Have you ever wondered how to find the port on which your web server is running? Whether you are a beginner or an experienced web developer, knowing the server port is essential for troubleshooting and configuring your applications. In this tutorial, we will explore different methods to help you find your web server port.
Using Command Prompt or Terminal
If you are running a local web server on your machine, using the command prompt or terminal is one of the easiest ways to find the server port. Follow these steps:
- Open Command Prompt or Terminal: Depending on your operating system, open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (MacOS/Linux).
- Navigate to the Server Directory: Use the
cd
command to navigate to the directory where your web server files are located. - Start the Web Server: Use a command specific to your web server software to start it. For example, if you are using Python’s built-in web server, run
python -m http.server
. - Note the Server Port: Once the server starts, it will display a message indicating the port it is running on. Look for a line similar to “Serving HTTP on 0.0.0 port 8000” where “8000” represents the port number.
Browsing Configuration Files
If you have access to your web server’s configuration files, another way to find the port is by checking those files directly. Here’s how you can do it:
- Locate Configuration Files: Find the directory where your web server’s configuration files are stored. This location may vary depending on your server software.
- Open Configuration File: Use a text editor to open the main configuration file, which is usually named something like “httpd.conf” or “nginx.conf”.
- Search for Port: Look for a line that contains the term “Listen” followed by a port number. For example, “Listen 80” indicates that the server is running on port 80.
Checking Network Settings
If you are trying to find the port of a web server hosted on another machine in your network, you can use the following method:
- Open Command Prompt or Terminal: Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (MacOS/Linux).
- Ping the Server: Use the
ping
command followed by the IP address or domain name of the server. For example, runping example.com
. - Note the IP Address: The ping response will display an IP address.
Note this address for the next step.
- Navigate to Port Scanner Website: Visit a port scanner website such as “canyouseeme.org” or “portchecktool.com”.
- Type in IP Address: Enter the IP address obtained from step 3 into the input field provided by the port scanner website.
- Select Common Ports Scan: Choose a scan option like “Common Ports Scan” from the available options on the website.
- Scan for Open Ports: Initiate the port scan and wait for the results. The website will display a list of open ports on the server.
By following any of these methods, you will be able to find the port on which your web server is running. Remember, knowing your web server port is crucial for configuring network settings or troubleshooting issues related to your applications.
Happy server exploration!