Have you ever wondered what web server a particular website is running on? Knowing the web server can give you valuable insights into the technology stack used by a website and help you better understand its capabilities and limitations. In this article, we will explore different methods to determine the web server powering a website.
Checking HTTP Headers
One way to identify the web server is by examining the HTTP headers returned by the website. The HTTP headers contain information about the server software and version being used.
- Step 1: Open your browser and navigate to the website you want to investigate.
- Step 2: Right-click on any blank area of the webpage and select “Inspect” or “Inspect Element” from the context menu. This will open the browser’s developer tools.
- Step 3: In the developer tools panel, click on the “Network” tab.
- Step 4: Refresh the webpage by pressing F5 or clicking on the refresh button in your browser.
- Step 5: Look for an entry in the network requests list that corresponds to the main page of the website (usually named after the domain name).
Click on it to view more details.
- Step 6: In the details pane, navigate to “Headers” or “Response Headers”. Look for a header field called “Server”. This field usually contains information about the web server software and version.
If you see a header like “Server: Apache/2.4.29 (Ubuntu)”, it means that this particular website is running on an Apache web server version 2.29 running on Ubuntu.
Using Online Tools
If you prefer a more straightforward approach, several online tools can help you identify the web server of a website without requiring any technical skills.
- Tool 1: One such tool is WhatWeb. Simply visit their website and enter the URL of the site you want to investigate.
The tool will analyze the website and provide information about the web server software, CMS (Content Management System), and other relevant technologies.
- Tool 2: Another popular option is BuiltWith. This tool not only identifies the web server but also provides insights into other technologies used by the website, such as analytics tools, advertising platforms, and more.
Note:
It’s worth mentioning that some websites may take measures to hide or obfuscate their web server information for security reasons. In such cases, it might be challenging to determine the exact web server being used.
In Conclusion
Determining the web server powering a website can be essential for various reasons, including troubleshooting, security analysis, and understanding a website’s technology stack. By using methods like checking HTTP headers or relying on online tools, you can uncover valuable insights about a website’s infrastructure.
Remember that while these methods generally work for most websites, there may be instances where identifying the web server becomes difficult due to specific configurations or security measures in place.