How to Check Server Type of Website | Knowing the type of server that powers your website can be incredibly helpful for troubleshooting, optimizing performance, or planning for future upgrades. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced webmaster, identifying the server type can provide insights into your hosting environment.

How to Check What Type of Server Is Running on Your Website

In this tutorial, we’ll walk you through several methods to determine the type of server running your website.

What Is a Web Server?

A web server is a software that processes requests and delivers web pages to users’ browsers. Common types of web servers include:

• Apache
• Nginx
• IIS (Internet Information Services)
• LiteSpeed
• Node.js

Each server type has its features and configurations, so knowing what you’re using is essential for managing your website effectively.

Method 1: Using Online Tools

Several free online tools can quickly identify the type of server your website is running on. These tools analyze your website’s HTTP headers and provide detailed information about the server. Here’s how you can use them:

Step 1: Visit an online server checker tool like WhatIsMyIPAddress or MXToolBox.

Step 2: Enter your website’s URL.

Step 3: Review the results to find information about the server type.

Look for entries like Server: Apache or Server: nginx in the analysis.

Method 2: Using Browser Developer Tools

Modern browsers come equipped with developer tools that allow you to inspect HTTP headers, where server details are often included.

Step 1: Open your website in a browser (e.g., Chrome, Firefox, Edge).

Step 2: Right-click on the page and select Inspect or press Ctrl+Shift+I (Windows) or Cmd+Option+I (Mac).

Step 3: Navigate to the Network tab.

Step 4: Refresh the page to capture network activity.

Step 5: Click on the first request (usually your website’s URL) and check the Headers section.

Step 6: Look for the Server field to display information about the server type.

Method 3: Using Command-Line Tools

If you’re comfortable with command-line interfaces, you can use tools like curl or telnet to check the server type.

Using curl

Step 1: Open a terminal or command prompt.

Step 2: Run the following command: curl -I https://yourwebsite.com

Step 3: Look for the Server field in the output.

Using telnet

Step 1: Open a terminal or command prompt.

Step 2: Run the following command: telnet yourwebsite.com 80

Step 3: Type the following and press Enter Twice: HEAD / HTTP/1.1 Host: yourwebsite.com

Step 4: Review the response for the Server field.

Method 4: Checking Your Hosting Control Panel

Many hosting providers display server details in their control panel or dashboard. Here’s how to find them:

Step 1: Log in to your hosting account.

Step 2: Navigate to the section that displays server information (e.g., cPanel, Plesk, or custom dashboards).

Step 3: Look for details like server type, version, or software.

Method 5: Using PHP or Other Scripts

If you can access your website’s code, you can create a simple script to display server information.

Using PHP

Step 1: Create a new file named server-info.php in your website’s root directory.

Step 2: Add the following code:

<?php echo $_SERVER['SERVER_SOFTWARE']; ?>

Step 3: Access the file in your browser (e.g., https://yourwebsite.com/server-info.php).

The output will display the server type and version.

Important: Delete this file after checking the server information to prevent exposing sensitive data.

Conclusion

Understanding the type of server running your website is crucial for effective site management. Whether you use online tools, browser developer tools, the command line, or hosting dashboards, these methods will help you uncover the necessary information.

If you found this guide helpful, feel free to share it or leave a comment with your thoughts or questions!

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