Hello,
I am running Apache 2.0.43 / Php 4 /MySql on Win 2000 Pro. I use this machine as a test site before posting web pages live on a server with similiar set up. Anyway I Simply put all my files in the htdocs directory and use Dream Weaver to make most edits and to ftp to the live server. Everyone on the Intranet simply needs to type my computer name in the address bar and they can see my test site which works out great. Now what I would like to do is set up another simple test site, so I read all about virtual hosts and tried hacking the conf file and so now I am even more confused. Do I need to get our Net Work guys to set up something in our Intranet dns for this to work? I don't even really care if others can see the site it is really just for me, and of course a good learning experience too. But can I just set up a name based <virtualhost> with this server name, an alias and a different document root path so for example:
<VirtualHost *:80>

ServerName LocalHoast
ServerAlias LocalHoast *.LocalHoast
DocumentRoot "C:\Program Files\Apache Group\Apache2\csscource"

</VirtualHost>
so now I should be able to type in csscource and go to it's index file?
Some other points. My machine is set up to have a new ip address every two weeks. I can get a static ip if necessary. When I type 'mycomputername' in my computer(the one running Apache) and press enter does that go out to a dns then to my server or does it just jump rite in? Do I need a static ip to then set up name base hosts locally? Does the Intranet dns need to have the name I want to be resolved on it? Thank you all...

Firstly it will look in the windows HOSTS file if it exists, then it will go query the DNS server.

http://httpd.apache.org/docs-2.0/vhosts/examples.html

Part of the apache docs gives a very good examples of how this should work.
If you only want to view the virtual hosts on your own PC that Apache is running on then you can put entries in your windows HOSTS file and point them all at 127.0.0.1 If you want anyone else on the intranet to view them you will need your network admin to set up some DNS records for them.

HTH,

__________________
Nick B.
http://www.nowindows.net
http://www.mozilla.org