MAMP & MAMP PRO 4 Documentation

Settings > Hosts > General

MAMP PRO uses virtual hosts to allow your web servers to serve different websites. The virtual host localhost is created by default and cannot be deleted. You can add an unlimited number of hosts allowing you to create one host per project. Every host can have it’s own directory to store html, php files, and images. This directory is called Document Root.

The name of a host (server name) must be unique, often it’s practical to use a reverse domain naming scheme to easily identify them (e.g. use info.mamp.development instead of development.mamp.info). The unreversed name may conflict with an outside domain name. To make a host both ssl and non-ssl you must create the host with the same name twice.

To create a new host press the Plus button at the bottom left of the screen.

• Host name

  The server name and port number in combination must be unique within MAMP PRO. The host name may only contain letters and/or numbers, as well as dashes (“-“); but it may not begin or end with a “-“ character. Names are not case-sensitive (upper and lower-case letters are not distinguished.)

• Document root

  The location of the documents (HTML/PHP files etc.) of a virtual host is called a document root. The document root is also known as the web root folder. MAMP PRO will automatically add an index.php file and a MAMP image to this location when your web server is restarted if the folder is empty. If the folder you wish to use as a document root is greyed out, you may have a problem with permissions. This can be solved by changing your server launch users.

• Create a database named

  You can optionally create a MySQL database. Most content management systems require a database, and you can conveniently add one here.

• Copy the contents of a template folder to the document root

  You can optionally add the contents of a templates folder. You may use the same template, js, and css files/folders in every site you develop. Use this option to copy the contents of your template folder to your new document root folder.

• Hosts Table

  The hosts table contains several columns. You can drag the columns to change their default order. In the default order, the first column contains your host name. The second column indicates which web server will host the file.

  The third column indicates whether the host is active. If left unchecked, the host will not be active and cannot be viewed in a web browser.

  The fourth column contains the php version that is used with host. The fifth column will display an icon of the Extra installed if an Extra is installed.

  Shortcuts to several often used functions are accessible by right clicking on the highlighted host.

  

  At the bottom of the hosts table there are several functions. Clicking on the icon will highlight several functions that will allow you to save your host settings enabling you to re- introduce them at a later date. This serves as a backup in case you make server changes and later discover your site is no longer accessible.

  

  The hosts table also contains cloud information and functionality. A description of these can be found here.

• Name
  The server name and port number in combination must be unique within MAMP PRO. The host name may only contain letters and/or numbers, as well as dashes (“-“); but it may not begin or end with a “-“ character. Names are not case-sensitive.

  If the servers are running you can use the button to open a host in your web browser.

• IP address
  If this field is left empty or contains an * the web server will use one of the computer’s IP addresses to access this host. If you want to choose which of the IP addresses should be associated with a host, then select it from the pop up menu.

• Port#
  Determine the port with which the virtual host is accessible. Valid values are from 1 to 65535. In most cases the preset value does not need to be changed.

• PHP Version
  Determine which version of PHP a host will use. This can only be set when Individual PHP version for every host (CGI) is set in the PHP section of MAMP PRO.

  If you select the Standard PHP version MAMP PRO will automatically adapt this setting if you choose a new standard version in the PHP tab. Use a fixed setting to tell MAMP PRO not to alter the PHP version.

  

  Sounds complicated? Let’s take a look at an example: The default version is set to 5.5.9. You have oneHost set to PHP version Default (5.5.9), anotherHost set to 5.5.9 and yetAnotherHost set to 5.3.28. If you set the PHP version in the PHP section to 5.4.25, MAMP PRO will adapt the PHP version of oneHost to this version (it is set to always use the standard version). The other 2 hosts will not be changed.

  Setting Your PHP Version in MAMP PRO.

  • PHPInfo

    

    View your php configuration by pressing the ‘i’ button to the right of the version name.

• Dynamic DNS
  Determines, if this virtual host is accessible with the Dynamic DNS service from the internet.

• Use with
  Determine which web server will be used with your host. An icon next to the server name in the server list will also indicate which web server you chose.

• Name resolution
  This will determine how your system will map host names to ip addresses.

  • via /etc/host file (this Mac only)
    The basic mapping mechanism which uses the the file /etc/hosts.

  • for “MAMP Viewer” (LAN only)
    Enable your host to be viewed on the MAMP Viewer.

  • via Xip.io (LAN only)
    Allow other computers on your local network to access your web site. Using the Share button you can send the Xip.io address to other users.

    Note: The Xip.io addresses will only work in your local network. They are temporary and may become invalid if you restart your Mac. Also make sure that your Internet router is not blocking Xip.io calls by using a DNS Rebind protection. If the router does this you can either deactivate this function, add Xip.io as an exception or not use the router as DNS server in your Macs network settings.

    Viewing site using xip.io

• Document root
  The location of the documents (HTML/PHP files etc.) of a virtual host is called a document root.

• Access Rights for Document Root Directory
  For the web server to be able to access the files inside the document root folder and serve them to a web browser it needs adequate rights. If you use the user www to start your web server, then this user must have the right to access the files inside the document root folder. Typically this is not the case. You can either adapt the access rights or use the current Mac user to start your web servers.

  During the development phase of a site it is easier to use the current Mac user to start your web server. The user www is generally only used on production servers.

  If your web server is reporting “access denied” in its error log or parts of your web pages are missing this might be due to access rights problems.

  The rights dialog of MAMP PRO looks complicated at first sight but is actually very powerful. Not only does it show you the access rights of the document root folder but also all the rights of all the subdirectories and files inside it. A “-“ indicates that not all objects have the same rights.

  • Owner
    The user who owns the directory and all the subdirectories and files in it.
    • change to
  • Group
    The group who has access to the directory and all the subdirectories and files in it.
    • change to
  • Access Rights
    You can change directory and files access rights separately.
    • Change directory right
    • Change file right

• Alias Name
  Aliases are additional names for your virtual host. The same constraints apply to these additional names as to the host itself. Add aliases with the plus-button.

Information on how to create a host using the command line can be found here

To remove a new host press the Minus button at the bottom left of the screen.

• Delete document root folder

  MAMP PRO will delete your document root folder and all of its contents.

• Remove Extra database

  If your host is an Extra, MAMP PRO will delete the database installed Extra database.

• Remove manually created database

  Remove the database you installed when creating this host.