Introduction

@@ -31,28 +36,26 @@

Apache is by far the most popular web server on the Internet. As of February -2005 Netcraft has reported more than 68% of sites surveyed use Apache. Due to -it's open source nature and wide popularity it stands to reason why shouldn't -a guide for apache installation should be made. +2005, Netcraft has reported more than 68% of sites surveyed use Apache.

This guide is ultimately aimed at the home user who wants to put up a personal webpage from home. With the widespread increase of broadband and -Linux, more and more people can start putting up personal webpages for +GNU/Linux, more and more people can start putting up personal webpages for blogging, home-made picture albums, hobby sites, etc.

Average users may think operating your own HTTP server is a lot more -difficult and time consuming than it really is but the truth is if you just -want to host pictures of the family then it really is not difficult. +difficult and time consuming than it really is; the truth is if you just want +static content, it is not too difficult.

-Users should consider this guide a general, quick and easy way to get started -with Apache. Full-blown websites involve a lot of work in configuring and -securing but this guide will make it easy for users to get started with the +Users should consider this guide a general, quick, and easy way to get started +with Apache. Full-blown websites involve a lot of work in configuring and +securing but this guide will make it easy for users to get started with the basics.

@@ -63,19 +66,16 @@ Installing Apache

-Getting Started +Apache Versions

-Fortunately, Apache is available in portage and users are urged to get the -latest version available in portage so that the latest stable bug fixes and -security patches are installed. +There are two main versions of apache currently in use - appache1 and appache2. +Gentoo provides ebuilds for both of these; we will be using appache2. Appache1 +is primarily used for situations where a special mod or very unusual config is +used, and we will be using neither.

-# emerge sync
-

@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@

Generally, there are going to be a couple USE flags the user should be aware -of before emerging Apache. Please enable the following flags that apply. +of before emerging Apache. Please enable the following flags as needed.

@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ ssl - Enable SSL support for webpages + Enable Secure Socket Layer support for webpagesberkdb @@ -112,14 +112,15 @@ If you do not know what any of the above flag descriptions are referring to -then it is ok to ignore them. If at a later time the need arises for any of -the above flags you can always enable the flag and re-emerge Apache. +then it is ok to ignore them, as you probably don't need them. If at a later +time the need arises for any of the above flags you can always enable the flag +and re-emerge Apache. -

-Please add the appropiate USE flags to your /etc/make.conf file -under the USE category. -

+(Add the following, as needed)
+USE="ipv6 ssl berkdb ldap"
+

@@ -129,8 +130,8 @@

Compile time will vary from system to system but if you need a general -estimate on compile time, an AMD 1.33Ghz Thunderbird with 512mb of RAM takes -about 10 min. +estimate on compile time, an AMD 1.33Ghz t-bird with 512mb of RAM takes about +10 min.

@@ -148,9 +149,9 @@
 
 
 
-After Apache has been emerged the user should be made aware of how to 
-configure the Apache server. In this Chapter basic configuration options 
-will be given. The main configuration file is located at /etc/apache2/conf/apache2.conf.
+In this Chapter, basic configuration options will be given. The main
+configuration file is located at /etc/apache2/conf/apache2.conf.
+All of the following modifications will be made in that file!
 
 
 The first thing users will want to do is to select an IP address and Port 
@@ -160,19 +161,24 @@
 Selecting an IP and Port for Apache to listen on is called Binding.
 
 
-# The listen directive is what is used to choose IP/Port.
-# Most users only have 1 IP address on their computer so the only
-# thing that needs to be set is the Port. The following will set
-# Apache to listen in on Port 80. There is no need to specify
-# an IP address since there is only 1 available on the computer.
+
+# The listen directive is what is used to choose IP/Port. Most users only have
+# 1 IP address on their computer so the only thing that needs to be set is the
+# Port. The following will set Apache to listen in on Port 80. There is no need
+# to specify an IP address since there is only 1 available on the computer.
+
 Listen 80
 
-# If the user would like Apache to listen on another port in addition
-# to port 80 then add another Listen line. Apache now listens on
-# Port 8000 and Port 80 if the user kept both lines in the config.
+
+# If the user would like Apache to listen on another port in addition to port
+# 80 then add another Listen line. Apache now listens on Port 8000 and Port 80
+# if the user kept both lines in the config.
+
 Listen 8000
 
-# If users have multiple IPs then the following syntax can be used.
+
+# If users have multiple IPs then the following syntax can be used.
+
 Listen 192.168.0.20:80
 Listen 192.168.0.150:8000
 
@@ -189,11 +195,15 @@
 
 
 -# This is the default location in the config file
+
+# This is the default location in the config file
+
 DocumentRoot /var/www/localhost/htdocs
 
-# The location could be changed to a directory located in a user's
-# home directory as follows.
+
+# The location could be changed to a directory located in a user's home
+# directory as follows.
+
 DocumentRoot /home/user/www
 
 
@@ -204,8 +214,8 @@
 
 
 
-If the user would like Apache to startup each time the Linux system is brought 
-up then adding Apache to the runlevel is needed.
+If the user would like Apache to startup each time the Gentoo system is brought
+up, adding Apache to the runlevel is needed.
 
 
 @@ -219,17 +229,17 @@
 
 
 
-By now the user has the very basics setup for Apache and now all that is 
-needed is for the user to add whatever files he or she chooses. The document 
-root for all Apache files is located at /var/www/localhost/htdocs 
-if the user kept the default path location mentioned in this guide.
+By now the user has very basic setup for Apache and now all that is  needed is
+for the user to add whatever files he or she chooses. The document  root for
+all Apache files is located at /var/www/localhost/htdocs  if the
+user kept the default path location mentioned in this guide.
 
 
 
-For now the user does not have to place anything in the DocumentRoot location. 
-HTTP related files can be inserted whenever but for now the default files at 
-/var/www/localhost/htdocs are more than enough to get an idea 
-of how to start.
+For now, the user does not have to place anything in the DocumentRoot location. 
+HTTP related files can be inserted whenever, but the default files at
+/var/www/localhost/htdocs are more than enough to get an idea of
+how to start.
 
 
 
@@ -246,9 +256,9 @@
 # /etc/init.d/apache2 start
 
 
-
+
 Apache can just as easily be brought down with the following command.
-
+
 
  # /etc/init.d/apache2 stop
@@ -267,14 +277,16 @@
 
 
 
-Users should open up their favorite browser and enter in 127.0.0.1 into the 
-browser address. The browser should immediately load a default page stating 
-in the first sentence that the installation of the Apache web server is a 
+Users should open up their favorite browser and enter in 127.0.0.1 as
+the browser address. The browser should immediately load a default page stating
+in the first sentence that the installation of the Apache web server is a
 success.
 
 
-The user can also enter in their IP as listed in ifconfig usually on 
-eth0. 
+
+The user can also enter in their IP as listed in ifconfig; this is usually
+eth0.
+
 
 
 
@@ -285,18 +297,20 @@
 
 If the user would like to setup an Apache server for testing and would like 
 to restrict access to just the local computer it can easily be done by using 
-the Listen directive in the apache2.conf.
+the Listen directive in the apache2.conf.
 
 
 -# 127.0.0.1 is the local loopback address to your computer
+
+# 127.0.0.1 is the local loopback address to your computer
+
 Listen 127.0.0.1:80
 
 
 
 
 
-Keeping track of your Apache
+Keeping track of Apache
 
 
 
@@ -345,11 +359,10 @@

-To actively monitor the Apache log file on say a desktop, users can use a -xterm and execute the following command. +To actively monitor the Apache log file, execute the following command:

+ # tail -f /var/log/apache2/error_log
 
 
@@ -360,12 +373,7 @@
 
 
 
-Congratulations to the user for a painless quick start on Apache.
-
-
-
-Users are encouraged to check back on this guide for more updates concerning 
-Apache user and configuration. Possible future content include a FAQ.
+Congratulations for a painless quick start on Apache.