"Cheap" Perl HTTPD for Windows 95/98/ME/NT/XP

Introduction

This software assumes you are running TCP/IP on a Windows 95/98/ME/NT/XP PC. By installing this software, you can use a Windows PC to host a Web site. The Web server (a.k.a. HTTP daemon) is written in Perl and can be readily modified as required to meet your individual needs.

Software

This software can be downloaded from http://www.lightner.net/lightner/bruce/httpd/w95httpd.zip.

Instructions

  • Unzip "w95httpd.zip" into a directory named \http
  • Start a MS-DOS Prompt window (i.e., command shell) and change directory to "\http"
  • Execute "httpd.bat"
  • Use a Web browser to connect to your PC at URL http://x.y.z.w/ where x.y.z.w is the IP address of your PC. (If you are running your Web browser on the same PC as "httpd.pl" you can use http://127.0.0.1/.)
If all things go well, you should get something like this Web page (file named index.htm). To create your own Web site content, place HTML documents in the \HTTP directory. The first HTML document you add should replace index.htm. The HTTP daemon will restrict outside users' Web browsers to files located in the directory tree rooted at \HTTP.

Files ending in ".lnk" are "symbolic links" to other files/directories. Such link files should contain a single line with the full path to another file/directory. Files ending in ".cgi" and files stored in a directory named "cgi-bin" (in the HTTP root directory) are assumed to be proper Perl CGI scripts.

Manifest

The directory \HTTP should contain the following files: 
    httpd.bat    - batch file to start HTTP daemon
    httpd.pl     - HTTP daemon (Perl script)
    index.htm    - this Web page
    inetd.exe    - Windows 95/NT INETD executable (needed to start Perl HTTP daemon)
    inetd.c      - Windows 95/NT INETD source code
    perl.exe     - Perl executable
    perl100.dll  - Perl DLL
    Cmd32.exe    - Perl "helper" application (for system command)
    Perlglob.exe - Perl "helper" application
    readme       - help file

Software License

This software is copyright ©1998 by Steve Freyder. You may do virtually what you wish with this software, as long as the explicit reference to its original author is retained.

THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED AS IS AND COME WITH NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED. IN NO EVENT WILL THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER(S) BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES RESULTING FROM THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE.

Any trademarks referenced herein are those of their respective owners.

Last updated Thu Nov 30 11:37:59 PST 2006 . All opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, Bruce D. Lightner, and not those of his employer(s). Click here to view full disclaimer text.

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