New MAMP install – Can't Find Server localhost

[robgdev]

I upgraded my MAMP install to the latest version (v3.4), i.e., I deleted the MAMP and MAMP Pro folders and created fresh install via MAMP package. It appears to have installed correctly because both apache and mysql servers start up. However, when I click on “Open WebStart page”, the browser opens to a page with the error message that Safari can’t find server localhost.

I’ve checked the settings under preferences and they are appropriate; tried using different ports but that didn’t change the behavior.

My install of DesktopServer is exhibiting similar problem, in that it does not open start page with list of dev sites. Interestingly, I can access and run the WP dev sites.

Did google searches on “can’t find server localhost” but could not find a definitive solution.

Would appreciate help & suggestions on how to trouble shoot and resolve this issue.

[Shikkediel]

Any clues in the error log? My general guess would be to change ServerName in httpd.conf to localhost and then restart the service. Admittedly, I’m not too familiar with Mac or setting up a local server.

[robgdev]

Thank you for your suggestion.

I checked the apache_error.log file and it looks okay — there are no error messages. Here is an excerpt from the log file:

[Fri Jul 17 22:47:00 2015] [notice] Digest: generating secret for digest authentication …
[Fri Jul 17 22:47:00 2015] [notice] Digest: done
[Fri Jul 17 22:47:00 2015] [notice] FastCGI: process manager initialized (pid 1133)
[Fri Jul 17 22:47:00 2015] [notice] Apache/2.2.29 (Unix) mod_wsgi/3.5 Python/2.7.10 PHP/5.6.10 mod_ssl/2.2.29 OpenSSL/0.9.8zf DAV/2 mod_fastcgi/2.4.6 mod_perl/2.0.9 Perl/v5.22.0 configured — resuming normal operations
[Fri Jul 17 22:47:32 2015] [notice] caught SIGTERM, shutting down
[Fri Jul 17 22:48:59 2015] [notice] Digest: generating secret for digest authentication …
[Fri Jul 17 22:48:59 2015] [notice] Digest: done
[Fri Jul 17 22:48:59 2015] [notice] FastCGI: process manager initialized (pid 624)
[Fri Jul 17 22:48:59 2015] [notice] Apache/2.2.29 (Unix) mod_wsgi/3.5 Python/2.7.10 PHP/5.6.10 mod_ssl/2.2.29 OpenSSL/0.9.8zf DAV/2 mod_fastcgi/2.4.6 mod_perl/2.0.9 Perl/v5.

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Also checked the mysql_error_log.err file and its empty. I presume that’s because I haven’t been able to get to phpmyadmin to create a database.

I checked the httpd.conf file in the apache folder and verified that:

ServerRoot “/Applications/MAMP/Library”

Listen 8888

ServerName localhost:8888

[robgdev]

I found the root cause of the problem and MAMP is now working as before. I had hunch that the problem had something to do with the “hosts” file on my MacBook Pro.

Here’s how to resolve the issue:

Open Finder and, in Finder’s menu bar, select Go > Go to Folder. In the box, type the following location:

/private/etc/hosts

Open the hosts file with a text editor and add the following lines at the top of the file:

125.0.0.1 localhost
255.255.255.255 broadcasthost
::1 localhost
fe80::1%lo0 localhost

Then save and exit from the file. Finally, restart MAMP. Click the “Open WebStart page” and the MAMP welcome page opens up. Done.

[Author]

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