Apache

# Apache Web Server Configuration for MediaWiki 1.40

This article details the necessary configuration of the Apache web server to optimally run MediaWiki 1.40. Proper Apache configuration is crucial for performance, security, and stability. This guide is intended for system administrators and those new to configuring Apache for MediaWiki. We will cover virtual host setup, module requirements, and important optimization settings.

Prerequisites

Before beginning, ensure you have:

• A functioning Apache 2.4+ installation. Verify with `apache2 -v`.
• Root or sudo access to the server.
• Basic familiarity with command-line interfaces and text editors.
• PHP installed and configured to work with Apache (see PHP Configuration).
• MediaWiki 1.40 files uploaded to your web server’s document root.

Virtual Host Configuration

A virtual host allows you to host multiple websites (or, in this case, a MediaWiki installation) on a single server. This is best practice for organization and security.

1. Create a new virtual host configuration file. The location varies by distribution (e.g., `/etc/apache2/sites-available/mediawiki.conf` on Debian/Ubuntu, `/etc/httpd/conf.d/mediawiki.conf` on CentOS/RHEL).

2. Add the following configuration, adjusting paths as needed:

```apache ServerName your.mediawiki.domain ServerAlias www.your.mediawiki.domain DocumentRoot /var/www/mediawiki

Options FollowSymLinks AllowOverride All Require all granted

ErrorLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/mediawiki_error.log CustomLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/mediawiki_access.log combined ```

Replace `your.mediawiki.domain` and `/var/www/mediawiki` with your actual domain and MediaWiki installation directory.

3. Enable the virtual host. On Debian/Ubuntu: `sudo a2ensite mediawiki.conf`. On CentOS/RHEL: `sudo ln -s /etc/httpd/conf.d/mediawiki.conf /etc/httpd/conf.d/`.

4. Restart Apache: `sudo systemctl restart apache2` or `sudo systemctl restart httpd`.

Required Apache Modules

MediaWiki relies on several Apache modules for proper functionality. Ensure these are enabled:

Module	Description
`mod_rewrite`	Enables URL rewriting, essential for clean URLs and MediaWiki’s routing.	`mod_expires`	Allows setting expiration headers for static assets (images, CSS, JavaScript) to improve caching.	`mod_deflate`	Compresses content before sending it to the browser, reducing bandwidth usage and improving page load times.	`mod_headers`	Allows manipulation of HTTP response headers.	`mod_ssl`	Required if you are using HTTPS (highly recommended).

To enable modules (Debian/Ubuntu): `sudo a2enmod module_name`. To enable modules (CentOS/RHEL): Ensure the module is loaded in `/etc/httpd/conf.modules.d/`. Restart Apache after enabling modules.

Optimization Settings

Optimizing Apache can significantly improve MediaWiki performance.

• **KeepAlive:** Enable `KeepAlive` to allow persistent HTTP connections, reducing overhead. Add or modify the following in your Apache configuration:

```apache KeepAlive On KeepAliveTimeout 10 MaxKeepAliveRequests 100 ```

• **Caching:** Utilize `mod_expires` to cache static assets. Add the following to your virtual host configuration:

```apache pdf|flv|jpg|jpeg|png|gif|swf)$"> Expires active on Header append Cache-Control "public" ```

• **Gzip Compression:** Enable `mod_deflate` to compress content.

```apache AddOutputFilterByType DEFLATE text/plain AddOutputFilterByType DEFLATE text/html AddOutputFilterByType DEFLATE text/xml AddOutputFilterByType DEFLATE text/css AddOutputFilterByType DEFLATE application/xml AddOutputFilterByType DEFLATE application/xhtml+xml AddOutputFilterByType DEFLATE application/rss+xml AddOutputFilterByType DEFLATE application/javascript AddOutputFilterByType DEFLATE application/x-javascript ```

• **PHP-FPM:** Consider using PHP-FPM instead of `mod_php` for improved performance and resource management. This requires additional configuration beyond the scope of this article, but resources are available on the PHP Configuration page.

Security Considerations

• **HTTPS:** Always use HTTPS to encrypt communication between the server and users. Obtain an SSL certificate from a trusted Certificate Authority.
• **Directory Listing:** Disable directory listing to prevent unauthorized access to files. Ensure `Options Indexes` is *not* present in your `` blocks.
• **Permissions:** Set appropriate file and directory permissions to prevent unauthorized modification.
• **Regular Updates:** Keep Apache and all modules updated to the latest versions to patch security vulnerabilities.

Performance Monitoring

Regularly monitor Apache performance to identify bottlenecks and optimize configurations. Tools like `apachetop`, `htop`, and server logs can provide valuable insights. Consider using a monitoring system for long-term performance tracking.

Apache Configuration Table Summary

Setting	Value	Description
ServerName	your.mediawiki.domain	The primary domain name for your MediaWiki site.	ServerAlias	www.your.mediawiki.domain	Alternative domain names.	DocumentRoot	/var/www/mediawiki	The directory where MediaWiki files are located.	KeepAlive	On	Enables persistent HTTP connections.	KeepAliveTimeout	10	Seconds to keep a connection alive.	MaxKeepAliveRequests	100	Maximum requests allowed on a single connection.

Troubleshooting

• **500 Internal Server Error:** Check your Apache error logs for detailed information. Common causes include PHP errors, incorrect file permissions, or invalid `.htaccess` configurations.
• **403 Forbidden:** Verify that the Apache user has read access to the MediaWiki files and directories. Check the `` block configuration.
• **404 Not Found:** Ensure that the `DocumentRoot` is correctly configured and that the requested files exist. Verify that `mod_rewrite` is enabled and configured correctly. See URL Rewriting.

Further Resources

• PHP Configuration
• URL Rewriting
• Server Hardware
• Database Configuration
• Security Best Practices
• MediaWiki Installation

Category:Server Hardware

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