How to Set Up a Linux Web Server
While there are many different types of Linux distributions, this article does not follow any particular vendor and stays vendor neutral. If you need to install and configure an Apache Web Server, follow these suggestions.
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Instructions
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After downloading the Apache installation file (see Resources below), go to your download directory and enter the following two lines, without quotes, where "#" represents the version of Apache that you have downloaded:“gzip –d httpd-#.tar.gz” “tar xvf http-#.tar”This will create a directory containing all the installation files for Apache, so go into that directory to configure and install Apache with the following lines: “./configure”“make”“make install”"./configure" will configure your Apache server, "make" will compile the Apache files for installation and "make install" will install the Apache files into their proper locations.
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Apache is configured through a single file named “httpd.conf”, so always make a backup of this file before editing. If you are unsure where your configuration file is, enter “find / -name httpd.conf” to search for it. Find the following lines in your httpd.conf file and change their values to suit your needs:ServerAdmin Admin@yourhost.comServerName www.mywebpage.comMaxClients 512Save and close your file.
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To start your server, enter “/etc/bin/apachectl –k start” assuming that your files are in the “etc” directory. To find them, enter “find / -name apachectl”.To stop your server, enter “/etc/bin/apachectl –k graceful-stop”.You will need to restart your Apache server in order for your configuration changes to take effect.
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To test your installation using the local machine, open a browser and go to "http://localhost". To test it from another machine, you will need to navigate from your client computer’s browser to your server’s IP address. You should see a page stating that your server is running and will have the Apache logo.
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Tips & Warnings
Do not change anything in the httpd.conf file without first making a backup, as this could render your installation unusable.
