Planning a website doesn’t start with deciding on a host — a lot of details require a lot of decision-making, even before you imagine what it would look like. If you want to check your dynamic content, for instance, you can use a local server to help you test that through your personal computer.
How do you set up a local server to build your website locally? The process depends on the operating system you use. But first, make sure you prepare these things:
- A computer you can dedicate to become your server
- A stable internet connection
- A running operating system
- At least Dual Core 2GHz
- At least 4 GB RAM
- At least 1 GB disk space
Now, here’s how you can set up your local web server in Windows 10, Mac, and Linux.
Setting Up A Local Server on Windows 10
- First, download the Windows version of XAMPP.
- Allow the installer to execute.
- When prompted, select Apache to install a local server.
- Once it’s complete, open the XAMPP control panel.
- Enter “localhost” or “127.0.0.1” in the web browser address bar to confirm that you installed everything successfully.
Setting Up A Local Server on macOS
- Open your Mac and click on the Finder.
- Go to Applications, click Utilities, and double-click Terminal.
- Enter the command “sudo apachectl start” to turn on Apache.
- Confirm if Apache is working correctly by entering “localhost” or “127.0.0.1” on the browser address bar.
Setting Up A Local Server on Linux
- If you can access the Debian or Ubuntu distro, enter the “sudo apt install apache2” command. But if you use Red Hat or CentOS, enter the command: “sudo dnf install httpd.”
- Next, enter “localhost” or “127.0.0.1” into your web browser to confirm the installation.
- If found successful, you’ll see “It Works” on the welcome page.
A local server allows users to host a website even with all the files and software fully available locally. If everything goes well and you’re ready, you can start with publishing your website through the best web hosting providers today. Learn more at Page Kits!
