Apache commands

Commands quick reference for working with Apache.

Apache config files

• /etc/apache2/apache2.conf - Main configuration file. It is recommended to use separate, designated files for simplicity. This file is usually used to configure defaults and be the central point of access for the server to read configuration details.
• /etc/apache2/ports.conf - Used to specify the ports that virtual hosts should listen on. Be sure to check that this file is correct if configuring SSL.
• /etc/apache2/conf.d/ - Directory used for controlling specific aspects of the Apache configuration. For example, define SSL configuration and default security choices here instead of the global config.
• /etc/apache2/sites-available/ - Directory contains all virtual host files, for each hosted web site. These are available configurations, not active configurations.
• /etc/apache2/sites-enabled/ - Directory establishes which virtual host definitions are actually being used. Usually, consists of symbolic links to files defined in the "sites-available" directory.
• /etc/apache2/mods-[enabled,available]/ - These directories are similar in function to the sites directories, but they define modules that can be optionally loaded instead.

Default Virtual Host File

/etc/apache2/sites-available/default

General Apache commands

Get Apache version

httpd -v

Find Apache

The easy way...

apache2ctl -V

Outputs what config and server settings are being used.

The not-as-easy way...

ps -ef | grep apache

Get the path of running Apache.

sudo apachectl -V | grep SERVER_CONFIG_FILE

...or...

/usr/sbin/apache2 -V | grep SERVER_CONFIG_FILE

May produce config errors, versus first option. Example output: -D SERVER_CONFIG_FILE="/etc/apache2/apache2.conf"

Managing Apache

Start, Stop, and Restart Apache

service apache2 [start|stop|graceful-stop|graceful|restart]

...or...

apachectl [start|stop|graceful-stop|graceful|restart]

graceful is the same as restart but not as abrupt.

Reload apache config

sudo service apache2 reload

Stop everything NOW!

apachectl -k stop

"Immediately attempts to kill off all of its children. It may take it several seconds to complete killing off its children. Then the parent itself exits. Any requests in progress are terminated, and no further requests are served."

Adding & Removing new sites in Apache

Enable a new site

sudo a2ensite VIRTUAL_HOST_FILE_NAME

Then reload the config to make site active.

Disable an active site

sudo a2dissite VIRTUAL_HOST_FILE_NAME

Then reload the config to make site inactive.

Enable & Disable Apache Modules

Modules can be enabled or disabled by using the a2enmod and a2dismod commands respectively. They work the same way as the enable/disable sites command.

Additional Apache commands

Run syntax check for config files

apachectl -t

Show all loaded modules

apachectl -t -D DUMP_MODULES

List all compiled Apache modules

apachectl -l