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Host multiple domains on one Apache machine with name-based virtual hosts. Point every domain to the server with DNS, give each site its own <VirtualHost> block, test Apache’s parsed configuration, and then add matching HTTPS blocks. Apache uses the HTTP Host header—or TLS SNI for HTTPS—to choose the site.
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What Apache uses to choose a website
A browser first resolves a domain name to an IP address. It then sends the hostname in the HTTP Host header. Apache compares that hostname with the ServerName and ServerAlias values in virtual hosts listening on the requested address and port. The selected block supplies the site’s files, logs, proxy rules, and other settings.
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For HTTPS, the client sends the hostname during the TLS handshake as Server Name Indication (SNI). Apache uses SNI to select the certificate-backed virtual host, then applies the request hostname to the HTTPS configuration. A certificate must cover every name that block serves.
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Plan the layout before editing Apache
Choose names and aliases
Decide the canonical hostname for each site, normally an apex name such as example.com or a subdomain such as app.example.com. List alternate names—commonly the www form—in ServerAlias. Keep each hostname assigned to one intended site; duplicate names make troubleshooting and fallback behavior unpredictable.
Create separate document roots
Give every static site a directory that is not shared accidentally with another site. A predictable layout is:
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/var/www/example.com/public
/var/www/example.org/publicPlace each site’s index file and application assets in its own public directory. The Apache worker must be able to traverse the parent directories and read the files. Keep writable upload or cache directories separate and grant them only the write access they require.
Separate the logs
Use a distinct access log and error log for each virtual host. When a request displays the wrong site, the log that receives it identifies which block Apache selected and records errors without mixing unrelated domains.
Make DNS point every domain to the server
For each hostname, create the necessary DNS records at the authoritative DNS service:
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- An A record for an IPv4 address.
- An AAAA record when the server accepts IPv6 traffic.
- Records for aliases such as
www.example.com, either pointing directly to the address or using a CNAME where appropriate.
Check both A and AAAA records. A stale AAAA record can send IPv6 clients to a different machine even when the A record is correct. DNS changes are controlled by the record’s TTL and resolver caches; do not diagnose Apache until the names resolve to the intended host from the networks where visitors will connect.
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DNS does not create an Apache site. Conversely, an Apache ServerName does not publish a domain that has no DNS record.
Configure HTTP virtual hosts
Create one port-80 block per site. Each block should explicitly state ServerName, a site-specific DocumentRoot, and any aliases. The Directory section grants access to that root; its path must exactly match the document root.
<VirtualHost *:80>
ServerName example.com
ServerAlias www.example.com
DocumentRoot /var/www/example.com/public
ErrorLog /var/log/apache2/example.com-error.log
CustomLog /var/log/apache2/example.com-access.log combined
<Directory /var/www/example.com/public>
Require all granted
AllowOverride All
</Directory>
</VirtualHost>
<VirtualHost *:80>
ServerName example.org
ServerAlias www.example.org
DocumentRoot /var/www/example.org/public
ErrorLog /var/log/apache2/example.org-error.log
CustomLog /var/log/apache2/example.org-access.log combined
<Directory /var/www/example.org/public>
Require all granted
AllowOverride All
</Directory>
</VirtualHost>AllowOverride All permits directives in a site’s .htaccess files. If you do not need per-directory overrides, use a narrower setting or disable overrides and place the required rules in the virtual-host configuration. Broad overrides increase the amount of configuration Apache must inspect and can permit rules you did not intend to enable.
Enable the files on Debian-family systems
Debian and Ubuntu installations commonly keep site definitions in /etc/apache2/sites-available/ and create enabled links in /etc/apache2/sites-enabled/. A typical sequence is:
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- Create files such as
/etc/apache2/sites-available/example.com.confandexample.org.conf. - Enable them with
sudo a2ensite example.com.conf example.org.conf. The helper’s exact behavior depends on the installed distribution. - Check syntax with
sudo apachectl configtest. Continue only when it reportsSyntax OK. - Reload Apache without dropping existing connections:
sudo systemctl reload apache2.
Other operating systems may include configuration files from a main httpd.conf or a distribution-specific directory instead of providing a2ensite. Use that system’s documented include mechanism; do not copy Debian paths or service names blindly.
Verify the HTTP sites before adding TLS
Test each canonical name and alias explicitly. A browser may retain redirects or cached responses, so command-line requests are useful:
curl -i http://example.com/
curl -i http://www.example.com/
curl -i http://example.org/Confirm that each response contains the expected site content and that each hostname writes to its own access log. If you are testing before public DNS is available, resolve the name to the server’s address for the test client rather than changing Apache’s matching rules.
Inspect Apache’s view of the configuration with:
sudo apachectl -SOn Windows, the corresponding command is:
httpd.exe -SThe output lists listening addresses and ports, recognized names, the file that defined each block, and the order Apache will use. This is more reliable than reading files in directory order because include files, generated links, and distribution defaults can alter the effective configuration.
Add HTTPS virtual hosts
After HTTP routing works, obtain certificates for the names each site serves and configure matching port-443 blocks. Certificate issuance, renewal, and private-key storage vary by certificate authority and operating system, so follow the authority’s current procedure and protect private keys from unprivileged users.
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A minimal static-site HTTPS block has the same identity and document root as its HTTP counterpart, plus TLS settings:
<IfModule mod_ssl.c>
<VirtualHost *:443>
ServerName example.com
ServerAlias www.example.com
DocumentRoot /var/www/example.com/public
ErrorLog /var/log/apache2/example.com-ssl-error.log
CustomLog /var/log/apache2/example.com-ssl-access.log combined
SSLEngine on
SSLCertificateFile /etc/ssl/example.com/fullchain.pem
SSLCertificateKeyFile /etc/ssl/example.com/privkey.pem
<Directory /var/www/example.com/public>
Require all granted
AllowOverride All
</Directory>
</VirtualHost>
</IfModule>Use certificate and key paths that actually exist on your system, and ensure the certificate includes both the apex and alias names if both are listed. A certificate covering several names can serve one virtual host; separate certificates are also valid when each HTTPS block has the correct certificate.
Redirect HTTP only after HTTPS works
Once the certificate-backed port-443 block serves the correct site, change that site’s port-80 block into a redirect or add a redirect rule. Test the HTTPS URL directly first. Redirecting too early can hide a certificate, SNI, or port-443 routing error behind a loop or a browser warning.
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Use Apache as a reverse proxy for application sites
If the site is served by an application process rather than files in a document root, use a proxy virtual host. Apache receives the public request and forwards it to a local backend such as a process listening on port 3000.
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<VirtualHost *:80>
ServerName app.example.com
ErrorLog /var/log/apache2/app.example.com-error.log
CustomLog /var/log/apache2/app.example.com-access.log combined
ProxyPreserveHost On
ProxyPass / http://127.0.0.1:3000/
ProxyPassReverse / http://127.0.0.1:3000/
</VirtualHost>ProxyPreserveHost On passes the original hostname to the backend, which matters for applications that generate absolute URLs, select a tenant, or enforce host-based security. ProxyPass forwards the request path; ProxyPassReverse rewrites redirect headers returned by the backend so clients continue to use the public hostname.
Enable only the proxy modules required by the backend and protocol you use. Restrict forwarding to explicitly configured destinations. An unrestricted forward proxy can let outsiders relay traffic through your server, abuse your bandwidth, or reach internal services.
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Understand the default-site fallback
If the request address and port match a set of virtual hosts but the hostname matches none of their ServerName or ServerAlias values, Apache uses the first listed virtual host for that address and port. This is why an unknown domain can display an unrelated site.
Make the fallback intentional. Put a simple default site first, or define a deliberate catch-all that returns an error instead of exposing a customer site. Do not rely on the machine’s hostname or on whichever distribution file happens to be included first. Review the effective order with apachectl -S after every include or enablement change.
Diagnose the common failure modes
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Every domain shows one site | The names do not reach the intended server, or the virtual hosts do not contain unique names. | Check A and AAAA records, then run apachectl -S and verify every ServerName and ServerAlias. |
| An unknown hostname shows the first site | Apache’s documented fallback is the first matching block. | Choose an intentional default and place it first for that address and port. |
| The alias does not work | The alias is absent, misspelled, or not present in DNS. | Add the exact name to ServerAlias, create its DNS record, and test it separately. |
| HTTPS shows the wrong certificate | The port-443 blocks or certificate names do not match the SNI hostname. | Confirm the hostname appears in the certificate, that the HTTPS block has the correct ServerName, and that apachectl -S shows the expected order. |
| HTTP works but HTTPS fails to connect | Apache is not listening on 443, a firewall blocks it, or the TLS module/configuration is unavailable. | Check the listen configuration, service logs, firewall rules, and the result of apachectl configtest. |
| Apache will not reload | A syntax error, missing file, duplicate directive, or invalid module reference prevents the new configuration. | Run apachectl configtest; fix the reported file and line before reloading. |
| A proxy returns 502 or times out | The backend is stopped, listening on another address or port, or inaccessible to Apache. | Verify the process is listening on the address in ProxyPass, inspect the proxy error log, and test the backend locally. |
| Files return 403 | The directory permissions, parent-directory traversal, or Require rule prevents access. |
Check the complete path permissions and the matching Directory section; avoid making the entire filesystem writable. |
Choose the right hosting arrangement
| Arrangement | When it fits | Trade-offs |
|---|---|---|
| Name-based virtual hosting | Several domains can share one server address. | Simple and economical, but all sites share the machine’s resources and failure domain. |
| IP-based virtual hosting | A site or protocol genuinely requires a separate address. | Provides address-level separation but requires additional IP addresses and more network planning. |
Static DocumentRoot |
Apache serves files directly. | Fewer moving parts; application runtimes, process supervision, and deployments are your responsibility if dynamic behavior is needed. |
| Reverse proxy to an application | Each site is backed by a separate process, framework, or container. | Supports process isolation and independent runtimes, but adds proxy, health, logging, and timeout configuration. |
| One certificate per hostname | Sites have independent certificate lifecycles. | Compartmentalizes renewal, while increasing the number of certificates to monitor. |
| One certificate covering several names | A set of aliases is managed together. | Fewer certificates, but adding or removing a name can require reissuing the shared certificate. |
| One shared server | Traffic is moderate and centralized administration is desirable. | Lower operational overhead, but a host failure or resource spike can affect every site. |
| Separate VPS instances | Sites need stronger isolation, independent maintenance windows, or distinct resource guarantees. | Higher cost and administration, with separate patching, monitoring, and TLS work. |
Apache’s virtual-host routing rules do not establish a universal limit on the number of domains or visitors one machine can handle. Capacity depends on CPU, memory, storage, network traffic, TLS workload, application behavior, and configuration. Measure the workloads you actually run rather than applying a fixed site-count promise.
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Operate several sites safely
- Keep each site’s configuration, logs, deployments, and writable data clearly separated.
- Run
apachectl configtestbefore every reload and retain the previous known-good configuration for rollback. - Use
apachectl -Safter adding or renaming a site to verify the parsed names and order. - Monitor each access and error log independently so a single failing application does not disappear in a shared log.
- Renew certificates before expiry and verify that renewal updates the certificate path used by the active HTTPS block.
- Limit proxy destinations, backend privileges, and filesystem write permissions.
- Test apex and alias names over both HTTP and HTTPS after DNS, configuration, certificate, or firewall changes.
A repeatable deployment checklist
- Record every canonical hostname and alias, and decide whether the site is static or proxied.
- Create A and, where needed, AAAA records for each name; confirm they resolve to this server.
- Create a separate document root or backend process and establish the required permissions.
- Write one explicit port-80 virtual host per site with unique names, paths, and logs.
- Enable the configuration using the mechanism supplied by the operating system.
- Run
apachectl configtest, correct every error, and reload Apache. - Run
apachectl -Sand check address, port, names, source files, and order. - Request every hostname over HTTP and verify content and per-site logs.
- Install certificates that cover the exact HTTPS names, then create matching port-443 blocks.
- Test HTTPS directly, including certificate identity and application behavior, before adding HTTP-to-HTTPS redirects.
- Define an intentional default for unknown names and document how to roll back the change.
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