Frequently Asked Questions

This document compiles frequently asked questions and their answers that users encounter when using the ServBay local web development environment.

What is ServBay?

ServBay is an integrated local web development environment manager, designed to simplify the process for web developers on macOS to set up and manage various software packages (such as web servers, databases, and programming language environments). For more details, see About ServBay.

How do I install ServBay?

You can download the ServBay installer from the official ServBay website and follow the installation wizard. For detailed installation instructions, refer to Installing ServBay.

How do I uninstall ServBay?

On macOS, you can simply drag the ServBay application to the Trash and then empty the Trash to uninstall ServBay. Please make sure to back up any important data before uninstalling, as this operation will remove all files and configurations related to ServBay. See Uninstalling ServBay for details.

Does ServBay support automatic updates?

Yes, ServBay supports automatic updates, allowing you to easily receive the latest versions, new features, and security patches. Please refer to Upgrading ServBay.

Does ServBay support Windows/Linux?

Currently, ServBay primarily supports macOS. Support for Windows and Linux is planned for the future.

Which languages does ServBay support?

ServBay offers multilingual interface support, including English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese, Russian, Japanese, German, French, Vietnamese, Turkish, Italian, and more. You can switch languages easily from the ServBay settings. For detailed instructions, see Multilingual Support.

How do I backup data in ServBay?

ServBay lets you manually and automatically back up your development environment data, including ServBay settings, website files, database contents, and SSL certificates. In addition to directly backing up the entire /Applications/ServBay directory, ServBay provides built-in backup tools and options for easier data management and restoration. For more details, read Manual and Automatic Data Backup.

What packages does ServBay support?

ServBay supports a wide range of web development-related software packages, covering web servers, databases, caching, programming languages, and version management. Supported packages include but are not limited to: Caddy, NGINX, Apache, Mailpit, dnsmasq, multiple versions of PHP, Node.js, Python, Golang, Java, Ruby, Rust, .NET, MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Redis, Memcached, and more. You can easily manage and configure these packages via the ServBay interface. For package management details, refer to Service and Package Management.

How can I view ServBay’s release notes?

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

Can I run multiple versions of PHP at the same time?

Yes—one of ServBay’s key advantages is the ability to install and run multiple PHP versions simultaneously. You can manage different PHP versions from the package manager, and assign a specific version to each website individually during creation or configuration. This is highly convenient for developers maintaining multiple projects that may rely on different PHP versions. See Adding Your First Website and Using PHP for Development for more information.

Does ServBay support frameworks and CMS like Laravel, WordPress, etc.?

Yes. As a local development environment, ServBay fully supports popular PHP frameworks and content management systems (CMS) including but not limited to Laravel, WordPress, Symfony, CodeIgniter, Joomla, and Drupal. You can easily set up and run these applications in ServBay. For related configuration and usage guides, see Using PHP for Development.

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

Yes, ServBay supports popular JavaScript and TypeScript frameworks and libraries based on Node.js, including—but not limited to—Vue, React, Angular, Next.js, Nuxt.js, Express.js, and Hapi.js. You can manage Node.js versions and run front-end or back-end JavaScript projects within ServBay. For tutorials, see Using Node.js for Development.

How do I add a website?

Adding a website in ServBay is straightforward. Through the graphical interface, you can specify the root directory, domain name, choose the web server and PHP/Node.js version, etc. For detailed steps, see How to Add Your First Website.

How does ServBay support custom domains and SSL certificates?

For local development and testing, ServBay provides a comprehensive local networking solution. It includes a local DNS service to resolve your custom domains (such as servbay.demo or yourproject.servbay.demo), as well as built-in private CA (ServBay User CA) and public CA (ServBay Public CA). These CAs allow you to generate and trust SSL certificates for your local sites, enabling HTTPS access to simulate production environments. For more details, refer to Adding Websites with Non-Standard TLDs and Securing Your Website with SSL (HTTPS).

Can I use custom domains in ServBay?

Yes. ServBay provides robust support for custom domains in local development, including the use of .test, .local, .servbay.demo, and other top-level domains (TLDs). With ServBay’s local DNS feature, you can set a unique domain for each website and access your projects via that domain in your browser. See the guide Adding Websites with Non-Standard TLDs for more details.

How do I enable HTTPS for a website in ServBay?

In the website management interface, you can easily enable HTTPS for your local sites. ServBay supports a variety of ways to obtain and configure SSL certificates: use the built-in ServBay User CA or ServBay Public CA to generate trusted local certificates, use the ACME protocol (such as Let's Encrypt or ZeroSSL) to request publicly trusted certificates (for public sites), or import your existing certificates. See Securing Your Website with SSL (HTTPS), Issuing SSL Certificates Using ACME, How to Apply for a Certificate from Let's Encrypt, How to Apply for a Certificate from ZeroSSL, and How to Apply for a Certificate from Google Trust Services for more.

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

Yes, ServBay comes integrated with multiple mainstream web servers, including Caddy, NGINX, and Apache by default. Users can freely select any of these servers based on their project requirements. For more, see How to Set the Default Web Server.

How many websites can I create in ServBay?

ServBay has different website limits depending on the version:

• The ServBay Free version supports up to 3 websites.
• Registered users (free registration) can create up to 5 websites.
• ServBay Pro and ServBay Team support unlimited websites. You can add and configure sites in the website management interface.

How do I manage databases?

ServBay offers convenient database management tools, making it easy to work with MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL, and MongoDB. ServBay includes and integrates phpMyAdmin and Adminer, two popular web-based database management tools, accessible directly from the ServBay interface. For connection info and management guides, see the "Database Management" section.

How do I use command line tools?

ServBay provides a series of command line tools for advanced operations and automation, including package management, environment switching, and PHP module compilation. With the servbayctl command line tool, you have flexible control over your local development environment. For more information, see Command Line Support and The servbayctl Command Line Tool.

How do I set default package versions?

ServBay lets you set the default versions of packages such as PHP, Python, Java, Go, Ruby, Rust, Node.js, MariaDB, and PostgreSQL for the command line. This ensures that when you run commands like php, node, or mysql in the terminal or a script, you’re using your preferred version. You can also use .servbay.config to set package versions on a per-project basis. For detailed instructions, see Setting Default CLI Versions and Using .servbay.config.

Can I customize package installation paths in ServBay?

To maintain system cleanliness and simplify management, ServBay installs all packages into a dedicated directory structure (primarily under /Applications/ServBay). Custom installation paths for each package are currently not supported.

Does ServBay support multi-user and permission management?

ServBay is primarily designed for single-user local environments and does not currently offer traditional multi-user accounts or advanced permission management. All services and websites run within the environment of the current logged-in user.

How do I view service logs in ServBay?

You can conveniently view the logs of each service via ServBay’s graphical interface. On the package management page, click the log icon to the right of a package to open its log file. This feature is helpful for diagnosing service startup failures or runtime issues. For more, see Viewing Log Files.

How do I modify PHP configurations in ServBay?

You can modify PHP settings in ServBay using two main methods:

1. Using the ServBay UI: ServBay provides a robust graphical interface for directly modifying most common PHP configuration parameters. This is the recommended method. See How to Modify PHP Settings for details.
2. Manually Editing Config Files: You can edit the php.ini file directly. Configuration files for different PHP versions are located in /Applications/ServBay/etc/php. Find and modify the appropriate php.ini for your version. After making changes, remember to restart the PHP service in the ServBay interface for the settings to take effect. See Viewing Config Files for more on this process.

What are the default MySQL/MariaDB root username and password?

During installation and startup, ServBay sets default root usernames and passwords for MySQL and MariaDB. This information can be found in ServBay’s database management documentation. See Database Root Account and Connection Info, which also explains how to reset your password.

What are the default PostgreSQL root username and password?

Similarly, ServBay sets default admin credentials for PostgreSQL. This information can also be found in ServBay’s database management docs. See Database Root Account and Connection Info, which includes instructions for resetting passwords.

Can ServBay support using different versions of development languages for different projects?

Yes! ServBay provides powerful per-project runtime environment configuration features. By adding a .servbay.config file in your project root, you can specify independent versions for PHP, Node.js, Python, Go, Java, etc., as well as set environment variables for different projects. For example, you could 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 mechanism ensures that environments for different projects do not conflict, greatly improving efficiency and stability.