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Apache HTTP Server

Complete guide to Apache web server configuration, virtual hosts, .htaccess, modules, and performance tuning

8 min read
apachehttpdweb-serverhtaccessvirtual-hostsmodulesrewritessl

Installation & Basic Commands

Installing and managing Apache

Installation

Installing Apache on different platforms

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🌐 Most widely used web server
📦 Available as apache2 or httpd package
🔧 Highly modular and extensible
⚡ Config at /etc/apache2/ or /etc/httpd/

Basic Commands

Essential Apache management commands

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✅ Always test config with configtest before reload
🔄 Graceful restart maintains active connections
📁 Config structure varies by distribution
📊 Logs in /var/log/apache2/ or /var/log/httpd/

Virtual Hosts

Configuring virtual hosts for multiple sites

Basic Virtual Host

Setting up a basic virtual host

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🌐 Virtual hosts allow multiple sites on one server
📝 Each vhost needs unique ServerName
🔗 Enable with a2ensite command
⚡ Name-based is most common type

SSL/TLS Configuration

Configuring HTTPS with SSL certificates

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🔒 Always use HTTPS in production
📜 Let's Encrypt for free SSL certificates
⚡ Enable HTTP/2 for better performance
🔐 HSTS header enforces HTTPS

.htaccess & URL Rewriting

Directory-level configuration and URL rewriting

.htaccess Basics

Common .htaccess configurations

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📁 .htaccess provides directory-level config
🔒 Requires AllowOverride All in vhost
⚡ Can impact performance if overused
🎯 Great for shared hosting environments

URL Rewriting

Advanced URL rewriting with mod_rewrite

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🔄 mod_rewrite is powerful but complex
📝 Test rules carefully with RewriteLog
🎯 Order matters - most specific first
⚡ Use RewriteCond for conditional rules

Modules & Performance

Apache modules and performance optimization

Essential Modules

Common Apache modules and their usage

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🔧 Apache has 100+ available modules
📦 Enable only needed modules for performance
⚡ mod_deflate saves bandwidth
🔒 mod_security adds WAF capabilities

Performance Tuning

Optimizing Apache for better performance

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⚙️ Choose appropriate MPM for workload
🗜️ Enable compression for text content
💾 Use caching for static content
📊 Monitor with mod_status

Security & Access Control

Securing your Apache server

Security Best Practices

Essential security configurations

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🔒 Hide version info and disable directory listing
🛡️ Use security headers to prevent attacks
⚠️ Implement ModSecurity for WAF protection
🔐 Use fail2ban to block attackers