Two approaches: DNS approach and hosts file approach. The DNS approach is more convenient as it doesn’t require modifications to the hosts file and virtual host config file each time a new virtual host is added. The small catch is that the DNS approach relies on third party service such as http://localhost.tv/.

DNS Approach

1. Enable virtual host alias and virtual host config

In Apache conf folder, open httpd.conf, uncomment LoadModule vhost_alias_module modules/mod_vhost_alias.so. Also uncomment Include conf/extra/httpd-vhosts.conf.

2. Config virtual host

In Apache conf\extra folder, open httpd-vhosts.conf, add the following lines:

<VirtualHost *:80>
  ServerName catchall.localhost.tv
  ServerAlias *.localhost.tv
  VirtualDocumentRoot "C:\Users\[user]\Documents\%1"
  <Directory "C:\Users\[user]\Documents">
    Require all granted
  </Directory>
</VirtualHost>

Only need to do this once. %1 means the first part of dot-separated components of the server name, i.e. *.

3. Access the virtual host

Create any folder, e.g. [site] under the virtual root C:\Users\[user]\Documents. Place an index.html file in the folder. It can then be access via [site].localhost.tv.

hosts File Approach

1. Config hosts file

Open Notepad as administrator, open C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts.

In the hosts file, add the following line: 127.0.0.1 site1.localhost

Repeat for other virtual servers.

2. Enable virtual host config

In Apache conf folder, open httpd.conf, uncomment Include conf/extra/httpd-vhosts.conf.

3. Config virtual host

In Apache conf\extra folder, open httpd-vhosts.conf, add the following lines:

<VirtualHost *:80>
  ServerName site1.localhost
  DocumentRoot "C:\Users\[user]\Documents\site1"
  <Directory "C:\Users\[user]\Documents\site1">
    Require all granted
  </Directory>
</VirtualHost>

4. Access the virtual host

Create a folder site1 under the virtual root C:\Users\[user]\Documents. Place an index.html file in the folder. It can then be access via site1.localhost.

To add another virtual host say site2.localhost, repeat step 1 and step 2 and add entries for site2 accordingly.