Dynamic subdomains on testing machine please help

[feketegy]

Hello
My problem is the following:
I have to create subdomain like user registrations ex.:
user registers -> happyuser -> subdomain created http://happyuser.mysite.com

I want that every subdomain maps to a directory like : http://happyuser.mysite.com maps to /mysite/users/happyuser

Now comes the problem. I want that all this to work on my developer machine which doesn't have internet access(only localhost available), runs on Windows XP SP2, server Apache 2.0.x.
I know already that the HOSTS file doesn't support wildcard dns entries on win xp therefore i have to set up some sort of dns server which supports it...
I read Dynamic Virtual Hosting in the apache documentation it doesn't helped.
What should I do?
Please if anybody can help me i'd appreciate it a LOT.

[richardk]

You should be able to just add this to the bottom of your httpd.conf file:

Code: Select all

NameVirtualHost       *:80

<VirtualHost *:80>
  ServerName          127.0.0.1
  ServerAlias         localhost
  DocumentRoot        "/path/to/localhost/files"
</VirtualHost>

<VirtualHost *:80>
  ServerName          mysite.com
  ServerAlias         www.mysite.com
  DocumentRoot        "/path/to/mysite.com/files"
</VirtualHost>

<VirtualHost *:80>
  ServerName          abc.mysite.com
  ServerAlias         *.mysite.com
  VirtualDocumentRoot "/path/to/mysite.com/files/users/%1"
</VirtualHost>

[feketegy]

Still not working, I'm guessing that i have to install some sort of DNS server on my computer to work this stuff offline?

[richardk]

You could just add a few to the end of your hosts file, if you're only testing. Otherwise you'd need a DNS server.

[feketegy]

i know i need a DNS server. Do you know a good DNS server that you tested and could you help me to install it. I tried Simple DNS Plus and BIND 9 but non of them worked for me...i think because i don't know how to configure them

[richardk]

I've never installed a DNS server. Search for a tutorial or ask in the support forums for the DNS server you are trying.