The Apache Web Server and cPanel & WHM

This documentation explains key points about the interaction between the Apache web server software and the cPanel & WHM system. It includes details about using the EasyApache in software installed by cPanel & WHM, which lets you customize your build of Apache.

Note: You are not required to customize Apache and PHP with EasyApache 3. You may select one of our preconfigured profiles. If you choose to use one of our preconfigured profiles, Apache 2.2 and PHP 5.3 are installed by default. In this scenario, PHP is handled by suPHP by default.

EasyApache Basics

• The Apache Configuration File & Building Apache — This page provides information about httpd.conf — the Apache configuration file — and our design goals for the our Apache build system, AdvConfig.
• How httpd.conf Is Processed — This section provides a brief description of how the httpd.conf file is processed by the AdvConfig build system.

EasyApache and PHP

This section details the options for configuring PHP to work with Apache.

• Choosing Which Apache to Build — This area outlines some considerations for choosing a version of Apache.
• Choosing Which PHP Version to Build — This section outlines some considerations for choosing both major and minor PHP versions.
• The Options Lists — This area describes the various options that are available to you in the EasyApache system.
• Apache PHP Request Handling — This section describes how to configure PHP to handle certain requests.
• PHP Extensions — Here, you can configure the file extensions PHP will handle.
• User-Level PHP Customization — This area allows you to make PHP customizable for each of your users.
• Hardening PHP — Here, you can find information on making your server more secure by hardening your PHP settings.
• The mod_ruid2 Module — mod_ruid2 is an Apache extension that allows requests to a domain to run as the owner of that domain, instead of the Apache user. It is similar to suEXEC and suPHP, but applies to all HTTP requests, except those to Java servlets or JSPs.
• Upgrading to EasyApache 3.14 Removes PHP4 Support — This area provides instructions to upgrade EasyApache with the removal of PHP4 support.

Apache and PHP Customization

• Saving Custom Options — This area describes how to permanently store your custom options.
• Modifying Environment Variables — This section describes how to change environment variables in the EasyApache system.
• Using Custom Configure Flags — Here, you can learn how to use raw options ("raw opts") to add data to pertinent configuration files.
• Distributing EasyApache Files Over Multiple Servers — This section describes the process of distrbuting a single EasyApache configuration accross multiple servers.
• Creating Automated Post-Production Tests — Here, you can learn how to create custom tests to check your EasyApache configuration.
• EasyApache Custom Modules — This document provides instructions for installing custom modules, as well as examples of such modules.

Custom Directives to http.conf

This area describes the process of customizing your Apache configuration file.

• • Important: You should avoid making direct edits to httpd.conf, since your changes could be overwritten. In this section, we cover a number of methods that the EasyApache system makes available for customizing the httpd.conf file. First, consider whether you will use the custom directive inside or outside of a VirtualHost directive.

• Custom Directives Outside of a Virtual Host — Here, you can learn how to add custom directives outside of a <VirtualHost> tag.
• Changes Contained Within a Virtual Host — This section describes the process of adding custom directives inside a <VirtualHost> tag.

More about EasyApache

• EasyApache Hook Scripts — This section provides information about hook scripts you can create to perform actions at certain points in the EasyApache build process.
• FrontPage® Support — This section provides a few fixes for working with FrontPage on an EasyApache system.
• Known Issues — A brief description of known issues and fixes.

EasyApache Support Level Definitions

When configuring EasyApache, you will encounter a few specific terms in the WHM interface. This section aims to define those terms in greater detail.

Experimental