Introduction
Welcome to our ultimate guide to setting up an Apache Server in Ubuntu. Apache is a free and open-source web server software that is widely used in web development projects. In this article, we will discuss the process of setting up an Apache Server in Ubuntu and the advantages and disadvantages of using Apache. You don’t need any prior knowledge to follow this guide, so let’s jump right in!
With the increasing demand for web applications and online services, the need for a reliable and efficient web server has become more important than ever. An Apache Server is one of the most popular web servers that provides high performance, stability, and security. Setting up an Apache Server in Ubuntu is a straightforward process, and we will guide you through every step of it.
We will cover the following topics in this guide:
Step 1: Installing Apache Server
Installing Apache Server in Ubuntu is the first step towards setting up your web server. Follow the below-mentioned steps to install Apache Server:
Step 1.1: Updating Ubuntu Packages
Before installing Apache Server, we need to update our Ubuntu packages to ensure that we have the latest software versions. Open the terminal and enter the following command:
Command |
Description |
|---|---|
sudo apt update |
Updates the package list and all installed packages |
Step 1.2: Installing Apache Server
After updating the Ubuntu packages, we can proceed with installing Apache Server. Enter the following command in the terminal:
Command |
Description |
|---|---|
sudo apt install apache2 |
Installs Apache Server |
Once the installation is complete, we can check if the Apache Server is running by entering the following command:
Command |
Description |
|---|---|
sudo systemctl status apache2 |
Checks the status of Apache Server |
Step 2: Configuring Apache Server
After installing Apache Server, we need to configure it to suit our needs. We will cover the following configurations:
Step 2.1: Changing the Default Webpage
By default, Apache Server displays a webpage that confirms the installation was successful. We can change this default webpage to our own webpage by following the below-mentioned steps:
Step |
Description |
|---|---|
Step 1 |
Create a new folder for your website in /var/www/ directory. Enter the following command in the terminal: |
sudo mkdir /var/www/mywebsite |
This will create a new folder called mywebsite in /var/www/ directory. |
Step 2 |
Create a new HTML file inside your website folder. Enter the following command in the terminal: |
sudo nano /var/www/mywebsite/index.html |
This will create a new index.html file and open it in the nano editor. You can replace ‘mywebsite’ with the name of your website. |
Step 3 |
Add your website content inside the index.html file. |
Step 4 |
Save and close the index.html file by pressing Ctrl + X, Y, and Enter. |
Step 5 |
Change the ownership of your website folder to the Apache user by entering the following command in the terminal: |
sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/mywebsite |
This will give the Apache user permission to access your website folder. |
Step 6 |
Edit the default Apache configuration file by entering the following command in the terminal: |
sudo nano /etc/apache2/sites-available/000-default.conf |
This will open the default Apache configuration file in the nano editor. |
Step 7 |
Add the following lines of code inside the VirtualHost tags: |
DocumentRoot /var/www/mywebsite |
This will set your website folder as the DocumentRoot. |
|
This will set your website folder as the directory. |
Options Indexes FollowSymLinks |
This will enable directory listing and symbolic links. |
AllowOverride All |
This will enable .htaccess files in your website folder. |
Require all granted |
This will grant access to all users. |
Step 8 |
Save and close the configuration file by pressing Ctrl + X, Y, and Enter. |
Step 9 |
Restart the Apache Server by entering the following command in the terminal: |
sudo systemctl restart apache2 |
This will restart the Apache Server with your new configuration. |
Step 2.2: Enabling HTTPS
HTTPS is a secure version of the HTTP protocol that encrypts data between the server and the client. Enabling HTTPS for your Apache Server will ensure that all data transmitted between the server and the client is secure. Follow the below-mentioned steps to enable HTTPS:
Step |
Description |
|---|---|
Step 1 |
Install the SSL module for Apache Server by entering the following command in the terminal: |
sudo apt install openssl |
This will install the OpenSSL package that is required for HTTPS. |
Step 2 |
Generate a new SSL certificate by entering the following command in the terminal: |
sudo openssl req -x509 -nodes -days 365 -newkey rsa:2048 -keyout /etc/ssl/private/apache-selfsigned.key -out /etc/ssl/certs/apache-selfsigned.crt |
This will generate a new SSL certificate and private key. |
Step 3 |
Answer the following prompts to create the SSL certificate: |
Country Name (2 letter code) [AU]: |
Enter your country code. |
State or Province Name (full name) [Some-State]: |
Enter your state or province name. |
Locality Name (eg, city) []: |
Enter your city name. |
Organization Name (eg, company) [Internet Widgits Pty Ltd]: |
Enter your organization name. |
Organizational Unit Name (eg, section) []: |
Enter your organizational unit name. |
Common Name (e.g. server FQDN or YOUR name) []: |
Enter your server’s domain name. |
Email Address []: |
Enter your email address. |
Step 4 |
Edit the default Apache configuration file by entering the following command in the terminal: |
sudo nano /etc/apache2/sites-available/000-default.conf |
This will open the default Apache configuration file in the nano editor. |
Step 5 |
Add the following lines of code inside the VirtualHost tags: |
SSLEngine on |
This will enable SSL Engine for your website. |
SSLCertificateFile /etc/ssl/certs/apache-selfsigned.crt |
This will set your SSL certificate file. |
SSLCertificateKeyFile /etc/ssl/private/apache-selfsigned.key |
This will set your SSL private key file. |
Step 6 |
Save and close the configuration file by pressing Ctrl + X, Y, and Enter. |
Step 7 |
Restart the Apache Server by entering the following command in the terminal: |
sudo systemctl restart apache2 |
This will restart the Apache Server with your new configuration. |
Step 2.3: Enabling URL Rewrite
URL Rewrite is a technique used to modify the URL structure of a website to make it more user-friendly and search engine friendly. Follow the below-mentioned steps to enable URL Rewrite:
Step |
Description |
|---|---|
Step 1 |
Install the mod_rewrite module for Apache Server by entering the following command in the terminal: |
sudo a2enmod rewrite |
This will enable the mod_rewrite module for Apache Server. |
Step 2 |
Edit the default Apache configuration file by entering the following command in the terminal: |
sudo nano /etc/apache2/sites-available/000-default.conf |
This will open the default Apache configuration file in the nano editor. |
Step 3 |
Add the following lines of code inside the VirtualHost tags: |
|
This will set your website folder as the directory. |
Options Indexes FollowSymLinks |
This will enable directory listing and symbolic links. |
AllowOverride All |
This will enable .htaccess files in your website folder. |
Require all granted |
This will grant access to all users. |
Step 4 |
Save and close the configuration file by pressing Ctrl + X, Y, and Enter. |
Step 5 |
Create a new .htaccess file by entering the following command in the terminal: |
sudo nano /var/www/mywebsite/.htaccess |
This will create a new .htaccess file for your website. |
Step 6 |
Add the following lines of code inside the .htaccess file: |
RewriteEngine On |
This will enable the URL Rewrite engine. |
RewriteRule ^old-url$ /new-url [R=301,L] |
This will rewrite the old URL to the new URL. |
Step 7 |
Save and close the .htaccess file by pressing Ctrl + X, Y, and Enter. |
Step 8 |
Restart the Apache Server by entering the following command in the terminal: |
sudo systemctl restart apache2 |
This will restart the Apache Server with your new configuration. |
Step 3: Advantages and Disadvantages of Apache Server
Apache Server has been the most popular web server software for over two decades. However, it has its advantages and disadvantages, and you should be aware of them before deciding to use it.
Advantages
1. Open-Source
Apache Server is an open-source software that is available for free. This means that you can download, use, and modify the software according to your needs without any licensing fees.
2. Cross-Platform Compatibility
Apache Server runs on a variety of operating systems, including Linux, Windows, and MacOS. This makes it a popular choice among developers who work on different platforms.
3. High Performance
Apache Server is known for its high performance and scalability. It can handle a large number of concurrent requests and deliver content quickly to the users.
4. Security
Apache Server has a strong focus on security and provides