Building a web server in a virtual machine is the most commonly used method by developers, testers or technology enthusiasts. In this way, web services can be safely configured, tested and debugged without affecting the host system. Here is a clear and well-structured guide for setting up a Windows10 virtual machine web server from scratch, which we have compiled for everyone.
What preparations are needed before construction?
For the selection of virtual machine software, VMware Workstation or Oracle VirtualBox is more recommended. Both support the virtualization installation of Windows 10. Download the legal ISO image file from the Microsoft official website (activation key or trial version is required). Making sure that IIS (Internet Information Services) that comes with Windows 10 has been installed is the most convenient choice. Apache or Nginx can also be installed.
Start installing the Windows 10 virtual machine
Start installing the system, open the virtual machine software, select "New Virtual Machine", allocate at least 4GB of memory and 50GB of hard disk space, and load the downloaded Windows10ISO image. Then follow the prompts to complete the installation process of Windows 10, set the username, password and network connection (it is recommended to choose "Bridge mode" for local area network access). Continue to install virtual machine enhancements such as VMware Tools or VirtualBox Guest Additions to improve system performance and interaction experience.
Configure the Web server environment of Windows 10
To enable IIS service: Open "Control Panel" → "Programs" → "Enable or Disable Windows Features". Check "Internet Information Services", expand the sub-items and check the necessary functions such as "ASP.NET", "Static Content", "Default Documents", etc. Click "OK" to complete the installation.
To verify that IIS is running: Open a browser and type in 'http://localhost'. If the IIS Welcome page appears, the installation is successful.
Deploy site content: The default root of the site is' C:\inetpub\wwwroot ', and you can access it by copying an HTML or ASP.NET file to this directory.
Configure the network and firewall
Set a static IP (optional) and configure a fixed IP address in the virtual machine network Settings to facilitate access by other devices within the local area network.
Open the firewall port, enter "Windows Defender Firewall" → "Advanced Settings" → "Inbound Rules", and make sure that "HTTP 80 port" and "HTTPS 443 port" are allowed.
To test remote access, type the IP address of the virtual machine in a browser on your host or other device (such as' http://192.168.1.100 '), and if web site content is displayed, the configuration is successful.
Extended functions and maintenance suggestions
When installing other services, it should be noted that if PHP support is required, PHP for Windows can be downloaded and configured, and the FastCGI Settings of IIS can be modified. If MySQL or SQL Server databases are installed, a dynamic website environment needs to be set up.
After completion, regular fine-tuning and maintenance are required, usually by keeping system patches updated through Windows Update. Use the "IIS Manager" to monitor the site's operational status and configure logging and backup.
The above is the tutorial for setting up a Windows 10 Web server on a virtual machine. It can ensure the separation of production environment risks and is also conducive to faster iterative testing. Whether it is local development or team collaboration, this approach offers a flexible and secure experimental platform. By following the above steps, you can easily own a complete web server, which has the advantages of flexibility and scalability and can be used in more complex application scenarios. The maintenance work after creation is also very important. Everyone should pay attention to data security, patch vulnerabilities, ensure the privacy of passwords, etc., to continuously improve the security of virtual machines and enable them to provide services stably and continuously. If you need more help, please continue to follow us. We offer secure and stable server rental services, including hosting rental services in popular regions such as Hong Kong, the United States, and Singapore. The cost performance is extremely high, and free testing is supported!
