Where does Apache server store its configuration files?

last updated in Categories Apache, FAQ, Linux, UNIX

Different Linux distributions and/or UNIX operating system, and control panels stores Apache web server configuration file at different locations. There are different ways to locate configuration file.

Apache is, by default, installed in /etc/httpd directory. But this path also depends on how apache has been compiled. Default configuration file name httpd.conf.

Using httpd command

To find the location where apache is installed and to print configuration file location, run the following command:
# httpd -v

Here is the output from my Fedora Core/RedHat (RHEL) Linux server:

Server version: Apache/2.0.54
Server built:   Jan 17 2006 06:36:00
Server's Module Magic Number: 20020903:9
Architecture:   32-bit
Server compiled with....
 -D APACHE_MPM_DIR="server/mpm/prefork"
 -D APR_HAS_SENDFILE
 -D APR_HAS_MMAP
 -D APR_HAVE_IPV6 (IPv4-mapped addresses enabled)
 -D APR_USE_SYSVSEM_SERIALIZE
 -D APR_USE_PTHREAD_SERIALIZE
 -D SINGLE_LISTEN_UNSERIALIZED_ACCEPT
 -D APR_HAS_OTHER_CHILD
 -D AP_HAVE_RELIABLE_PIPED_LOGS
 -D HTTPD_ROOT="/etc/httpd"
 -D SUEXEC_BIN="/usr/sbin/suexec"
 -D DEFAULT_PIDLOG="logs/httpd.pid"
 -D DEFAULT_SCOREBOARD="logs/apache_runtime_status"
 -D DEFAULT_LOCKFILE="logs/accept.lock"
 -D DEFAULT_ERRORLOG="logs/error_log"
 -D AP_TYPES_CONFIG_FILE="conf/mime.types"
 -D SERVER_CONFIG_FILE="conf/httpd.conf"

HTTPD_ROOT points to default location /etc/httpd and line SERVER_CONFIG_FILE points to configuration file conf/httpd.conf. So the path is /etc/httpd/conf/httpd.conf

If you are using Debian Linux try apache-perl:

# apache-perl -V

cPanel/Plesk Control Panel

If you are using third party control panel, then you can find out Apache configuration file inside your /home/username/ directory or /var/www/vhosts/ directory.

Using find command

This is an old good (read as geekey) classic way to locate httpd.conf file:
# find / -name 'httpd.conf' -print

You may have to wait for few seconds/minute to search complete. Or try out locate command:
# locate httpd.conf

Posted by: Vivek Gite

The author is the creator of nixCraft and a seasoned sysadmin, DevOps engineer, and a trainer for the Linux operating system/Unix shell scripting. Get the latest tutorials on SysAdmin, Linux/Unix and open source topics via RSS/XML feed or weekly email newsletter.

13 comment

  1. To find the location where apache is installed and to print configuration file location, run the following command:
    # httpd -V

    we have to use -V(capital) instead of -v(small).

    Thnx for your information

    Jai Shree Ram

  2. Hi Sir, i am a operations engineer, but i m weak in Linuk field, could you please update/help me as your younger bro. Please sir i just need a little or basic cmnds regarding Linux. Could you please help me out.

    ashu raina

  4. Hi,

    My Apache server is on Linux, it was configured and working fine. Recently the IP of the box got changed and since then I cannot navigate to the UI page. Can you please suggest where to change the IP.

    Thanks,
    seena

  5. On Ubuntu 12.04:
    apache2 -V

    -D HTTPD_ROOT=”/etc/apache2″
    -D SERVER_CONFIG_FILE=”apache2.conf”

  8. HI,
    my problem is that httpd -V print che compiled settings, but you can start apache with any conf file you want with the option -f for instance :
    /bin/httpd -f /home/me/httpd.conf -k start
    is there a way to obtain the “running” configuration file?

    1. If you run:
      ps x | grep httpd

      the command collumn will show the full command line, which would include -f /path/to/httpd -k start

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