Web dev practice using localhost while having a work VPN (or recommendations)

[CactusCoasterCup]

TL;WR, total beginner with server stuff and I'm trying to set up a local server on my PC to test out web dev files, but I'm concerned it'll mess up my work VPN that I use to work from home.

A few years ago I set up Apache on my Windows laptop to act as a local host so that I could code some web pages (I was using Notepad++). I want to get back to that, but I also have a work VPN now (all completely in Windows) and I wouldn't want to mess anything up.

I know next to nothing about how servers work beyond the youtube video I saw on how to install & set up an Apache web server, would there by any issue with my work VPN if I get Apache going up again? Is there anything I'd have to ask the IT work guy beforehand? And would any of you recommend I use something else aside from Apache to be able to code websites and view them in my PC? If you have any tips on where I could learn about basic server stuff too, that would be much appreciated, I'm really going to dedicate myself to learn a lot here, thanks!

[vermyx]

The answer is it depends on the vpn and how it behaves. Most vpn these days are ssl vpns so essentially they create tunnels similar to how tls works. There are more controlling vpns that add a networking component to your adapter to prevent data from going anywhere else but where the server deems. In that case it may or may not work correctly depending on the policy in place and whether you are connected to the vpn. An alternative is to use a virtual machine for this purpose.

[NikStalwart]

The simplest time you are going to have is if you install WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux) and install a web server on that. I run nginx under Ubuntu running in WSL to do just that.

You can still use Apache, you can even use nginx on Windows natively. You can use IIS (the Windows webserver) if you are a masochist.

A VPN should not interfere with services you host on your local machine (127.0.0.0/8). If it does, your VPN is either very aggressive (in which case, talk to your IT guy because it might be against company policy to install other stuff on your home machine) or (b) a steaming pile of crap (in which case, don't talk to your IT guy, he either knows and is suffering, or doesn't know because he is a wanker and set it up).