How to Setup an Apache Web Server using Plus Managed DNS


Part 1. Pointing your domain name to No-IP
First, you will have to register your domain name or already own one. Let’s just suppose that you already own one. Make sure to point your domain name to the following nameservers:
(If you purchased Plus Managed DNS and we are your domain’s registrar, this should have already been done for you)

ns1.no-ip.com
ns2.no-ip.com
ns3.no-ip.com
ns4.no-ip.com

This will make sure that No-IP is managing your domain’s DNS.

Note – If you just changed nameservers or just registered your domain, it may take anywhere between 24 – 48 hours for your domain to propagate globally.

Part 2. No-IP Dynamic Update Client Configuration

  • Log into your No-IP account
  • Click ‘Dynamic DNS‘
  • Click ‘Dynamic Update Client‘
  • Click ‘Download DUC‘ and follow the instruction on the page to complete setup

If you would rather not use our update client, you can use the following settings on another DDNS client:

DDNS/Service Provider: No-IP
Username: Your DDNS Key Username / Email
Password: Your DDNS Key Password
Hostname/Domain: all.ddnskey.com
Server/Server Address: dynupdate.no-ip.com
Not every device will ask you for a server or server address. The service will still work without issue, if the device does not ask for it.

DDNS Key usernames and passwords are created individually for each hostname or group of hostnames. They are generated from the DNS Records page in your account.

Part 3. Apache Web Server Setup

Apache has been the most popular web server on the Internet since April of 1996. The March 2002 Netcraft Web Server Survey found that 54% of the web sites on the Internet are using Apache, thus making it more widely used than all other web servers combined.

Apache is a standard Web Server used on UNIX operating systems, such as Linux, but there is also a Windows version of Apache (instead of using MS IIS). If you prefer more control over your Web Server, this is the one for you.

First, you will need to download the latest binaries available from apache.org website. The current stable release is Apache 2.0.36.

http://www.apache.org/dist/httpd/binaries/win32/

There is an MSI Installer Package available as well. This is one we’ll get. It is the file that ends with .msi. Make sure you get the .msi.asc file as well, it is a signature file for this installation package.

Run .msi file and Apache installation will start automatically and follow instructions on the screen.

At the ‘Server Installation’ page, type your already registered domain name in the first field, Network Domain, same in the second field, Server Name, and your working email address in the third field. This address will be used as webmaster’s contact email address. Click to enlarge. Continue with your installation process until it’s completed.

When your Apache installation is completed, Apache will start as a system process and show up in your system tray (image 2). Green Play icon indicates that your Web Server is Online and functioning properly, and Red Stop icon indicates that your Web Server is Offline or couldn’t start for some reasons. If installation went fine you should see a green play icon.

Now, let’s test our web server by typing 127.0.0.1 in the browser’s URL field. If your Apache server is installed properly and it is online, you should be able to see the Apache test page.

Congratulations!

Your Apache Web Server is configured and working.