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If you are developing in a Windows environment and need to host multiple sites on your Apache development workstation or server here are some tips for setting up your Apache configuration.

Download and install XAMPP

http://www.apachefriends.org/en/xampp-windows.html

Verify apache is running after installation

<a href="http://localhost" target="_blank">http://localhost</a>

NOTE: If you are also running IIS you will need to disable socket pooling that is turned on by default and restart your workstation or server after making the changes. You won’t have to do this if you are using VS.NET built-in debug web server (cassini) for your .NET development. You will also need to use an alternate IP address for IIS as well as Apache and set * to the IP used for Apache in the VirtualHost block header below.

Windows Server 2000: http://articles.techrepublic.com.com/5100-10878_11-6067036.html

Windows Server 2003: http://www.sitebuddy.com/Apache/IIS/same/server

Open httpd-vhosts.conf

Make a backup of the default vhosts config; eg.

<install dir>\xampp\apache\conf\extra\httpd.conf.bak.

With your favorite text editor (Notepad++ is a great one) open

<install dir>\xampp\apache\conf\extra\httpd.conf

Copy the following.

# HTTP vhosts
NameVirtualHost *:80

<VirtualHost *:80>
  DocumentRoot "<install dir>\htdocs\your-site.com"
  ServerName your-site
  ServerAlias your-site
</VirtualHost>

# HTTPS vhosts
NameVirtualHost *:443

<VirtualHost *:443>
  DocumentRoot "<install dir>\htdocs\your-site.com"
  ServerName your-site
  ServerAlias your-site

  SSLEngine on
  SSLCertificateFile conf/ssl.crt/server.crt
  SSLCertificateKeyFile conf/ssl.key/server.key
</VirtualHost>

Restart Apache

Open a command prompt, Windows + R or Windows + R + services.msc and restart Apache

C:\> net stop apache2 && net start apache2

Update hosts

Copy and make a backup of your hosts file.

%SystemRoot%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts.bak

Open your hosts file and add your new vhost site. The IP address should match the same IP address as your local workstation.

192.168.1.2 your-site

Check that you can ping your new hosts entry.

C:\> ping your-site

Moment of truth

If all went well you should be able to open your new vhost site.

http://your-site

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Tags: Apache, iis and apache same server, ssl, vhosts, wamp