Apache Essentials: Install, Configure, Maintain, 2nd Edition
by Darren James Harkness

Table of Contents
About the Author
About the Technical Reviewer
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Chapter 1: Getting Started with Apache
    How Web Servers Work
    The HyperText Transfer Protocol
    A (Very) Brief History of Apache
    Before You Begin…
        Keep Notes
        Get Familiar with Your Terminal
        Be Prepared to Read Documentation
        What to Know Before Installing Apache
    Using the Right Development Environment
    Apache vs. Other Web Servers
        Choosing Apache Over Nginx
        Apache over npm start for Node Development
    Obtaining Apache
    Installing Apache on macOS
    Installing Apache Through Homebrew
        Running Apache as a Service Through Homebrew
    Installing Apache on Linux
        Choosing the Source Installation
        The Benefit of Binary Installation
    Installing on Windows
    Installing Apache Through XAMPP
        Installing Apache as a Service in Windows
    Basic Configuration
    Where to Put Your Website Files
    Configuration Directory Structure
        httpd.conf/apache2.conf
        mime.types
    Configuring a Default Site
    Summing It Up
Chapter 2: Configuration Essentials
    How Apache’s Configuration Is Structured
    Where Do I Find Modules?
        Installing Modules
        Adding File Types
        Configuring Modules
    All About Directives
    Directive Configuration
    DocumentRoot /var/www
    Configuring Your Primary Apache Site
        Creating the New Directory
        Updating Your Apache Configuration
            Updating the Location of Your Website’s Files
            Directory Options
            Configuring Your Primary Index File
            Configuring Logging
    Using .htaccess Files
    Other Configuration Options You Should Know
        Rewriting URLs
            Using URL Slugs
            Updating the URL for an Existing Page
            Fixing a Trailing Slash
        Creating Custom Error Messages
            ErrorDocument Syntax
            Redirecting to External Error Documents
        Authenticating Users Through Apache
            Creating a .htpasswd File
            Basic Configuration
        Adding New File Types
            Configuring mime.types
    Including External Configuration Files
    Applying Changes
    Summing It Up
Chapter 3: Configuring Virtual Hosts
    A Quick and Dirty Guide to Domains
    What Are Virtual Hosts?
    Creating Development Domains
        Using the hosts File to Manage Local Domains
        Using ngrok to Manage Local Domains
        Setting up a Subdomain Pointing to Your Local Environment
    Why Develop Locally?
    Configuring Apache’s Virtual Hosts
        A Sample Apache Configuration
            <VirtualHost>
            ServerAdmin
            DocumentRoot
            ServerName and ServerAlias
            ErrorLog and CustomLog
            ScriptAlias
            Directory
        Using Separate Configuration Files
    Putting It All to Work
        Pointing the Virtual Domains to Your Local Computer
        Configuring Apache for Multiple Virtual Hosts
    Summing It Up
Chapter 4: Scripting Languages
    PHP
    Installing PHP
        Installing PHP on macOS
        Installing PHP on Linux
    Configuring Apache for PHP
        On macOS
        On Linux
    Configuring PHP
    Updating Default Configuration
        Increasing the Memory Usage Limit
        Increasing the Upload File Size
        Configuring Noisy Error Reporting
        Increasing Max Execution Time
    Installing PHP Extensions
        Recommended php.ini
        Testing It Out
    Configuring Node.js on Apache
        Configuring Your Node.js Application for Apache
        Installing pm2
        Configuring the Application
        Adding Your Application as a Service
    Configuring Apache’s Reverse Proxy
        Enabling Apache’s Proxy Modules
        On macOS and Windows
        On Linux
        Creating a Virtual Host Configuration
        Testing It Out
    Configuring React Apps on Apache
    Summing It Up
Chapter 5: Securing Your Setup
    SSL at a Glance
    Configuring SSL for Subdomains
        Installing Certbot
            On macOS
            On Linux
            On Windows
        Running Certbot
    Configuring HTTPS for Local Domains
    Setting up a Local SSL Certificate Authority
        Installing OpenSSL
            macOS
            Linux
            Windows
        Storing Your Certificates
            Generating the CA Private Key
            Creating a Public CA Certificate
            Signing Your Own Certificates
            The sign.sh Script
    Configuring Apache for HTTPS
        Creating a Separate Configuration File
        Loading the SSL Module
        Configuring the Apache’s SSL Module
            Configuring the Global Options
            Configuring the Secure Site in Apache
    Summing It Up
Chapter 6: Log Files
    Error.log
        Configuring the Error Log
    access.log
        Formatting the Access Log
    Where Can I Find Apache’s Log Files?
    Configuring Apache Logs
        Log Files for Virtual Hosts
        Rotating Logs
            Configuring Log Rotation
            Reading Archived Log Files
    What Do I Do with Log Files?
        Using Log Analysis Programs
        Creating Custom Scripts
        Apache Configuration
        Tracking Down 404 Errors and Why They Occur
    Troubleshooting PHP
        Writing to the Error Log
            An Example
    Summing It Up
Chapter 7: Sample Apache Configurations
    Basic Apache Configuration (with PHP)
        httpd.conf
    Basic HTTPS Configuration
        httpd.conf
        extra/httpd-ssl.conf
    Adding Rewrite Rules to Provide Human-Readable URLs
        .htaccess
    Setting up Multiple Hosts (One PHP and One Node.js)
        httpd.conf
            macOS and Windows
            Linux
        portfolio.local.conf
        nodejs.local.conf
    Protected Directory
        httpd.conf
            macOS and Windows
            Linux
        dev.mydomain.com.conf
Epilogue
Appendix: HTTP Status Codes
    HTTP Status Codes
        1xx Informational Response
        2xx Success
        3xx Redirection
        4xx Client Errors
        5xx Server Errors
Index