Apache - virtual hosts

Post by **Kajun** » Tue Apr 27, 2004 6:11 pm

Hey,

Is there a quick answer to being able to construct multiple virtual localhosts given a particular directory using apache?

i.e. rather than having to change httpd.conf every time I want to work on a different site (since they all use /, they need to be set as DocumentRoot

I'd like some way of them retaining the qualities of root, but allowing apache to run all the time while serving all sites.

Got me?

Post by **Kajun** » Tue Apr 27, 2004 6:16 pm

Oh aye, it's just a local setup. I don't have DNS capabilities etc. to map to different IPs/names.

The alternative is to setup some shortcuts to launch apache using different .conf files, but that seems a little OTT?

Hanohtep · Post by **Hanohtep** » Wed Apr 28, 2004 5:28 pm

You've got to love how Kajun always answers his own questions.

Post by **Kajun** » Wed Apr 28, 2004 8:00 pm

Nein! "Oh aye" is to indicate, "And yes, I did forget to add the following, which may aid you in your quest:"

Post by **Kajun** » Mon Jun 07, 2004 6:56 pm

Got there in the end.

Two real solutions:

a) set 'NameVirtualHost 127.0.0.1', setup up lots of VirtualHosts to correspond and give them ServerName.s, then map the same names to 127.0.0.1 in your Hosts file. (more info).
b) run multiple instances of apache specifying a different config file each time using the '-f' CLI parameter. Set each 'site' to a different port and remember which is which.

There are advantages to each - the first is perfect for a non-hotdesking setup where you just use one machine, i.e. my home one. The second is perfect to stick on my keys and carry around, because otherwise you have to modify the HOSTS file on every machine: with the keys I can just run multiple instances (or more usually, just the one I'm developing).

Excellent piece of software; terrible piece of documentation.