# Which server will start

You can start the server automatically as part of running a selected resource on the server, or you can simply start the server without running resources on the server. For example, the server is automatically started when you right-click a project or an application resource in the Project Explorer view and select Run As > Run on Server. If you want to start the server without running resources on the server, in the Servers view select a server and select the Start the server icon, the Start the server in debug mode icon , or the Start the server in profiling mode icon.

When you run a file or project, the Server Tools first verify that the servers and configurations for that particular resource are already set up and determines how many are defined. You are then prompted by the Run on Server dialog box to select a server.

#### Run on Server

If this is the first time you are testing a file or project, you will be prompted to create a new server. The Run on Server dialog box presents you with two options for deciding which server to run:

- Choose an existing server This list includes servers that may or may not have already been configured. If you choose a server that is not already configured, it will be configured automatically and might be restarted if the server is already running.
- Manually define a server This option will create a new server and server configuration before testing.

If this is the first time you are testing a file or project, Manually define a server is selected for you by default. When you select the type of server and click Next, a server will be automatically created for you and the server will start.

Related tasks
Starting a server