OpenSolaris

Visual Panels Help Text|

The Apache Service
The following topics are included:

• What Is the Apache: Status Tab Used For?
• What Is the Apache: Virtual Hosts Tab Used For?
• What Is the Apache: Settings Tab Used For?
• What is the Apache: Virtual Hosts: Edit Screen Used For?
• Why Would I Change the Port Number for an Apache Server?
• Why Would I Use a Custom Configuration File with the Apache Server?
• What are MIME Types in the Apache Service?
• What are Apache Modules?

What Is the Apache: Status Tab Used For?
The Apache: Status Tab displays the current status of the default Apache service. The following operations are supported from this tab:

• The service can be enabled, disabled, refreshed and restarted
• The service can be placed into maintenance or degraded state
• Error states can be cleared

What Is the Apache: Virtual Hosts Tab Used For?
The Apache: Virtual Hosts Tab displays all of the virtual web servers that are configured on the system. Virtual hosts allow one server to support multiple web sites. Each web site is configured separately. localhost is a virtual host which is preconfigured to use the default Apache document root, /var/apache/htdocs.
The following operations are supported from this tab:

• A virtual host can be added, deleted, or cloned
• A virtual host service can be enabled or disabled
• Configuration parameters for a virtual host can be edited
• The display can be changed from the icon to the list view or back
  Each virtual host is displayed in the list view. The list view shows the name of the virtual host, the directory name for the document root, and whether the host is enabled or not. The entries can be sorted alphabetically, in either ascending or descending order, by selecting the arrow icon next to the Name heading. A virtual host service can be enabled or disabled by selecting the box in the enabled column. A virtual host service can be enabled or disabled by selecting the box in the enabled column. In the icon view, each active virtual host is displayed as blue. Disabled virtual hosts are black.
  To change the configuration for a specific virtual host, double click the virtual host icon or select the virtual host icon and then click the edit button. For more information about the edit action, see What is the Apache: Virtual Hosts: Edit Screen Used For?

What is the Apache: Virtual Hosts: Edit Screen Used For?
The Apache: Virtual Hosts: Edit screen is used to change the following configuration information for a selected virtual host:

• Whether the service is enabled or disabled and assign a port number
• The site name and document root directory
• Allow the host to serve content from the public_html directory in a user's home directory
• Enable encryption with secure HTTP over the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)
  The following information is needed to enable encryption:
  • IP address
  • Port
  • Location of the certificate file
  • Location of the key file
• The location of a custom file that provides additional configuration parameters
• The MIME types that are used when accessing a file
• The custom modules to be used
   For more information about some of these parameters see:
• Why Would I Change the Port Number for an Apache Server?
• Why Would I Use a Custom Configuration File with the Apache Server?
• What are MIME Types in the Apache Service?
• What are Apache Modules?

What Is the Apache: Settings Tab Used For?
The Apache: Settings Tab is used to change the following configuration information for all virtual hosts:

• Whether this Apache Web Server is enabled or disabled
• The dafult port that the virtual host is listening on
• The location of a custom configuration file that specifies complete configuration information for this Apache Web Server
• MIME types that are used when accessing a file
• Custom modules to be used
   For more information about some of these parameters, see:
• Why Would I Change the Port Number for an Apache Server?
• Why Would I Use a Custom Configuration File with the Apache Server?
• What are MIME Types in the Apache Service?
• What are Apache Modules?

Why Would I Change the Port Number for an Apache Server?
By default, the Apache service, listens for requests on port 80 and on all IP addresses configured on the local host. By selecting a specific port or address and port numbers you can determine how each virtual host responds to different IP addresses, host names and ports. This is equivalent to the listen directive.

Why Would I Use a Custom Configuration File with the Apache Server?
There are many configuration options or directives that can be used with the Apache Server that are not configurable. By creating a custom configuration file, you may use these directives while still using the panel to ease monitoring. The custom configuration file is also a simple migration mechanism which allows users to use existing Apache configuration files.

What are MIME Types in the Apache Service?
The Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (MIME) types configuration file sets the default list of mappings from file name extensions (like *.html) to content types and behavior. The content type defines the language, character set and encoding that is used for each file name extension. The behavior defines any handlers or filters that need to be used. The GUI allows you to add new MIME types, which is equivalent to using the AddType directive in Apache configuration file.
Most virtual hosts will not need any custom MIME types defined. These hosts can rely on the default MIME settings included in Apache to handle their requests. Occasionally, a virtual host needs to serve a file for which a MIME type is not defined, or for which an existing MIME type needs to be overridden. For example, a virtual host may want to serve sound files with a .snd extension, with the MIME type audio/x-audiphile-sound.
The following operations are supported from this panel:

• A MIME type can be added, deleted, or cloned
• Parameters for a MIME type can be edited
• The display can be changed from the icon to the list view or back
  Each MIME type entry requires the following information:
• The MIME type (major type in Apache docs)
• The MIME subtype (minor type in Apache docs)
• The appropriate extensions

What are Apache Modules?
An Apache module can enable operating system specific optimizations, manage how requests are handled by the server, and define other important parameters. Most virtual hosts will not need any custom modules added. These hosts can rely on the default modules included in Apache. Occasionally, a virtual host needs to use some custom functionality not included in the Apache core module set. For example, a virtual host may have extensive dynamic content written in PHP. To get the Apache service to handle this content properly, the mod_php module would need to be added.
The following operations are supported from this panel:

• An Apache module can be added, deleted, or cloned
• The display can be changed from the icon to the list view or back
  Each module entry includes a name and a the name of a shared library file associated with it. Each name must be unique.