FreeBSD Install and Configure Apache Web Server

Author: Vivek Gite Last updated: October 8, 2008 7 comments

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! 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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🐧 7 comments so far... add one ↓

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7 comments… add one

grinder Feb 1, 2009 @ 14:35

Thanks for manual. It look very easy.

Reply Link
opik Jan 3, 2010 @ 2:39

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.

Reply Link
Fil Delmonte Jul 5, 2011 @ 3:56

It Works!

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Robert Dailey Oct 21, 2011 @ 21:56
Please correctly use provided utilities:
```
sockstat -4lp 80
```
Reply Link
- Gustavo Jul 30, 2013 @ 12:04
  
  # sockstat -4lp 80
  USER COMMAND PID FD PROTO LOCAL ADDRESS FOREING ADDRESS
  
  Reply Link
  - Robert Dailey Aug 20, 2013 @ 17:56
    
    Then you don’t have a web server listening on ipv4 port 80. As you can see below, I have a web server listening on ipv4 port 80 as well as ipv6 port 80.
    
    [root@midas ~]# sockstat -4lp 80
    USER COMMAND PID FD PROTO LOCAL ADDRESS FOREIGN ADDRESS
    www httpd 94026 3 tcp46 *:80 *:*
    www httpd 93984 3 tcp46 *:80 *:*
    www httpd 93979 3 tcp46 *:80 *:*
    www httpd 93978 3 tcp46 *:80 *:*
    www httpd 93974 3 tcp46 *:80 *:*
    www httpd 93960 3 tcp46 *:80 *:*
    www httpd 93959 3 tcp46 *:80 *:*
    www httpd 93944 3 tcp46 *:80 *:*
    www httpd 93942 3 tcp46 *:80 *:*
    www httpd 92633 3 tcp46 *:80 *:*
    root httpd 1856 3 tcp46 *:80 *:*
    [root@midas ~]#
    
    Reply Link
Sundeep Mar 17, 2013 @ 13:10

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 –

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