Apache HTTP Web Server is a widely-used web server. The web server can be run as a Windows Service using FireDaemon Pro for extended functionality. FireDaemon Pro will allow you to start the web server automatically at boot prior to login, start multiple instances of the web server and more. This HOWTO will show you how to set it up. You can also use FireDaemon Fusion to manage FireDaemon and other Windows services via a web browser.


Apache HTTP Web Server Setup Under FIreDaemon

Download the latest Apache HTTP Web Server from here.


By default Apache HTTP Web Server installs to C:\Program Files (x86)\Apache Software Foundation\Apache2.2\ so for the purposes of this HOWTO, we will use that directory.


Apache HTTP Web Server has many executables in its bin directory, but only httpd.exe can be used to start the web server.


Note that Apache comes with its own Windows service but if it crashes, it only restarts after 1 minute. With FireDaemon Pro, you can have it restart a second after it crashes! So make sure you disable the Apache2.2 service before setting up an Apache service with FireDaemon Pro.


Download and install FireDaemon Pro into the directory of your choice, typically C:\Program Files\FireDaemon.


Next start the FireDaemon GUI from the desktop shortcut. Click on the "Create a new service definition" button in the toolbar (or type Ctrl+N) and enter the information into the fields as you see below. Adjust the paths to suit your installation. Note that no parameters are required.



  • Executable: The path to your httpd.exe file. For the purposes of this HOWTO, the path is C:\Program Files\Apache Software Foundation\Apache2.2\bin\httpd.exe
  • Working Directory: The bin directory containing httpd.exe. For the purposes of this HOWTO, the directory is C:\Program Files\Apache Software Foundation\Apache2.2\bin
  • Parameters: None. Leave this field blank.


Now click on the Settings tab. You can change the Process Priority to allocate more CPU time to Apache HTTP Web Server or specify which CPU or core Apache HTTP Web Server will run on (in the case of multi-processor, hyperthreaded or multi-core CPUs). You must change the "Job Type" to "Global Job", otherwise when Apache is restarted the child process will not be terminated properly.


settings-interact-globaljob-nologin-firedaemon.png


Now click on the OK button to finish setup and start your Apache HTTP Web Server!