How to Create Virtual Host in Wamp Server

Greetings Dev! If you’re here, you’re probably looking to create a virtual host in your Wamp server. This is a great way to simulate a web hosting environment on your local machine. In this article, we’ll guide you step-by-step on how to create virtual hosts in Wamp Server.

Prerequisites

Before we dive into the process of creating a virtual host in Wamp Server, there are a few prerequisites you need to meet:

1. Wamp Server Installation

The first step is to have Wamp Server installed on your computer. If you haven’t installed it yet, you can easily download the latest version from the official website.

2. Basic Knowledge of Apache Configuration

You should have a basic understanding of Apache configuration files and how they work. If you’re not familiar with Apache configuration, don’t worry, we’ll guide you through the process.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Open Wamp Server Configuration

To create a virtual host, you need to access the Wamp Server configuration file. Click on the Wamp Server icon in your taskbar and select “Apache” > “httpd.conf” to open the configuration file.

2. Add Virtual Host Configuration

In the configuration file, scroll down until you find the section that starts with “# Virtual hosts” (around line 500). Uncomment the line “Include conf/extra/httpd-vhosts.conf” by removing the “#” symbol.

After uncommenting the line, save the file and close it. Now, we need to edit the “httpd-vhosts.conf” file to create our virtual host.

3. Edit httpd-vhosts.conf File

Open the “httpd-vhosts.conf” file located in the “conf/extra” directory. This is the file where you’ll define your virtual host.

At the bottom of the file, add the following code:

	# Your Server Name, for example dev.local
ServerName dev.local	# Your Document Root
DocumentRoot “C:/wamp64/www/dev”	# Your Directory Settings
	Options Indexes FollowSymLinks
AllowOverride all	Require all granted

Let’s break down each section of this code:

VirtualHost

The VirtualHost directive tells Apache that we’re defining a virtual host. The “*:80” means that the virtual host is accessible on port 80, which is the default port for HTTP.

ServerName

This directive specifies the domain name or IP address that is associated with the virtual host. In this case, we’re using “dev.local” as our ServerName.

DocumentRoot

The DocumentRoot directive tells Apache where to find the files for the virtual host. In this case, we’re using “C:/wamp64/www/dev” as our document root.

Directory Settings

The Directory directive specifies the settings for the directory associated with the virtual host. In this case, we’re allowing directory indexing and enabling all overrides.

4. Restart Wamp Server

After making changes to the configuration files, you need to restart Wamp Server to apply the changes. Click on the Wamp Server icon in the taskbar and select “Restart all services.”

5. Access Your Virtual Host Website

Once Wamp Server has restarted, you can access your virtual host website by entering “dev.local” in your web browser. Congratulations, you’ve successfully created a virtual host in Wamp Server!

FAQ

Q1. What is a Virtual Host?

A Virtual Host is a way to host multiple websites on a single web server. Each website has its own virtual host configuration, allowing you to serve different content based on the domain name or IP address.

Q2. Why do I need to create a Virtual Host?

The main reason to create a Virtual Host is to create a development environment that closely resembles a production server. This allows you to test your website in a realistic environment before deploying it to a live server.

Q3. Can I create multiple Virtual Hosts in Wamp Server?

Yes, you can create as many Virtual Hosts as you want in Wamp Server. Simply repeat the process outlined in this article for each Virtual Host you want to create.

Q4. How do I edit my Virtual Host Configuration?

You can edit your Virtual Host Configuration by accessing the “httpd-vhosts.conf” file located in the “conf/extra” directory. Simply make the changes you want and save the file, then restart Wamp Server to apply the changes.

Q5. What if I get an error when accessing my Virtual Host?

If you encounter an error when accessing your Virtual Host, make sure you’ve followed all the steps correctly and restarted Wamp Server after making changes. If you’re still having problems, check the Apache error log for more information.

Thank you for following this guide, Dev. We hope it was helpful in creating a virtual host in Wamp Server for your development needs.