how to create subdomains in apache(xampp) server?

Question

I've trying to create subdomain in my local xampp installation for some time. I tried editing my httpd.conf file and I entered the following:

NameVirtualHost *:80

<VirtualHost *:80>
DocumentRoot /ecommerce
ServerName ecomm.localhost
</VirtualHost>

I also edited my windows hosts file and entered: 127.0.0.1 ecomm.localhost

But when I type 'ecomm.localhost' in my firefox it gives me: Access forbidden!!! Can please anybody help me out? What exactly I'm doing wrong? I'm fairly new to this. I simply want to create multiple folders in my 'htdocs' folder and use them as different websites with subdomain. For example: c:\xampp\htdocs\mainSite -----> mainSite.com or mainSite.localhost c:\xampp\htdocs\subSite -----> subSite.mainSite.com or subSite.mainSite.localhost

Answer 1

Try this :

NameVirtualHost 127.0.0.1:80
<VirtualHost *:80>
<Directory "C:\path\to\ecommerce">
    Options FollowSymLinks Indexes
    AllowOverride All
    Order deny,allow
    allow from All
</Directory>
ServerName ecomm.localhost
ServerAlias www.ecomm.localhost
DocumentRoot "C:\path\to\ecommerce"
</VirtualHost>

Yes you edited your hosts file correctly.