Apache Install Centos 7

7 min read Oct 10, 2024

Getting Started with Apache on CentOS 7

Setting up a web server on CentOS 7 is a straightforward process. Apache, the most popular web server, provides a robust platform for hosting websites and applications. This guide will walk you through the installation and basic configuration of Apache on CentOS 7.

Prerequisites:

A CentOS 7 server
Root or sudo privileges

Step 1: Update Your System

Before installing any new software, it's always a good practice to update your system to ensure you have the latest packages and security patches.

sudo yum update -y

This command will update all installed packages on your system, including the package manager itself.

Step 2: Install Apache

The Apache web server is included in the CentOS 7 repositories, making installation easy.

sudo yum install httpd -y

The httpd package contains the core Apache software, including its configuration files and necessary libraries.

Step 3: Start Apache

Once Apache is installed, you can start the service using the following command:

sudo systemctl start httpd

This will immediately initiate the Apache service and make it available for serving web content.

Step 4: Enable Apache to Start at Boot

To ensure that Apache automatically starts every time your server boots, use the following command:

sudo systemctl enable httpd

This command creates a symbolic link in the system's startup directory, ensuring Apache is automatically launched during the boot process.

Step 5: Verify Apache Installation

Open your web browser and visit the IP address or hostname of your CentOS 7 server. If everything is set up correctly, you should see a default Apache web page.

http://your_server_ip_address

Basic Apache Configuration

Apache's configuration files are located in the /etc/httpd/conf directory. The main configuration file is httpd.conf. Let's explore some common configuration tasks:

Virtual Hosts

Virtual hosts allow you to host multiple websites on the same Apache server. This is achieved by defining separate configurations for each website.

Create a Virtual Host Configuration File:
```
sudo nano /etc/httpd/conf.d/yourdomain.conf
```
Replace yourdomain.conf with your desired virtual host configuration file name.

Add Virtual Host Configuration:


    ServerName yourdomain.com
    DocumentRoot /var/www/html/yourdomain
    
        Options Indexes FollowSymLinks
        AllowOverride All
        Require all granted

Replace yourdomain.com with your actual domain name and /var/www/html/yourdomain with the directory where your website's files are located.

Restart Apache:
```
sudo systemctl restart httpd
```

Port Configuration

Apache listens on port 80 by default. If you need to change this, edit the httpd.conf file and modify the Listen directive:

Listen 8080

Replace 8080 with your desired port number.

Directory Permissions

To ensure your web server can read and serve website content, ensure appropriate permissions are set for the document root directory. The document root directory is the location where your website's files are stored.

sudo chown -R apache:apache /var/www/html
sudo chmod -R 755 /var/www/html

These commands change the ownership of the html directory to the apache user and group, and set the directory permissions to 755, which allows the web server to read and execute files within that directory.

Logging

Apache logs various events, such as requests, errors, and access details. These logs can be helpful for debugging and monitoring your web server.

The main Apache logs are located in the /var/log/httpd directory. To view these logs, you can use commands like:

tail -f /var/log/httpd/error_log

This command will display the last few lines of the Apache error log.

Troubleshooting

If you encounter issues with your Apache installation, check the following:

Firewall: Ensure that port 80 (or your custom port) is open in your firewall.
Permissions: Verify that the apache user has the necessary permissions to access your website files.
Configuration: Double-check your Apache configuration files for any syntax errors or incorrect settings.
Logs: Review the Apache logs for error messages that might shed light on the problem.

Conclusion

Setting up Apache on CentOS 7 is a straightforward process with the right instructions. This guide provides a step-by-step approach to getting started, from installation and configuration to basic troubleshooting tips. You can now leverage the power of Apache to host your websites and applications on your CentOS 7 server. Remember, always refer to the official Apache documentation for the latest information and advanced configurations.