Skip to main content

Install Apache

Apache Web Server is still the top choice for serving website content in Linux environments. AlmaLinux 8, as one of the most stable and compatible enterprise Linux distributions with Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), is an ideal match for Apache installation due to its reliability, long-term support, and strong ecosystem. In this guide, we will cover the complete, detailed, and practical steps to install Apache Web Server on the AlmaLinux 8 operating system.

Prerequisite​

Before starting the installation, we need to make sure the system is updated and ready to accept the new configuration. Perform a system update using the following command:

  • Full root access
  • Basic Linux Command Line
  • Security

Instalasi Apache​

Always perform system updates prior to server application installation to ensure compatibility with the latest repositories:

dnf update -y

Apache is known as the httpd package in Red Hat-based environments. Installation can be done with the following command:

dnf install httpd -y

Once the installation is complete, enable the Apache service to run automatically when booting:

systemctl enable --now httpd

To make sure Apache is running properly, use the command:

systemctl status httpd

Here is an example of httpd status output:

● httpd.service - The Apache HTTP Server
   Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/system/httpd.service; enabled; vendor preset: disabled)
   Active: active (running) since Fri 2025-07-11 18:34:56 WIB; 4s ago
     Docs: man:httpd.service(8)
 Main PID: 2027 (httpd)
   Status: "Started, listening on: port 80"
    Tasks: 213 (limit: 11143)
   Memory: 37.6M

By default, the firewall in AlmaLinux 8 uses Firewalld. To open HTTP (port 80) and HTTPS (port 443) access, run the following command:

firewall-cmd --permanent --add-service=http
firewall-cmd --permanent --add-service=https
firewall-cmd --reload

Open a browser and access the server IP address, for example http://192.168.1.100, the Apache Test Page will appear.

Apache Directory Structure on AlmaLinux 8​

Knowing the Apache directory structure is essential for easy content and configuration management:

  • /etc/httpd/ → The main directory of the Apache configuration

  • /etc/httpd/conf/httpd.conf → Main configuration file

  • /etc/httpd/conf.d/ → Additional configuration directories, including virtual hosts

  • /var/www/html/ → Default directory where website files are stored

  • /var/log/httpd/ → Location of Apache access and error log files

Adding the First Web Content​

Put the HTML file into /var/www/html/. A simple example:

echo "<h1>Welcome to Web Server Apache AlmaLinux 8</h1>" | tee /var/www/html/index.html

After that, access the server using a browser to see your first page live.

Troubleshooting​

Encountering problems when installing or running Apache is common. Here are some of the problems that often arise along with practical solutions that we can do n.

  1. Apache fails to start and displays an error when using systemctl start httpd. Check the status and error message with:
systemctl status httpd
journalctl -xe
  1. If port 80 or 443 is already used by another application, shut down or reconfigure the application.
lsof -i :80
lsof -i :443
  1. After editing the configuration file, the changes are not visible in the browser. Make sure the configuration file is valid:
apachectl configtest
  1. Restart Apache after the changes:
systemctl restart httpd

Conclusion​

The process of installing Apache Web Server on AlmaLinux 8 has been successfully carried out with precise and systematic steps. Apache is now up and running as ** web content serving service (HTTP)** on the system, ready to be used as the main foundation in building and managing web-based applications.

With the basic configuration we have implemented, this server can already serve static HTML content, as well as allow users to access the main page via the server's IP address. This is a very important initial stage before we move on to advanced configuration stages such as creating a Virtual Host to manage multiple domains and implementing HTTPS with SSL for communication security.

The next recommended steps are:

  • Setting up Virtual Host so that the server can serve multiple domains on one physical server or VPS.
  • Enabling SSL (HTTPS) using Let's Encrypt or other certificates to ensure user data security.
  • Optimizing performance and hardening the Apache configuration to improve server speed, efficiency, and security.

Q: What is Apache Web Server?
A: Apache is an open-source software that serves website content via HTTP/HTTPS protocol.

Q: Is AlmaLinux suitable for use in a production environment?
A: Very suitable. AlmaLinux is designed to replace CentOS with long-term stability and RHEL 1:1 compatibility.

Q: How do I make sure Apache stays secure?
A: Perform regular updates, use HTTPS, restrict access with firewalls, and implement configuration hardening.

Q: Can Focusnic help with Apache installation and configuration?
A: Yes, Focusnic is the best solution for professional VPS server installation and cloud management.