Page 188 - DCAP106_OPERATING_SYSTEM_TOOLS

Unit 10: Servers

Customize Apache Notes

Assuming that there were no troubles, you are ready to customize your Apache configuration.
This really just amounts to editing the httpd.conf file. This file is located in the PREFIX/conf
directory.

vi PREFIX/conf/httpd.conf
Follow the instructions in this file to edit your configuration the way you would like it.

Test Your Apache Server

Open a web browser on the same machine and type http://localhost/ in the address box.
You should see a page. It will say in big letters. This is excellent news, as it means your server is
installed correctly.

Start Editing/Uploading Pages to Your Newly Installed Apache Web Server

Once your server is up and running you can start posting pages. Have fun constructing your
website.

Self Assessment

Fill in the blanks:
7. ................................... option specifies the directory where the Apache files will be installed.
8. The module ................................... is used to map different parts of the URL tree.
9. The module ................................... is used to allow for strong cryptography using SSL.

10.4 DHCP Server

The Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) is nothing new to many Linux users. The
majority of people have a DHCP client installed on their computers so they can connect to the
Internet via cable or DSL modems. This allows them to have a dynamically assigned IP address
every time they connect to their ISP, usually just by booting the system if they have a dedicated
cable or DSL connection. This is an easy way for ISPs to hand out semi-permanent IP addresses to
their clients without giving everyone a real static IP address. In fact, if you leave your computer
on most of the time, you may end up with the same IP address for a very long time since it works
on an IP address lease/renewal basis.
However, DHCP is far more adaptable than this usage might imply. It can be used in any corporate
environment where laptops come and go and computers are turned on and off or are changed
around on a semi-regular basis. For most system administrators, dealing with network changes,
IP address changes, and so forth, is one of their most time-consuming tasks. Fortunately, DHCP
allows most system administrators to deal with a large networked environment with a greater
degree of ease.

DHCP was designed to give all possible TCP/IP configuration parameters to client computers
using the client/server model. Because it includes every configuration option defined in the
Requirements for Internet Hosts RFC, there is no need for a system administrator to configure
TCP/IP on a user’s desktop. It is all done by the interaction between the DHCP client and the
DHCP server.
Usually if you have a cable modem or DSL, you get your home PC’s IP address dynamically
assigned from your service provider. If you install a home cable/DSL router between your

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