Running Apache

All the popular Linux distributions come with Apache, the most popular Web server on the Internet today.In most cases, Apache is installed and configured automatically when you install Linux. Then, setting up a Web server for the Internet or an intranet is simply a matter of tweaking a few Apache configuration settings and copying your HTML document files to Apache's home directory.

Installing Apache

You can quickly find out whether Apache is installed on your system by entering the following command from a shell prompt:

If Apache has been installed, the package version is displayed. If not, the message package httpd is not installed is displayed.

If Apache isn't installed on your Linux server, you can install it by following these steps:

1. Choose System → Administration → Add/Remove Software.
   This summons the Add/Remove Software program.
2. Choose Package Collections in the list on the left side of the Add/Remove Software window.
   This displays a list of commonly installed collections of packages.
3. In the main list box in the Add/Remove Software window, scroll down almost to the end of the list and select the Web Server option.
   This selects the Apache Web Server packages.
4. Click Apply.
   The Add/Remove Software program installs the basic Apache packages.
5. Type Apache Configuration in the search text box and click the Find button.
   This finds the Apache Configuration tool, which is a valuable tool for configuring Apache that isn't included in the basic Web Server package collection.
6. Click Apply.
   The Apache Configuration Tool is installed.
7. Close the Add/Remove Software program.
   Apache is now installed.