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MAMP PRO Documentation

General

MAMP PRO uses virtual hosts to allow your web servers to serve different websites. The “localhost” virtual host is created by default and cannot be deleted. You can add an unlimited number of hosts, allowing you to create one host per project. Each host can have its own directory to store html, PHP files and images. This directory is called the Document Root.

The host name (server name) must be unique. It is often convenient to use a reverse domain naming scheme for easy identification (e.g. info.mamp.development instead of development.mamp.info). The non-reversed name may conflict with an existing external domain name.

To create a new host, press the “Plus” button in the lower left corner of the hosts table.

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  • Host Name

    The server name and port number must be unique within MAMP PRO. The host name can only contain letters and/or numbers and dashes (”-”), but cannot begin or end with a ”-” character. Names are not case sensitive (upper and lower case are not distinguished).

  • Document root

    The location of a virtual host’s documents (HTML/PHP files, etc.) is called the document root. The document root is also known as the web root folder. MAMP PRO will automatically add an index.php file and a MAMP image to this location when your web server is restarted if the folder is empty.

  • Create a database named

    You may optionally create a MySQL database. Most content management systems require a database, and you can conveniently add one here.

  • Copy the contents of a template folder to the document root

    You can optionally add the contents of a templates folder. You may use the same template, js, and css files/folders in every site you develop. Use this option to copy the contents of your template folder to your new document root folder.

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  • Hosts Table

    The hosts table has five columns. The first column contains your host name. The second column indicates which web server is hosting the file.

    The third column indicates whether the host is active. If left unchecked, the host will not be active and cannot be viewed in a web browser.

    The fourth column contains the PHP version used by the host. The fifth column will display an icon of the Extra installed if an Extra is installed.

  • Hostname
    The server name and port number in combination must be unique within MAMP PRO. The host name may only contain letters and/or numbers, as well as dashes (”-”); but it may not begin or end with a ”-” character. Names are not case-sensitive.

    If the servers are running you can use the Open button to open a host in your web browser.

  • IP address
    If this field is left empty or contains an * the web server will use one of the computer’s IP addresses to access this host. If you want to choose which of the IP addresses should be associated with a host, then select it from the pop up menu.

  • Port number
    Determine which port the virtual host is accessible on. Valid values are from 1 to 65535. In most cases the preset value does not need to be changed.

  • PHP Version
    Determine which version of PHP a host will use. This can only be set when “Individual PHP version for every host (CGI)” is selected in the PHP section of MAMP PRO.

    If you select the default PHP version MAMP PRO will automatically adapt this setting if you choose a new default version in the PHP tab. Use a fixed setting to tell MAMP PRO not to alter the PHP version.

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    Sounds complicated? Let’s take a look at an example: The default version is set to 5.5.9. You have oneHost set to PHP version “Default (5.5.9)”, anotherHost set to “5.5.9” and yetAnotherHost set to “5.3.28”. If you set the PHP version in the PHP section to “5.4.25”, MAMP PRO will adapt the PHP version of oneHost to this version (it is set to always use the standard version). The other 2 hosts will not be changed.

    • PHPInfo

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      View your PHP configuration by pressing the “i” button to the right of the version name.

  • Dynamic DNS
    Determines whether this virtual host is accessible from the internet via the Dynamic DNS service.

  • Use with server
    Determine which web server will be used with your host. An icon next to the server name in the server list will also indicate which web server you chose.

  • Name resolution
    This determines how your system maps host names to IP addresses.

    • via hosts file
      The basic mapping mechanism which uses the file C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts.

    • for “MAMP Viewer” (LAN only)
      Enable your host to be viewed on the MAMP Viewer.

    • via Xip.io (LAN only)
      Allow other computers on your local network to access your website. Using the Share button you can send the Xip.io address to other users.

  • Document root
    The location of the documents (HTML/PHP files etc.) of a virtual host is called a document root.

  • Alias Name
    Aliases are additional names for your virtual host. The same constraints apply to these additional names as to the host itself. Add aliases with the plus-button.

    To remove a host, press the “Minus” button at the bottom left of the screen.

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    • Delete document root folder

      MAMP PRO will delete your document root folder and all of its contents.

    • Remove the databases of the installed Extras

      If your host is an Extra, MAMP PRO will delete the database that was installed by the Extra.