Web server for testing sites and applications

A web server is an application that is responsible for providing information in the form of web pages. In addition, he is responsible for many additional functions, among which:

• Execution of a variety of applications written in PHP, ASP and other programming languages;
• Support secure connection using HTTPS;
• Authorization of users.

Basic Web Servers

Today, the most popular is the Apache web server, thanks to its compatibility with a large number of operating systems and a free license.
In a corporate environment, a similar product called Internet Information Services (IIS), developed at Microsoft, is often used.

In some cases, for example, if you need to increase the speed of the release of static content or to use specific functions in the application, use the web servers Nginx, lighttpd and others.

The principles of the web server

After receiving a request from the user, the web server, depending on the type of requested file, sends it to the client or starts page processing. This generates a response code that indicates successful operation or any errors.

During the processing of the page, the web server, if necessary, runs a variety of scripts or applications, receives data from them and sends them to the client after conversion to the required form. Most often, the result of the operation of the web server are pages that are formatted in HTML, which the browser displays. There are other variants of answers, for example, for programs running on a user device, data in XML, JSON, and so on can come.

Assigning local Web servers

When developing applications, any programmer faces the need for constant testing. Often for these purposes it is convenient to use a local web server that is installed directly on the developer's computer. This is due to the ability to quickly make edits and no need to constantly connect to remote machines.

You can check the appearance of HTML pages without additional software using the file open function. In this case, the browser will not execute the application, but simply display all the text on the screen, observing the HTML markup. This can lead to the most bizarre results. To achieve the results corresponding to what will be obtained when placing the resource on the Internet, allows the web server that is installed on the local computer.

Packages for developers or self-installation and configuration of a web server

Most web servers are distributed free of charge and under free license terms. Paid products are rare and are required, as a rule, only in the corporate environment. Download and install the software on your own computer is not a problem. A more complicated stage is adjustment. The web server in the default configuration is inconvenient for real use even during application testing. Therefore, you will have to edit several files to specify the required parameters.

Another approach is popular with Windows users. It consists in using application packages for developers. In such a package immediately include: a web server, a database management system MySQL, various programming languages. In this version, after installation on the local computer, everything will be configured automatically.

The choice of the installation option depends on the personal preferences and skills of the user. In most cases, you can use the kit, although there may be outdated versions of programming languages or databases, which can significantly complicate the development and selection of a hosting provider to host the finished resource.

Installing the local Web server on a virtual machine

A virtual machine allows you to run multiple instances of operating systems on the same computer. And they can even be from different families. For example, you can run Linux and FreeBSD from Windows.

Installing a web server to test applications or sites on a virtual machine allows you to create a configuration that resembles the real conditions in which the work will occur. Most modern hosting sites run under Linux, which causes more specific software configurations. On a virtual machine, you can install the same operating system, create a file structure that is as close to reality as possible, select the necessary versions of programming languages and database management systems. Another advantage is the ability to test several projects that require a wide variety of configurations.

There is a disadvantage with the virtualization approach. The user will need to read the documentation not only for setting up and installing the web server, but also for other programs, but also with manuals for the operating system itself. To quickly configure virtual machines, you can also use special control panels that automatically perform the installation and configuration of the web server and other applications.