If you click on it you will see the status of your server.
Q and A
Q)I typed in "localhost" and got a page saying "cannot find server." What does that mean?
A)It probably means that your server is not running.
- Try rebooting. If that does not help, try this:
- Click Apache icon on your desktop and choose "Start."
- If it still does not work, go to your desktop and choose:
- Start
- All programs/
- Apache HTTP Server 2.2.4/
- Configure Apache server/
- Edit the Apache httpd.conf Configuration File.
- Search for this -- ServerName --. It should read: ServerName localhost
- Look For "Listen." Make sure it is set to -- Listen 80.
- If it is not, change it.
That should fix your problem. If it does not, try un-installing and reinstalling again.
Q)I typed in localhost and got a 404 error page not found. What is that?
A)That means that whatever page you asked for does not exist and your server returned a 404 error to your browser.
If you are requesting http://localhost/ and not a specific file, go through the steps from the previous answer
Copyright 2007 How to install and configure Apache webserver on WIndows Xp