Can I run 2 different apache servers on the same machine on different ports?

Question

Is it possible? If it is the case, how can I do it? I need it since I want to test communication between web servers on a local network and I do not have a local network. I just have one computer. I use apache on Windows 7.

Solution

Yes, it is possible.

You just have to use two different configuration files which differ (at least) in their Listen directives. Also read Setting which addresses and ports Apache uses.

Comments

[Zoredache]

Have you considered just using something like VirtualBox or Vmware to setup multiple virtual machines? Virtual machines will give you a more realistic setup, and it will probably be a lot easier to setup.

[Roman]

@Zoredache, I actually did not considered this possibility since I did not know about it. Thanks for the advice, I will consider this possibility.

[John Gardeniers]

I'm curious about what sort of communication you're trying to test because web sites normally don't talk to each other. Perhaps we can suggest another method.

[Zoredache]

@John Gardeniers, web sites talk to each other all the time these days. It is call web-services.

[John Gardeniers]

@Zoredache, that's a pretty small percentage of sites though, so not the norm.