Ubuntu 13.10, Apache 2.4.x and Apache virtualhosts

Ubuntu 13.10 has moved to Apache 2.4. Apache 2.4 needs virtual host config files to end with .conf, the differences are important to note. As practically we have many tutorials with Ubuntu 12.04, there will be minute differences with the configuration required now. As usually; for single server, single website hosting, there is no need to change anything, by default; it will work out of the box. This will and is affecting who are upgrading the distribution.

Ubuntu 13.10, Apache 2.4.x and Apache virtual hosts : The Scenario

If you are using Webmin System Administration Panel, we have tested at the time of publishing this article with all the latest updates; webmin successfully creating the virtual host file under /etc/apache2/sites-available/* with .conf extension but it is creating with an random number. You need to edit it with website / subdomain’s name and run the  sensate and  a2dissite commands to get them working.

If you are manually creating files; cd to /etc/apache2/sites-available/ and do ls :

You should copy with the domain name like example.com.conf ; so for the upgrades to 13.10 (important) => you frankly need to copy from example.com to example.com.conf and run the  a2ensite (enables vhost) and  a2dissite (disables vhost) commands. You will need to restart Apache. Foe easy server administration, there will be more smaller changes in next versions.

The second solution is to remove the .conf extension in Apache 2.4 configuration file located in /etc/apache2/apache2.conf ; see it carefully :

The third way is to edit /etc/apache2/apache2.conf file and find (we are taking that you are using gnu nano text editor) HostnameLookups flag off to on. This is the default conf file now :

In any case, if you need any backup files, you can actually grab it from source or ask us. By the way – Webmin System Administration Panel, by default doing the change of ownership to www-data user when you will add website path (it will create folder itself). Check the permission and ownership, in case for some reason you need a custom setup.