This document provides instructions for installing and configuring Apache2 on Ubuntu. It discusses updating system packages, installing Apache2 packages, starting/stopping the Apache2 service, reloading configurations, important configuration files and directories, global configuration attributes like ServerName and Listen directives, the default virtual host configuration in sites-available, virtual host directives and their purposes, defining a virtual host with directives like ServerAdmin and DocumentRoot, enabling and disabling modules and sites, and managing Apache2 modules and sites.

1. How To - Apache2 Installation and Configuration
Contents
Overview.......................................................................................................................................................1
Applies To..................................................................................................................................................1
Update Operating System Patches ...........................................................................................................1
Install Apache2 Packages..........................................................................................................................1
Start / Stop / Restart Service ....................................................................................................................1
Reload Apache2 Configuration .................................................................................................................1
Important Configuration Files and Directories .............................................................................................2
Global Configuring Attributes .......................................................................................................................2
ServerName – FQDN.................................................................................................................................2
Listen – Default Port .................................................................................................................................3
Timeout.....................................................................................................................................................3
KeepAlive ..................................................................................................................................................3
MaxKeepAliveRequests.............................................................................................................................3
KeepAliveTimeout.....................................................................................................................................3
Default Virtual Host – Sites-Available...........................................................................................................4
Virtual Host Directives and Values............................................................................................................5
Virtual Host Port and Document Root Directives .................................................................................5
Directory Directive and Options for Root Folder..................................................................................5
Custom Directory Directive and Options ..............................................................................................5
Error Log Directive ................................................................................................................................5
Log Level, Custom Log Directive ...........................................................................................................5
Alias and Directory Directives...............................................................................................................6
Virtual Host – Definition & Directives...........................................................................................................6
<VirtualHost *:80> Directive.....................................................................................................................6
Virtual Host – ServerAdmin & DocumentRoot Directives ........................................................................6
<Directory /> - Directory Tag Directive.....................................................................................................6
Alias and ScriptAlias Directives .................................................................................................................7
Alias Doc....................................................................................................................................................8
Enabling Modules and Sites in Apache2.......................................................................................................9
Apache2 Managing Modules ....................................................................................................................9
Enabling Apache2 Module(s) ................................................................................................................9

2. How To - Apache2 Installation and Configuration
Disabling Apache2 Module(s) ...............................................................................................................9
Apache2 Managing Sites.........................................................................................................................10
Enabling Apache2 Site(s).....................................................................................................................10
Disabling Apache2 Site(s)....................................................................................................................10

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Overview
This guide will help in installing and configuration Apache2 on Ubuntu operating system, Apache is an
open source web server.
Applies To
ubuntu 12.04
To know the Ubuntu release execute the command
lsb_release -a
Update Operating System Patches
First and foremost thing is to update operating system with latest OS patches, to update the system
patches execute the update command.
sudo apt-get update
Install Apache2 Packages
In order to install Apache2, additional dependent packages have to installed, which also are specified in
the command below.
sudo apt-get install apache2 apache2-mpm-worker apache2-utils apache2.2-bin apache2.2-
common libapr1 libaprutil1 libaprutil1-dbd-sqlite3 libaprutil1-ldap
Start / Stop / Restart Service
To start, stop, restart the apache2 service, execute the commands accordingly
sudo service apache2 start
sudo service apache2 stop
sudo service apache2 restart
Reload Apache2 Configuration
To reload the configuration execute the command
sudo apache2 reload

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Important Configuration Files and Directories
File / Directory
Name
Purpose Type
apache2.conf
This is the main configuration file for the server.
Almost all configuration can be done.
It is recommended to use separate, designated files for simplicity.
This file will configure defaults and be the central point of access for the
server to read configuration details.
File
ports.conf
This file is used to specify the ports that virtual hosts should listen on.
Always ensure that, file is correct if you are configuring SSL. File
conf.d/
It’s used for controlling specific aspects of the Apache configuration.
It is often used to define SSL configuration and default security options. Directory
fqdn.conf This file is used to specify the fully qualified domain name. File
sites-available/
This directory contains all of the virtual host files that define different web
sites.
These will establish which content gets served for which requests.
These are available configurations, not active configurations.
Directory
sites-enabled/
This directory establishes which virtual host definitions are actually being
used.
Typically, this directory consists of symbolic links to files defined in the
"sites-available" directory.
Directory
mods-enabled
This directory is similar in function to the sites directories and modules
are enabled Directory
mods- available
This directory is similar in function to the sites directories and modules
that are available which could be enabled optionally. Directory
Global Configuring Attributes
ServerName – FQDN
The purpose of this setting is to configure “Server Name” of the web server, to add the entry execute the
below command.
echo "ServerName vcpubuntu.effonetech.com" | sudo tee /etc/apache2/conf.d/fqdn.conf
Note:
The above command will create the file and add the text <ServerName> <FQDN>
It will overwrite the existing content

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Listen – Default Port
The purpose of this setting is to modify the default listening port of the web server.
vi /etc/apache2/ports.conf
Listen 80
Timeout
The purpose of this setting is to configure the time out value of the request (send and receive).
By default, this parameter is set to "300"
vi /etc/apache2/apache2.conf
Timeout 300
KeepAlive
The purpose of this setting is to allow each connection to continue open to handle multiple request from
the same client; wherein it’s set to "On"
If this is setting is set to "Off", each request will have to establish a new connection, which would result
in significant overhead depending on your setup and traffic.
vi /etc/apache2/apache2.conf
KeepAlive On
MaxKeepAliveRequests
The purpose of this setting is to control how many separate request each connection will handle before
dying. Keeping this number high will allow Apache to serve content to each client more effectively.
Setting this value to 0 will allow Apache to serve an unlimited amount of request for each connection.
vi /etc/apache2/apache2.conf
KeepAliveRequest 0
KeepAliveTimeout
The purpose of this setting specifies how long to wait for the next request after finishing the last one. If
the timeout threshold is reached, then the connection will die.
Which means that the next time content is requested, the server will establish a new connection to handle
the request for the content that make up the page the client is visiting.
vi /etc/apache2/apache2.conf
KeepAliveTimeout 0

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Default Virtual Host – Sites-Available
Virtual host directive is required for name based virtual hosts, each directive have a definitive purpose.
Default configuration file is default
To edit the default configuration file, execute the command
sudo vi /etc/apache2/sites-available/default
Snippet:
<VirtualHost *:80>
ServerAdmin webmaster@localhost
DocumentRoot /var/www
<Directory />
Options FollowSymLinks
AllowOverride None
</Directory>
<Directory /var/www/>
Options Indexes FollowSymLinks MultiViews
AllowOverride None
Order allow,deny
allow from all
</Directory>
ScriptAlias /cgi-bin/ /usr/lib/cgi-bin/
<Directory "/usr/lib/cgi-bin">
AllowOverride None
Options +ExecCGI -MultiViews +SymLinksIfOwnerMatch
Order allow,deny
Allow from all
</Directory>
ErrorLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/error.log
# Possible values include: debug, info, notice, warn, error, crit, alert, emerg.
LogLevel warn
CustomLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/access.log combined
Alias /doc/ "/usr/share/doc/"
<Directory "/usr/share/doc/">
Options Indexes MultiViews FollowSymLinks
AllowOverride None
Order deny,allow
Deny from all
Allow from 127.0.0.0/255.0.0.0 ::1/128
</VirtualHost>

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Virtual Host Directives and Values
Each and every directive plays a significant role in apache webserver behavior, hence configuring directive
is very crucial.
Virtual Host Port and Document Root Directives
This directive defines the virtual host’s port wherein the webpage would be severed with specific
document root associated to it.
<!--# Virtual Host Listening on port 80 -->
<VirtualHost *:80>
ServerAdmin webmaster@vcpubuntu.effonetech.com
DocumentRoot /var/www
Directory Directive and Options for Root Folder
This directive defines directory access with options and methods of access for the root directory.
<!--# Root Directory Options Configuration for a Virtual Host -->
<Directory />
Options FollowSymLinks
AllowOverride None
</Directory>
Custom Directory Directive and Options
In addition to the root directory access, custom directory access should also be set and configured
accordingly.
<!--# /var/www/ Directory options for a Virtual Host -->
<Directory /var/www/>
Options Indexes FollowSymLinks MultiViews
AllowOverride None
Order allow,deny
allow from all
</Directory>
Error Log Directive
Error log directive defines the error logs that would be written on to the file and its location.
<!--# Defines Error Log file Configuration for a Virtual Host -->
ErrorLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/vcp_ubuntu_error.log
Log Level, Custom Log Directive
LogLevel and CustomLog directives defines the diffent types of logs that could be generated and its
associated log file.
<!--# Possible values include: debug, info, notice, warn, error, crit, alert, emerg. -->
LogLevel warn

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CustomLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/vcp_ubuntu_access.log combined
Alias and Directory Directives
Alias directive defines mapping of URL alias to file system location and directory directive defines access
permissions and methods of access and accessibility from IP and subnet ranges to specific directory.
<!--# Alias Configuration - Virtual Host -->
Alias /doc/ "/usr/share/doc/"
<Directory "/usr/share/doc/">
Options Indexes MultiViews FollowSymLinks
AllowOverride None
Order deny,allow
Deny from all
Allow from 127.0.0.0/255.0.0.0 ::1/128
</Directory>
Virtual Host – Definition & Directives
<VirtualHost *:80> Directive
Default Virtual Host is configured to handle any request on port 80, the standard http port.
This is defined in the declaration header where it says "*:80", meaning port 80 on any interface.
This does not mean that it will necessarily handle each request to the server on this port however. Apache
uses the most specific Virtual Host definition that matches the request. This means that if there was a
more specific definition, it could supersede this definition.
Virtual Host – ServerAdmin & DocumentRoot Directives
Directive Purpose
ServerAdmin Define Server Administrator E-Mail ID
DocumentRoot Define Document Root Folder
<Directory /> - Directory Tag Directive
The first directory directive applies rules for the "/", or root, directory on the server.
This will provide the baseline configuration for your Virtual Host entry, as it applies to all files served on
the filesystem.
Note: Ubuntu does not set up any access restrictions to the filesystem by default. Though, Apache
recommends you to configure some default access restrictions.

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<Directory />
Options FollowSymLinks
AllowOverride None
Order Deny,Allow
Deny from All
</Directory>
Directive Purpose
<Directory /> Define Directory option, in this case its “/” – Starting Tag
Options FollowSymLinks Follow Symbolic Links in the directory; tells the web server to
follow the symbolic links.
This option permits Apache to follow Symbolic link directory.
AllowOverride None When this directive is set to None; then .htaccess files are
completely ignored
This option allows webserver to validate user access based on the
override option.
Order Deny,Allow Order deny, allow means that the deny rules are processed before
the allow rules.
If the client does not match the deny rule or it does match the allow
rule, then it will be granted access.
Deny from All Deny all requests by default
</Directory> Directory Options – Ending Tag
The above setting signifies
FollowSymLinks means if a directory is a symbol link, follow the link
It will deny access to all content unless specified otherwise in subsequent directory definitions.
The next directory definition is for the document root, so it specifies the "allow from all" option that
overrides the "/" option for this directory.
The "AllowOverride" option is used to decide whether an ".htaccess" file can override settings if it is
placed in the content directory. This is not allowed by default, but can be useful to enable in a variety of
circumstances.
"Order Deny, Allow" option means that deny rules would be processed before allow rules.
Alias and ScriptAlias Directives
Directory definitions are sometimes preceded by "Alias" or "ScriptAlias" statements. Alias maps a URL
path to a directory path.
ScriptAlias operates in the same way, but is used to define directories that will have executables.
Example:
This line in a Virtual Host that handles request to "f1tech.com" would allow access to content within
"/path/to/content/" by navigating to "http://f1tech.com/cgi-bin/":
Alias /cgi-bin/ /usr/lib/cgi-bin/

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Following the alias, always remember to define the directory with access privileges as defined in the
directory section.
ScriptAlias /cgi-bin/ /usr/lib/cgi-bin/
<Directory "/usr/lib/cgi-bin">
AllowOverride None
Options +ExecCGI -MultiViews +SymLinksIfOwnerMatch
Order allow,deny
Allow from all
</Directory>
Directive Purpose
ScriptAlias /cgi-bin/ /usr/lib/cgi-bin/ Define Script alias in the URL mapping and the actual
location of the script folder "cgi-bin" location
<Directory "/usr/lib/cgi-bin"> Define Directory option
AllowOverride None When this directive is set to None; then .htaccess files are
completely ignored
This option allows webserver to validate user access based
on the override option.
Options +ExeCGI -MultiViews
+SymLinksIfOwnerMatch
+ExeCGI is set, execution of CGI Script is permitted.
-MultiViews is not set, content negotiation is disabled.
+SymLinksIfOwnerMatch is set, server will only follow
symbolic links for which the target file or directory is owned
by the same user id as the link.
Order allow,deny Order deny, allow means that the deny rules are processed
before the allow rules.
If the client does not match the deny rule or it does match
the allow rule, then it will be granted access.
Allow from all Deny all requests by default
</Directory> Directory Options – Ending Tag
Alias Doc
Alias /doc/ "/usr/share/doc/"
<Directory "/usr/share/doc/">
Options Indexes MultiViews FollowSymLinks
AllowOverride None
Order deny,allow
Deny from all
Allow from 127.0.0.0/255.0.0.0 ::1/128
</Directory>
Directive Purpose
Alias /doc/ "/usr/share/doc/" Define doc alias in the URL mapping and the actual location
of the doc folder "doc" location
<Directory "/usr/share/doc/"> Define Directory option

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Options Indexes MultiViews
FollowSymLinks
Indexes enable indexing on the directory.
MultiViews is not set, content negotiation is enabled.
Follow Symbolic Links in the directory; tells the web server
to follow the symbolic links.
This option permits Apache to follow Symbolic link directory.
AllowOverride None When this directive is set to None; then .htaccess files are
completely ignored
This option allows webserver to validate user access based
on the override option.
Order deny, allow Order deny, allow means that the deny rules are processed
before the allow rules.
If the client does not match the deny rule or it does match
the allow rule, then it will be granted access.
Allow from all allow all requests by default
</Directory> Directory Options – Ending Tag
Enabling Modules and Sites in Apache2
After configuring and validating Virtual Host file according to requirements; enable the sites for the live
environment.
For creating a symbolic link automatically in the "sites-enabled" directory to an existing file in the "sites-
available" directory, execute the following command:
sudo a2ensite <virtual host file name>
Example: sudo a2ensite f1tech.com
After enabling a site, issue the following command to tell Apache to re-read its configuration files, allowing
the change to propagate:
sudo service apache2 reload
There is also a command for disabling a Virtual Host. It operates by removing the symbolic link from the
"sites-enabled" directory:
sudo a2dissite virtual_host_file_name
Again, reload the configuration changes are reflected execute; sudo service apache2 reload
Apache2 Managing Modules
Enabling Apache2 Module(s)
Modules can be enabled by executing command "sudo a2enmod".
Disabling Apache2 Module(s)
Modules can be enabled by executing command "sudo a2dismod".

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Apache2 Managing Sites
Enabling Apache2 Site(s)
Modules can be enabled by executing command "sudo a2ensite".
Disabling Apache2 Site(s)
Modules can be enabled by executing command "sudo a2dissite".