Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

This document compiles common questions and answers users encounter when using the ServBay local web development environment.

What is ServBay?

ServBay is an integrated local web development environment management tool designed for macOS and Windows developers to set up and manage various packages (e.g., web servers, databases, programming language environments). For more information, see About ServBay.

How do I install ServBay?

You can download the ServBay installer from the official ServBay website and follow the instructions in the setup wizard. For a step-by-step installation guide, visit the Install ServBay documentation.

How do I uninstall ServBay?

macOS:
Simply drag the ServBay application to the "Trash," then empty the Trash to uninstall ServBay.

Windows:
You can uninstall ServBay via Windows’ "Programs and Features" (or "Apps & Features"), or use the uninstallation option in the ServBay installer.

Make sure to back up any important data before uninstalling, as this process will remove all related files and configurations for ServBay. For more details, refer to the Uninstall ServBay documentation.

Does ServBay support automatic updates?

Yes, ServBay supports automatic updates, making it easy to get the latest version, new features, and security patches. Please see the Upgrading ServBay documentation.

Does ServBay support Windows or Linux?

ServBay supports macOS and Windows operating systems. Linux support is currently in development—stay tuned.

What languages does ServBay support?

ServBay offers interface support for multiple languages, including English, Simplified/Traditional Chinese, Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese, Russian, Japanese, German, French, Vietnamese, Turkish, Italian, and more. You can switch languages easily from ServBay’s settings. For details on changing the language, refer to Multilingual Support.

How do I backup my data in ServBay?

ServBay provides both manual and automatic backup options for your development environment data, including ServBay settings, website files, database contents, and SSL certificates. Besides manually backing up the entire ServBay installation directory (macOS: /Applications/ServBay, Windows: C:\ServBay), ServBay offers built-in backup tools and options for easier data management and restoration. See Manual and Automatic Data Backup for details.

What packages does ServBay support?

ServBay supports a wide range of web development-related packages, including web servers, databases, caching solutions, programming languages, and version management. Supported packages include but are not limited to: Caddy, NGINX, Apache, Mailpit, dnsmasq, various PHP versions, Node.js, Python, Golang, Java, Ruby, Rust, .NET, MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Redis, Memcached, and more. These can be easily managed and configured through ServBay's interface. For more info, see Service and Package Management.

How can I view ServBay's release notes?

You can find detailed release notes for ServBay on the Release Notes page. Updates are released regularly, with new features, improvements, and bug fixes.

Can I run multiple PHP versions simultaneously?

Yes! One of ServBay’s core strengths is the ability to install and run multiple PHP versions at the same time. You can install and manage different PHP versions via the package manager, assigning a specific PHP version to each website independently. This is particularly convenient for developers maintaining multiple projects with differing PHP requirements. For more info, refer to Add Your First Website and Using PHP for Development.

Does ServBay support frameworks and CMS like Laravel and WordPress?

Yes, ServBay supports popular PHP frameworks and content management systems (CMS) such as Laravel, WordPress, Symfony, CodeIgniter, Joomla, Drupal, and more. You can easily set up and run these applications in ServBay. See Using PHP for Development for guides and tutorials.

Does ServBay support frameworks like Vue, React, Next.js, Nuxt.js?

Absolutely! ServBay supports widely-used JavaScript and TypeScript frameworks and libraries based on Node.js—including Vue, React, Angular, Next.js, Nuxt.js, Express.js, Hapi.js, and more. You can manage Node.js versions and run your frontend or backend JavaScript projects in ServBay. For tutorials, check out Using Node.js for Development.

How do I add a website?

Adding websites in ServBay is straightforward. Use the graphical interface to set website root directories, domain names, select a web server, and choose the PHP/Node.js version as needed. For a step-by-step guide, see How to Add Your First Website.

How does ServBay support custom domains and SSL certificates?

ServBay provides a complete local networking solution for easier local development and testing. It includes a local DNS service that helps resolve your custom domains (e.g., servbay.demo or yourproject.servbay.demo), as well as built-in private (ServBay User CA) and public (ServBay Public CA) Certificate Authorities. These CAs can issue trusted SSL certificates for your local sites to enable HTTPS and simulate a production environment. For details, see Adding Non-Standard TLD Websites and Using SSL (HTTPS) to Secure Websites.

Can I use custom domains in ServBay?

Yes, ServBay provides powerful support for custom domain names in your local development workflow, such as using .test, .local, .servbay.demo, and other top-level domains. With ServBay’s local DNS feature, each website can have a unique domain and be accessed in your browser. For step-by-step instructions, see Adding Non-Standard TLD Websites.

How do I enable HTTPS for a website in ServBay?

On ServBay's website management screen, you can easily enable HTTPS for your local sites. ServBay supports various ways to obtain and configure SSL certificates: use the built-in ServBay User CA or ServBay Public CA to generate trusted local certificates, request public CA certificates via ACME protocols (e.g., from Let's Encrypt or ZeroSSL for publicly accessible sites), or import your own certificates. For additional details, check out Using SSL (HTTPS) to Secure Websites, Using ACME to Issue SSL Certificates, How to Apply for Certificates from Let's Encrypt, How to Apply for Certificates from ZeroSSL, and How to Apply for Certificates from Google Trust Services.

Does ServBay support NGINX, Apache, or other web servers?

Yes, ServBay integrates several mainstream web servers for developers to choose from. Caddy, NGINX, and Apache are included by default, and you can select whichever server suits your project needs. For more details, see How to Switch Default Web Server.

How many websites can I create in ServBay?

The number of sites you can create depends on your ServBay version:

• The ServBay Free edition supports up to 3 websites.
• Registered users (registration is free) can create up to 5 websites.
• ServBay Pro and ServBay Team editions support unlimited websites.

You can add and configure sites in the website management panel.

How do I manage databases?

ServBay provides convenient database management tools for interacting with MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL, and MongoDB databases. ServBay natively integrates popular web-based tools phpMyAdmin and Adminer, which can be accessed directly via the ServBay interface. For connection information and admin guides, refer to the Database Management section.

How do I use command line tools?

ServBay offers various command line tools for advanced operations and automation, such as package management, environment switching, and PHP module compilation. You can control your local environment more flexibly using the servbayctl command line utility. For command line support, see Command Line Support and Command Line Tool servbayctl.

How do I set default package versions?

ServBay allows you to specify default versions of packages (PHP, Python, Java, Go, Ruby, Rust, Node.js, MariaDB, PostgreSQL, etc.) for use on the command line. This ensures commands (like php, node, mysql) use the expected version. ServBay also supports .servbay.config files, so each project can have its own default package versions. For details, see Set Default CLI Version and Using .servbay.config.

Can I customize ServBay's package installation paths?

To maintain system cleanliness and easier management, ServBay installs all packages in a dedicated directory structure:

• macOS: Inside /Applications/ServBay
• Windows: Inside C:\ServBay

Custom installation paths for individual packages are not currently supported.

Does ServBay support multi-user and permission management?

ServBay is mainly designed as a single-user local development environment and does not provide traditional multi-user accounts or fine-grained permission management. All services and websites run under the currently logged-in user's environment.

How can I view service logs in ServBay?

You can view each service's operation logs easily using ServBay’s graphical interface. On the package management page, click the log icon next to a package to open its log file. This helps diagnose service startup failures or runtime issues. For more info, refer to View Log Files.

How do I modify PHP configuration in ServBay?

There are two main ways to modify PHP configuration in ServBay:

1. Using the ServBay UI: ServBay provides a comprehensive graphical interface to modify most common PHP settings—this is the recommended approach. Details: How to Modify PHP Settings.

2. Manually editing configuration files:
   You can also directly edit the PHP php.ini files. Configuration files for different PHP versions are located at:

   • macOS: /Applications/ServBay/etc/php
   • Windows: C:\ServBay\etc\php

   Locate the relevant php.ini file for the PHP version you wish to adjust. After making changes, restart the respective PHP service within the ServBay UI for changes to take effect. For more on viewing and editing config files, see View Configuration Files.

What is the default root account and password for MySQL/MariaDB?

ServBay sets default root account credentials for MySQL and MariaDB during installation. You can find them in ServBay's database management documentation. See Database Root Account, Password and Connection Info for details, including how to reset your password.

What is the default root account and password for PostgreSQL?

Similar to MySQL/MariaDB, ServBay sets default administrator credentials for PostgreSQL. These can be found in the database management documentation. See Database Root Account, Password and Connection Info for more details and how to reset passwords.

Does ServBay allow different language versions for different projects?

Absolutely! ServBay provides robust project-level environment configuration support. By placing a .servbay.config file in your project's root directory, you can assign specific versions of PHP, Node.js, Python, Go, Java, etc., and even set environment variables for each project. For example, you can set project A to use PHP 8.3 and Node.js 22, while project B uses PHP 8.1 and Node.js 18. This project isolation feature ensures separate environments for each project, enhancing stability and developer productivity.