Before installing and configuring Apache on your Ubuntu server, ensure you have access to a terminal session and administrative privileges. Additionally, make sure your Ubuntu system is up-to-date by running

sudo apt-get update

Now, follow the steps below to install and set up Apache on your system.

Step 1: Install Apache

Apache is readily available within Ubuntu’s default software repositories, simplifying the installation process. Use the following commands to install Apache:

sudo apt-get install apache2

After successful installation, proceed with configuring the firewall and verifying the server’s status.
Step 2: Basic Configuration (Optional)

  1. Apache Configuration Files: Apache’s main configuration file is usually located at /etc/apache2/apache2.conf. You can also find specific site configurations in the /etc/apache2/sites-available directory.
  2. Virtual Hosts Setup (Optional): If you plan to host multiple websites, setting up virtual hosts is recommended. The configuration files for these hosts are located in /etc/apache2/sites-available. Create your own virtual host configuration files using the sudo nano /etc/apache2/sites-available/your_domain.conf command.
  3. Restart Apache: After making changes in configuration files, restart Apache for changes to take effect:

sudo systemctl restart apache2
Step 4: Test PHP Processing (Optional, if PHP is installed)
If you’ve installed PHP, you can test Apache’s ability to serve PHP pages:

sudo nano /var/www/html/info.php

Add the following line to this file:

<?php phpinfo(); ?>

Save and Close the File, then access it in a browser:

  • http://localhost/info.php or http://your_server_IP_address/info.php

If PHP is configured correctly, you’ll see PHP information details.

These steps should help you get started with Apache on your Ubuntu system. Adjustments and further configurations can be made based on your specific needs.