A Path Less Taken

After an exciting search of URL Rewriter tools for IIS7, I decided to give Apache a try.  I was interested to see how the “real” mod_rewrite worked so I set out to install Apache.  As it turns out, installing Apache on Windows Vista is quite easy if you do it the right way.  I ended up following the directions located here:

http://senese.wordpress.com/2007/06/06/installing-apache-on-windows-vista/

The instructions worked perfectly.  I opened up Google Chrome, typed in localhost and there was the default Apache web page.  As a note to the Apache development team, REALLY weak intro web page.  Note IIS7 for a much cooler looking page.  Ah, but I digress.

As I said, everything was perfect, except for one small problem.  When I tried to reach my root domain using external DNS I could not connect.  It was nuts!  I could ping it, I could resolve the DNS name to the correct IP, I could revert back to IIS and it worked fine, but when I tried Apache it just would not respond.

So after foolishly looking for 2 days at VirtualHosts, bugging people, fussing at my loved ones, I happened upon the solution that was so simple that I felt really foolish for not trying it in the first place.  I describe it here to prevent others from suffering as I did.

1. Open the Windows Security Center (I double clicked the Shield Icon with the “!” on the quick launch bar at the lower right of my Vista desktop.
2. Choose Windows Firewall from the list on the left.
3. Choose Change Settings and open the Windows Firewall Settings dialog box.
4. Click on the Exceptions tab.
5. Click Add Program
6. Choose Browse, find your installation of Apache, and select the httpd.exe file.  It is in the bin directory of Apache by default.
7. Click Open with the httpd.exe file selected and then Ok your way out of the various windows.

Now when you type in your url like http://www.legendrefamily.org/blog/ you should see your site open up as expected.

That’s all there is to it.