Windows Web Server

May 17, 2010 (Updated October 27, 2010)

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In this article, you'll learn how to turn your computer into a functional web server, capable of running a dynamic Internet site with a back end database.

What you should already know:

• Port Forwarding for both your router and Windows Firewall.
• Basic Windows File System Architecture.
• Basic Computer Use.

What you will need:

At the time that this article was written, this is the most current versions of these free software packages. Make sure to check for a newer version.

• Abyss Web Server X1
• • X1 is Free, X2 supports Virtual Hosting, or the hosting of more than one site at a time.
  • Aprelium has authorized me to bring to you their most stable version (which is a stepping stone to their latest version) Abyss Web Server X1 v2.6.4, which is similar to what this site runs on, except I use X2.
• MySQL Community Server 5.1.xx for Windows
  
• • Make sure to download the correct type for your architechture, x86 is 32-bit, x64 is 64-bit.
• PHP 5.3.x*

* - When downloading PHP for use with Abyss Web Server, download the VC6, Thread Safe variant of this software. According to Aprelium, this is the best branch of PHP, as it requires less Windows dependancies. Again, this is what this site runs on!

If you already have one or more of these programs installed, the screens may be slightly different -- you may not even have to install them, depending on how your server is configured.

Hardware for a Server

It is important to have a well-built server to support a site for speed. Most people think of the old, dusty computer they have sitting in their closet. While the running requirements for Abyss Web Server are minimal, it is crucial to have a good system for PHP and MySQL.

Best Hardware Configuration:

PHP
If you're using PHP heavily (a forum, member system, etc), a fast processor is a must. This helps speed up the site by reducing the processing time for the routines in your script(s).

MySQL
A good amount of RAM to have would be 4GB for a 32-bit system, or 6 to 8 GB for a 64-bit system. This allows MySQL to keep recent transactions in RAM (which is faster than your harddrive), and it will increase overall site speed exponentially.)

Abyss
A fast processor will improve site speed when you use the Compression option (not covered in this article). This feature helps reduce the bandwidth issues, and actually helps speed the site up by eliminating the biggest bottleneck -- The Internet. Do note though, that it is intensive on the processor to use this feature, even at low settings. Having a capable processor will cause pages to load quickly.

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Installing Abyss Web Server

After downloading it, simply click the installer.



Check all of the Options:



Select a directory, you can just use the default:



Wait until the process completes:



Select your Abyss Startup Configuration:



- Manual Startup is good for a development server, that you won't use to host the sites. That way you can control when it is or isn't open.

- Automatic Startup on Logon is a good option for a development server as well, however the process will always be running.

- Installing as a Windows Service is the best option for a Server, because it will allow your server to host pages even if you're logged off. When Windows does its automatic updates, and self-restarts, you'll wish this option was on. With it off, Abyss won't start or run until you log on, which could be a long period. If you use this option, however, the Abyss logo will not appear in your System Tray, and to stop/start it, you'll have to familiarize yourself with Window's Component Services Module. Another change is that you cannot connect to the Abyss Console through the System Tray, you can however; access it by visiting http://localhost:9999/ on the server, or the http://192.168.1.55:9999/ where 192.168.1.55 is the LAN IP of the server.

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Select Yes:



Pressing OK will open your browser, where you can configure your server:



Abyss will now ask you to choose a language, which I'd imagine will be English. Next, enter the name and password you'd like to use to access the Console in the future:



After you hit OK, you'll have to login again.

This is your site, running on your server on port 80:



Click the Configure button, and then go to the General Button:



Here, you can see and configure where your web root is at (htdocs/) and what port your server will work with:



Open up a new browser window or tab, and type in:

http://localhost/

- OR -

If you used a custom port, visit:

http://localhost:8080/, Where 8080 is the custom port number.



If this comes up, Abyss is functioning properly. You can also type in your IP address, and this page should also come up (if you have your firewall(s), and router configured properly).

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If you navigate to your htdocs folder (should be C:Program FilesAbyss Web Serverhtdocs if you used the default settings).



Here, you can replace index.html with your own file(s). As soon as you copy files here, they're immediately available online.

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Installing PHP

Begin by opening the .exe file that you downloaded from Aprelium (the Preconfigured PHP Package).



Select a directory for the PHP installation. You'll need to remember this when you configure Abyss to work with PHP, so copy and paste it in notepad for quick retrieval.



Wait until the installer does work:



PHP is done installing to your system:

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Setting up Abyss to work with PHP

If you closed the tab, go back to the Abyss Console (http://localhost:9999).

Hit the Configure button on the Host table again, and then go to Scripting Parameters:



Here's the default appearance, before PHP is installed:

Setting up PHP:

• Check the Script Execution box, if it isn't already.
• On "Interpreters", Click "Add".
• Set the "Interface" to FastCGI (Local-Pipes) (If you are using software older than Windows 2000, this won't work.)
• In "Interpreter", click the "Browse" button, and go to your PHP directory. Find php-cgi.exe, and click it. If you used the default installation directory, it will be in C:\Program Files\PHP5\php-cgi.exe
• Set the "Type" to Standard.
• In the "Associated Extensions" table, click "Add" and add PHP into the box.
• Press OK, then press OK again.

Your page should now look like this:



Now, click on Index Files (back on Configuration Page):



And add index.php



Which will look like this when you're done:



Now, open up NotePad++, or your favorite Text Editor, and enter in this text:

Web Server Works<br />
<?PHP
echo "PHP is handling this document.";
?>



Save this file as test.php on in your htdocs directory.

Access http://localhost/test.php to see if everything is working correctly:



If you see the same as above, you have correctly set up Abyss with PHP.

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Installing MySQL

Install the packagem, as you see it in these screens:

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YOU MUST RESTART NOW
Or MySQL will screw up later. Make sure the check box is unchecked, press "Finish", then restart the computer.

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Now, go through your start menu and look for the MySQL folder, and select the following:



The settings herein are optimal for a Web Server with MySQL, so I won't go through explaining all of these. Some of them are better for security as well:













IF YOU GET THIS MESSAGE:



You didn't restart. Uninstall MySQL, Delete the folder, and restart, and reinstall it all again.

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