Apache is a web server software which will make your computer becomes (or functioning as) a server for the web. Apache software is also referred to as the HTTP server software.
We chose PHP for some reasons/considerations, which are: 

• Apache is an open-source software.
• Relatively FREE (you do not need to bother with the licensed fee matter).
• Reliable and tough, the most popular application on Net, approximately 54.55% of  206,675,936 the Internet sites (or 112,747,166 sites) using Apache (based on Netcraft Web Server Survey, as of March 2010).

You can learn more detail about Apache from their official website (http://www.apache.org). This article  is only discuss the installation and configuration process of Apache 2.x for Windows.

You should download the latest stable release of  Apache software (as of 6 March 2010 is Apache 2.2.15). Please visit the Apache official website at http://httpd.apache.org. Find the HTTP Server link, and then click on the Download link.

Usually there is a mechanism that will direct you automatically to the nearest mirror server to your location. For us in Indonesia there are nearer mirror servers:

• http://apache.the.net.id
• http://apache.pesat.net.id

Please select from the list that you think will provide adequate speed access to download the Apache software.

Which one should be downloaded?

• First, select the latest stable release.
  As of 6 March 2010, the latest stable release is Apache 2.2.15. This tutorial use Apache 2.2.15. However you can still use this tutorial for prior Apache (2.2.13, 2.2.11, so on) because there is no significant difference in the installation process.
• Second, what operating system you use? There are two types of OS versions provided, the Unix/Linux and Windows.
• Third, what kind of installation package is needed? For Windows, it is provided in the Win32 Binary (Windows Installer), and the file name is apache_2.2.15-win32x-x86-no_ssl.msi).

Which One Do You Choose?

This tutorial only discuss the installation of Apache 2.2.15 for Windows, then we select the Windows Installer (apache_2.2.15-win32x-x86-no_ssl.msi). Why Windows Installer? Because this is the most easiest/simplest in installation process, and supported by MSI (Microsoft Installer) technology. By clicking the mouse, the installation will run with ease and smooth... :)

And then follow the link that lead to download the  Win32 Binary file (apache_2.2.15-win32x-x86-no_ssl.msi). The file size is about 5.1 MB.  You can complete the download about 5-10 minutes  (for the crowded data communication traffic in Indonesia). Happy downloading....