How to Set Up Apache Virtual Hosts on Ubuntu?

8 April 2025 9:00 AM
- Linux VPS Hosting

How to Set Up Apache Virtual Hosts on Ubuntu – Softsys Hosting FAQ

Apache virtual hosts allow you to host multiple websites on a single server by configuring separate directories and domain settings. This guide will walk you through setting up virtual hosts on an Ubuntu server with Apache.

1. What are Apache Virtual Hosts?

Apache virtual hosts enable multiple domains or subdomains to be hosted on the same server. Each virtual host can have its own configuration, document root, and log files.

2. How do I create a directory structure for my websites?

Each website needs a separate directory to store its files. Create a new directory under /var/www/:

sudo mkdir -p /var/www/example.com/public_html

Set the correct ownership and permissions:

sudo chown -R $USER:$USER /var/www/example.com/public_html
sudo chmod -R 755 /var/www

Replace example.com with your actual domain name.

3. How do I create an index.html file for testing?

Create a simple HTML file inside the website directory:

nano /var/www/example.com/public_html/index.html

Add the following content:

<html>
<head><title>Welcome to Example.com</title></head>
<body><h1>Success! Apache Virtual Host is working.</h1></body>
</html>

Save and exit (CTRL+X, then Y, then Enter).

4. How do I create an Apache virtual host configuration file?

Create a new configuration file in the Apache sites-available directory:

sudo nano /etc/apache2/sites-available/example.com.conf

Add the following configuration:

<VirtualHost *:80>
    ServerAdmin admin@example.com
    ServerName example.com
    ServerAlias www.example.com
    DocumentRoot /var/www/example.com/public_html
    ErrorLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/error.log
    CustomLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/access.log combined
</VirtualHost>

Save and exit.

5. How do I enable the new virtual host?

Enable the site and reload Apache:

sudo a2ensite example.com.conf
sudo systemctl reload apache2

To disable a virtual host, use:

sudo a2dissite example.com.conf
sudo systemctl reload apache2

6. How do I update the hosts file for local testing?

If you’re testing on a local machine, update the /etc/hosts file:

sudo nano /etc/hosts

Add the following line:

127.0.0.1 example.com

Save and exit.

7. How do I test if the virtual host is working?

Open a browser and visit http://example.com. If everything is set up correctly, you should see your test page.

You can also test using curl:

curl -I http://example.com

8. How do I set up an HTTPS virtual host with SSL?

If you have an SSL certificate, create a new virtual host configuration:

<VirtualHost *:443>
    ServerAdmin admin@example.com
    ServerName example.com
    ServerAlias www.example.com
    DocumentRoot /var/www/example.com/public_html
    SSLEngine on
    SSLCertificateFile /etc/ssl/certs/example.com.crt
    SSLCertificateKeyFile /etc/ssl/private/example.com.key
    SSLCertificateChainFile /etc/ssl/certs/example.com.ca-bundle
</VirtualHost>

Enable the SSL module and restart Apache:

sudo a2enmod ssl
sudo systemctl restart apache2

9. What should I do if Apache fails to restart?

If Apache doesn't restart, check for syntax errors:

sudo apachectl configtest

If errors appear, correct them in the configuration files and restart Apache:

sudo systemctl restart apache2

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