# What is ignition Web based server? **URL:** \ **Category:** Ignition\ **Created:** [April 16, 2021, 2:44pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/what-is-ignition-web-based-server/45686 "2021-04-16T14:44:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![IVANBLAZHENKO7](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/eb8c5e/32.png) [@IVANBLAZHENKO7](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/IVANBLAZHENKO7)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2021, 2:44pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/what-is-ignition-web-based-server/45686/1 "2021-04-16T14:44:50Z")
Hello. I am new to this platform, just downloaded the Ignition web server yesterday and started to watch University lessons. Probably it is dumb questions but I will appreciate it you could answer because I have never had experience with Web based Scada servers 1. Why this server is Web based? What is the advantage s? Because I don’t have to download everything? 2. Where actually the created project is stored? On local PC I access the Server or somewhere else? 3. If I don’t need remote access to site then I don’t need continuous internet connection? Is that correct? So basically I use internet connection just to configure settings of Ignition server ( add modules, set communication OPC-UA, updating, licensing etc.) and than install the clients “runtime”. But when I need to reach remote server than I need Internet connection ---
**Author:** ![nminchin](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/nminchin/32/6911_2.png) [@nminchin](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/nminchin)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2021, 4:36pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/what-is-ignition-web-based-server/45686/2 "2021-04-16T16:36:39Z")
> [@IVANBLAZHENKO7](#): > > Why this server is Web based? What is the advantage s? Because I don’t have to download everything? Using a Web server means that you can access the config and status from anywhere without installing anything. Super handy!! > [@IVANBLAZHENKO7](#): > > 1. Where actually the created project is stored? On local PC I access the Server or somewhere else? Locally where Igntion was installed. In Windows it's under c:/program files/inductive automation/ignition/data/projects? Something like that > [@IVANBLAZHENKO7](#): > > If I don’t need remote access to site then I don’t need continuous internet connection? Is that correct? > So basically I use internet connection just to configure settings of Ignition server ( add modules, set communication OPC-UA, updating, licensing etc.) and then install the clients “runtime”. > But when I need to reach remote server then I need Internet connection For remote access, you need to be able to reach the igntion gateway from your laptop/pc. Whether that's via a VPN, something like vmware horizon client, a public facing server address, or something else, you'll need some form of wan/internet connection. ---
**Author:** ![paul-griffith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/paul-griffith/32/37249_2.png) [@paul-griffith](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/paul-griffith)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2021, 4:52pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/what-is-ignition-web-based-server/45686/3 "2021-04-16T16:52:23Z")
It’s important to clarify: Ignition is a webserver, but that does not imply that it does anything on the _public internet_. It is entirely up to you whether your Ignition webserver is publicly accessible over the internet - and for a huge variety of reasons, I would highly advise _against_ doing so. Ignition will make an _outgoing_ request to our licensing servers upon activation (or periodically, if you’re using Maker edition) - but offline activation is also completely possible and supported. You can download the Ignition installer, put it on an air-gapped device, and run a licensed Ignition install that never touches the internet at all. Being a webserver gives us a great deal of flexibility - as @nminchin mentioned, status and configuration of your gateway is immediately accessible anywhere that can reach your gateway - plus, it’s a lot easier to launch Vision clients or Perspective sessions, because they can fetch the resources they require from the gateway automatically. In _no_ cases does Inductive Automation ever get access to your project, configuration, etc. Your projects are stored locally, wherever the Ignition Gateway is installed.