Figuring out redhat-config-httpd

[Jeff Vian]

Rodolfo J. Paiz wrote:

> Hello, everyone:
>
> Since my work still requires to use Windows, I am trying to use Fedora 
> to edit my website so I get some more exposure to it on the desktop 
> rather than just as a remote server. The purpose here is to set up a 
> self-contained environment where Apache, MySQL, etc. are all running 
> locally such that I can edit the site and actively test it without 
> having to be on the network.
>
> Although I can configure httpd.conf by hand, I am deliberately 
> sticking with the redhat-config-httpd tool so that I can test it and 
> provide feedback. Having said that, this is the procedure I have 
> followed with no joy so far; I would appreciate any comments or 
> suggestions as to what I may have done wrong:
>
>         1. Set up Apache to listen only on 127.0.0.1 port 80. 
> (Possible bug: display shows "127.0.0.180" instead of "127.0.0.1:80", 
> but httpd.conf is correctly written).

How did you verify it was correctly written?   Did you restart httpd 
after modifying the file so the server was using the new config data?

>
>         2. Set up a line saying "127.0.0.1   simpaticus.localdomain   
> simpaticus" in /etc/hosts.

someone else said you must use the default  "127.0.0.1   
localhost.localdomain   localhost"   in this location.
They are correct but you can modify the line to read
" 127.0.0.1  localhost.localdomain   localhost   
simpaticus.localdomain   simpaticus"
Then it will still see the localhost entry as well as the simpaticus 
entry and simpaticus will be resolved to the loopback address..

>
>         3. Verified that /etc/host.conf says "order hosts, dns" and 
> verified that there is no DNS server running on this machine.

On my install (and historically on all Linux versions I have used) the 
host.conf file contains " order hosts,bind "
Don't know that this is the issue and others have commented on different 
parts of this message, but if this is not correct the machine cannot use 
DNS at all.

>
>         4. Set up a name virtual host in redhat-config-httpd pointing 
> to /home/rpaiz/www.simpaticus.com. I can provide details, but honestly 
> don't see where something could possibly be misconfigured. The named 
> vhost is "simpaticus".
>
> Based on my past experience with Apache, this really ought to be a 
> no-brainer, but then again perhaps the brain is off. Entering 
> "simpaticus" or "simpaticus.localdomain" in the browser URL window 
> always leads to a "Forbidden: You do not have permission to see / on 
> this machine" error. All file permissions are set to 644 and 
> directories are set to 755, with owner rpaiz.rpaiz.
>
> Ideas? Comments? Suggestions? Dohs?
>
>