Arc is a modern web server that works like Nginx but runs faster. It is built using Rust and designed to handle heavy traffic safely. This server comes with built-in protection against attacks and tools to control traffic flow. You can use it to host websites, manage connections, and secure your network.
This guide will help you download and run Arc on Windows. You don’t need to know programming. Follow each step carefully, and you will have Arc running in no time.
- A Windows PC (Windows 10 or Windows 11 recommended)
- 4 GB of free hard drive space
- An internet connection to download the software
- Administrator rights on your PC to install and run Arc
To get Arc, you need to visit the releases page on GitHub. This page holds all the versions of Arc you can download.
Click the link below to open the release page:
Follow these steps to set up Arc.
Go to the Arc release page using the link above.
Look for the latest version of Arc. It usually appears at the top of the list with a date.
Under the latest version, find the file that ends with .exe. This is the installer for Windows. Click it and wait for the download to finish.
Once downloaded, find the file on your computer. Double-click it to start the installation process.
The installer will open a small window. Follow the instructions. You can keep the default settings. When ready, click "Install."
After installation, you can start Arc from the Start menu or by clicking the shortcut on your desktop.
Arc works out of the box but can be customized.
- Your website’s address (domain)
- How much traffic Arc allows
- Security settings to prevent attacks
- Logging settings to track usage
- Configuration files will be in the folder where you installed Arc.
- Commonly, this folder is
C:\Program Files\Arc\config.
Open the main config file with a text editor like Notepad. You can adjust settings there.
Arc protects your server from common threats automatically. Here are some of its key defenses:
- DDoS Protection: Stops large attacks that try to overwhelm your server.
- XDP Support: Uses low-level network filtering for extra safety.
- Rate Limiting: Controls how many requests a user can make to prevent abuse.
- TLS Encryption: Keeps your data private by encrypting connections.
These features mostly work without extra setup. You can tweak them if needed in the config files.
New versions bring fixes and improvements. To keep Arc working well:
- Visit the Arc releases page.
- Download the newest
.exefile. - Run the installer again. It will replace the old files safely.
- Restart Arc after installation.
If you want to run Arc without installing it, you can download the standalone .exe file from the releases page.
- Download the file.
- Open Windows Command Prompt (search for
cmd). - Navigate to the folder with the
.exefile using thecdcommand. - Run Arc by typing
Arc.exeand pressing Enter.
This method is for users who want to test Arc or run it without full installation.
If you run into trouble:
- Check the Arc README or documentation on GitHub.
- Look in the
logsfolder inside the Arc install directory. - Visit the GitHub issues page to see if others faced the same issue.
- You may open a new issue or ask for help on the GitHub site.
- Windows 10 or later (64-bit)
- 2 GHz or faster CPU
- 4 GB RAM or more
- 4 GB free disk space
- Network access for serving websites
Arc uses modern Windows features to be faster and safer than older servers.
- Handles HTTP/1.1 and HTTP/2 traffic
- Supports WebSocket connections
- Uses io_uring for fast input/output
- Efficiently balances loads across servers
- Provides logging and error tracking
- Supports TLS for secure connections
- Includes protection against various network attacks
- Arc Releases Page – Download the latest version
- GitHub Issues – Report problems or ask questions
- Arc Documentation – Learn more about configuration and features (if available)
- Keep Arc updated to get the latest security patches.
- Regularly back up your configuration files.
- Review the logs often to spot unusual activity.
- Start with default settings and tweak gradually as you learn.
Arc is suitable for personal websites, small businesses, and anyone who needs a reliable, fast web server on Windows. The built-in protections help keep your server running smoothly with minimal intervention.