FreeBSD Install and Configure Apache Web Server

Q. How do I install and configure Apache web server under FreeBSD 7.x operating systems?

A. FreeBSD comes with various versions of Apache web servers:

=> Apache 1.3
=> Apache 2.0
=> Apache 2.1
=> Apache 2.2

Step # 1: Update FreeBSD ports collection

Type the following command to update FreeBSD ports collection:
# portsnap fetch update

Step # 2: Install Apache Web Server

Type the following commands:
# cd /usr/ports/www/apache22/ # make install clean
Select required options:

Fig.01: FreeBSD Apache v2.2 Config Options

Step 3: FreeBSD Configure Apache

Quick facts about Apache version 2.2 under FreeBSD:

Default HTTP port: 80
Default HTTPS (SSL) port: 443
Default DocumentRoot directory: /usr/local/www/apache22/data/
Default cgi-bin directory: /usr/local/www/apache22/cgi-bin/
Default Error Log File: /var/log/httpd-error.log
Default Access Log File: /var/log/httpd-access.log
Default suexec log (if compiled with suexec): /var/log/httpd-suexec.log
Default configuration file directory:/usr/local/etc/apache22/ and /usr/local/etc/apache22/extra/
Default configuration file: /usr/local/etc/apache22/httpd.conf

Turn on Apache service

Type the following command to turn on Apache22 service:
echo 'apache22_enable="YES"' >> /etc/rc.conf

Configure httpd.conf

Open httpd.conf file:
# cp /usr/local/etc/apache22/httpd.conf /root/httpd.conf.bak # vi /usr/local/etc/apache22/httpd.conf
Bind Apache to specific IP addresses and/or ports, instead of the default. Let us bind to IP address called 202.4.2.1 and port 80:
Listen 202.4.2.1:80
Set your email address:
ServerAdmin vivek@nixcraft.com
Set servername (FQDN) such as www.nixcraft.com:
ServerName www.nixcraft.com
Save and close the file.

Start Apache server

To start Apache server v2.2, enter:
# /usr/local/etc/rc.d/apache22 start
Verify that port 80 is opened:
# sockstat -4 | grep :80

Open port 80 using PF firewall

Warning examples may block access to FreeBSD computer

WARNING! These examples may block access to your computer if not executed properly. If you are configuring FreeBSD and Apache first time, I strongly recommend skipping this step.

PF is OpenBSD firewall and available under FreeBSD. You need to configure pf using /etc/pf.conf file. Add following line to your /etc/pf.conf file:
pass in on $ext_if proto tcp from any to 202.4.2.1 port 80 flags S/SA synproxy state
Save and close the file. Reload pf firewall:
# /etc/rc.d/pf reload

Test your new setup

Fire a webbrowser and type your domain name such as www.nixcraft.com.

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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }

1 grinder February 1, 2009 at 2:35 pm

Thanks for manual. It look very easy.

2 opik January 3, 2010 at 2:39 am

apachectl couldn’t start and port 80 isn’t opened, i’am not using or installed any firewall. how to open port 80 and running apache ?
thanks.

3 Fil Delmonte July 5, 2011 at 3:56 am

It Works!

4 Robert Dailey October 21, 2011 at 9:56 pm

Please correctly use provided utilities:

sockstat -4lp 80

5 Sundeep March 17, 2013 at 1:10 pm

Hi,
Would it be a good idea to change the below directories
Default DocumentRoot directory: /usr/local/www/apache22/data/
Default cgi-bin directory: /usr/local/www/apache22/cgi-bin/

to my own directory or partition

or would it be good to make symlink -