Updating Apache on Windows manually involves downloading the latest version, stopping the current Apache service, replacing the old files with new ones, and restarting the service. Follow the steps below to complete the process.


Please note: During the Apache update, neoCatalog will be temporarily unavailable.



Step-by-Step

1. Backup Your Current Apache Configuration

  1. Locate the Apache Installation Directory: Apache is typically installed in C:\Apache24.
  2. Rename the Apache Folder: Rename the Apache24 folder to something like Apache24.old or Apache24_2.4.42.
  3. Backup the Folder: Ensure the renamed folder is securely backed up.


2. Download the Latest Version of Apache

  • Visit Apache Lounge: Go to the Apache Lounge website and download the latest version of Apache for Windows.
  • Select the Correct Version: Make sure to download the version that matches your system architecture (32-bit or 64-bit).


3. Stop the Apache Service

  1. Press Win + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
  2. In the Services window, locate the Apache service, typically named "Apache HTTP Server" with a description that includes the Apache version.
  3. Right-click on the service and select Stop.


4. Replace Old Apache Files

  1. Unzip the Downloaded Package: Extract the contents of the downloaded Apache package (e.g., httpd-2.4.62-240718-win64-VS17) to a temporary location.
  2. Copy the Apache24 Folder: Copy the Apache24 folder from the extracted files.
  3. Paste to the Installation Directory: Navigate to the Apache installation directory (e.g., C:\Apache24) and paste the folder there.


5. Merge Configuration Files

  1. Access the Renamed Folder: Go to the previously renamed Apache24.old folder.
  2. Move Configuration and htdocs Folders: Select the conf and htdocs folders and move them into the newly copied Apache24 folder. Do not overwrite the folder links for neoCatalog and WebObjects inside htdocs; these must remain intact.


6. Start the Apache Service

  1. Return to Services Panel: Go back to services.msc.
  2. Start the Apache Service: Right-click on the Apache service and select Start. Once started, the service description should reflect the new version of Apache.


7. Verify the Update

  1. Check Apache is Running: Open a web browser and navigate to https://yourneocatalogurl/cgi-bin/WebObjects/neoCatalogWeb.woa/ to confirm that Apache is running properly.
  2. Verify in neoCatalog: Log in to neoCatalog and ensure that thumbnails and other functionalities are working correctly.


8. Clean Up

  • Delete Backup Directories: If everything is functioning correctly, you can safely delete the backup directories created during the process.