For some people, having a web server on their PC is a necessity. Unfortunately, Windows XP Home Edition doesn't come with a web server, only the Pro Edition does. One of the options available for having a web server on your Home XP PC is the popular Apache Web Server.

On Windows XP, the Apache Web Server runs as a background process as opposed to a classic application. This makes the server less intrusive than if it were running on Windows 98 or ME.

Downloading the server is simple, just go to the Win32 binaries section of apache.org. Download the file called apache_1.3.20-win32-no_src-r2.msi. This is a Windows Installer Package that can be double-cliked to install. Once installed, it places an "Apache httpd Server" section to your Start->All Programs menu. If it hasn't started up already, you can start the server by going to Control Apache Server->Start. A Command Prompt window will pop up and close quickly. The server should be running now.

To see if the Apache Server is running, you can open an Internet Explorer window and type in the default address for your own machine - http://127.0.0.1 - and if the server's running, you should see the Apache Test Page, complete with the Apache feather logo. The files are located at:

C:\Program Files\Apache Group\Apache\htdocs

Security

Once the server is up and running, it still can't be seen outside your own PC. By default, XP turns off access to the port on your internet connection that allows incoming access to your web server. To open that port, go to Control Panels->Nework Connections. Double-click on "Local Area Connection" and click on the "Status" button, then click on the "Advanced" tab. Inside this window will be a "Settings" button. Click it, and a list of firewall ports that can be opened will be listed, all turned off. Check the HTTP and Secure HTTP checkboxes to open those ports. It is important to understand that opening port 80 opens up the port specifically targeted by the latest rash of computer viruses. On my Linksys Firewall Router, port 80 is getting poked at 24/7 by infected computers looking for a way to get in. If you're on a cable modem or DSL, or even a standard phone-line modem, and you're Receive light blinks continuously, that's a sign that infected computers are doing the same to your PC as well. Once you open port 80, you open yourself to the risk of being infected. So far as I know, Apache web servers aren't affected by the viruses, however great care should be taken to run the latest critical patches to help prevent viruses from infecting your PC.