Configuring Apache for a Local Site on Ubuntu

Introduction

This is a simple task, setting up my local machine so that I can browse directly to a hostname such as "mysite" and Apache will find the right project. This is a great way to test that paths will work as you expect when a site goes onto the production server. You will just need a config file in the site so it knows when it is on the development server (your local machine) and when it is live.

As simple as this is, I always have to look it up every time I do it.

So, in the interests of improving my own efficiency and maybe helping someone else I am blogging my process.

Dependencies

Ubuntu Lucid: 10.04(Check this with:  cat /etc/lsb-release )

Apache/2.2.14 (Ubuntu)
(Check this with: /usr/sbin/apache2 -v )

Process

First go add the new site to yours hosts file, edit

sudo vi /etc/hosts

Then change or add the line:

127.0.0.1       localhost mysite


Next you need to configure Apache to recognise the site. You need to create a config file for your site in the sites-available directory:

/etc/apache2/sites-available/mysite

with something like the following contents:

<VirtualHost *:80>
    ServerName mysite
    DocumentRoot /home/username/mysite/www
    <Directory /home/username/mysite/www>
        Options Indexes FollowSymLinks Includes
        AllowOverride All
        Order allow,deny
        Allow from all
    </Directory>
    RewriteEngine On
    RewriteOptions inherit
</VirtualHost>


Then, you just need to enable the site with the apache script a2ensite, like thus:

sudo a2ensite mysite

Then reload apache

sudo /etc/init.d/apache2 reload

...and voila!!! You can now browse directly to http://mysite