Comprehensive Guide to Initial Apache Web Server Configuration by Dr. Jim Briggs
This reference document provides an extensive overview of setting up an Apache web server, covering essential phases such as planning, installation, and configuration. Readers will explore the basic syntax of configuration files, including examples of variable assignments and block directives. The text includes guidance on installing Apache from various sources, its dual functionality as a service or console application, and common log file formats. Essential topics like authentication and virtual hosts are also highlighted, making this a valuable resource for configuring Apache effectively.
Comprehensive Guide to Initial Apache Web Server Configuration by Dr. Jim Briggs
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Presentation Transcript
Initial web server configuration Dr Jim Briggs WUCM1
Overview • Planning • Testing the OS/Environment • IP setup • Installation • Configuration • Simple minimum details • Testing • Default website – with the manuals! WUCM1
Apache web server • http://httpd.apache.org/ • Most commonly used web server software • Open source • Free to use • Based on NCSA httpd software (early 1990s) • Current version is 2.2 • 2.0 still supported • 1.3 deprecated • 2.3/2.4 in development • The Apache HTTP Server ("httpd") is a project of The Apache Software Foundation (http://www.apache.org/) WUCM1
Installation • Three choices for Apache: • From source code • From distributed binaries, for Windows, Linux etc. • As part of a larger package • LAMP/WAMP/XAMPP stacks • Most Linux distros • For Windows the binary is a standard windows installer package WUCM1
Configuration • Apache is configured using text files • http.conf • main Apache server configuration file • may "include" other configuration files • mime.types • relates media types to file name extensions • should never need to change WUCM1
Configuration file syntax (1) • A hash symbol ( # ) is used to introduce a comment • There are two kinds of conf directive: • Variable assignment • Block directive • The syntax of a variable assignment is: <variable name><white space><value> DocumentRoot "D:/WebRoot/Roger/htdocs" WUCM1
Configuration file syntax (2) • A block directive • looks a little like an HTML tag (but isn't) • serves to apply specific directives to specific parts of the Apache system <Directory / > Options none AllowOverride none Order allow, deny Deny from all </Directory> WUCM1
Minimum basic configuration file # Simple conf file for the web site Roger ServerType standalone ServerRoot "C:/Apache" ServerName "H01.CommsLab.port.ac.uk" DocumentRoot "D:/WebRoot/Roger/htdocs" TransferLog "logs/access.log" WUCM1
Log files • Brief example of common: 192.168.27.58 - - [10/Feb/2002:17:59:02 +0000] "GET / HTTP/1.1" 200 1494 192.168.27.58 - - [10/Feb/2002:17:59:02 +0000] "GET /apache_pb.gif HTTP/1.1" 200 2326 192.168.27.58 - - [10/Feb/2002:17:59:21 +0000] "GET /manual/ HTTP/1.1" 200 9580 192.168.27.58 - - [10/Feb/2002:17:59:21 +0000] "GET /manual/images/apache_header.gif HTTP/1.1" 200 4084 192.168.27.58 - - [10/Feb/2002:17:59:21 +0000] "GET /manual/images/pixel.gif HTTP/1.1" 200 61 192.168.27.58 - - [10/Feb/2002:17:59:21 +0000] "GET /manual/images/index.gif HTTP/1.1" 200 1540 192.168.27.58 - - [10/Feb/2002:17:59:33 +0000] "GET /manual/windows.html HTTP/1.1" 200 27725 192.168.27.58 - - [10/Feb/2002:17:59:34 +0000] "GET /manual/images/sub.gif HTTP/1.1" 200 6083 WUCM1
Apache as a service • Apache can be run as a "service" • Default in version 2 • Implications: • No user interface at all, not even a window! • Started automatically at server boot • Stopped automatically at shutdown • You may need to remove from "service list" to use a manual console WUCM1
Apache as a console application • Start • From Start menu – assuming install ok • From a command prompt: httpd.exe • Stop • Control-C • httpd.exe –k shutdown from another window WUCM1
Default web site WUCM1
Apache topics to read up on • Authentication, Authorization, and Access Control • CGI: dynamic content • suEXEC support • Virtual hosts • Content negotiation • Log files WUCM1