Beginners guide to Apache HTTP Server: Installation and Configuration

Updated: 11 October 2026 · Applies to: Ubuntu 24.04, Debian 12, AlmaLinux 9 and Rocky Linux 9

Apache HTTP Server is one of the most widely used web servers. This beginner's guide covers installing it and the main configuration files on current systems.

Install

apt install apache2                                   # Ubuntu / Debian
dnf install httpd && systemctl enable --now httpd    # AlmaLinux / Rocky

Open the firewall

ufw allow 80,443/tcp                                   # Ubuntu / Debian with UFW
firewall-cmd --permanent --add-service=http --add-service=https && firewall-cmd --reload   # AlmaLinux / Rocky

Where things are

• Main configuration: /etc/apache2/apache2.conf (Ubuntu/Debian) or /etc/httpd/conf/httpd.conf (AlmaLinux/Rocky).
• Sites: /etc/apache2/sites-available/ enabled with a2ensite, or /etc/httpd/conf.d/*.conf.
• Default web root: /var/www/html.
• Logs: /var/log/apache2/ or /var/log/httpd/.

Everyday commands

apachectl configtest            # check the configuration
systemctl reload apache2         # httpd on AlmaLinux/Rocky
a2enmod rewrite headers ssl      # enable modules (Ubuntu/Debian)

Create the Apache site

Create /etc/apache2/sites-available/example.com.conf (Ubuntu/Debian) or /etc/httpd/conf.d/example.com.conf (AlmaLinux/Rocky):

<VirtualHost *:80>
    ServerName example.com
    ServerAlias www.example.com
    DocumentRoot /var/www/example.com
    <Directory /var/www/example.com>
        AllowOverride All
        Require all granted
    </Directory>
</VirtualHost>

Ubuntu/Debian: a2ensite example.com && a2enmod rewrite && systemctl reload apache2. AlmaLinux/Rocky: apachectl configtest && systemctl reload httpd.