Christian WellsApache Web Server on AlmaLinux 9 – A Powerful Enterprise-Ready Hosting Platform
The Apache HTTP Server—commonly known as Apache—is one of the most established and flexible open-source web servers. On AlmaLinux 9, a stable and community-driven downstream of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 9, Apache provides a secure and scalable platform for serving static and dynamic content, powering everything from small personal sites to large-scale enterprise applications.
Why Choose Apache on AlmaLinux 9?
AlmaLinux 9 is a binary-compatible fork of RHEL 9, designed to offer the same level of reliability and long-term support (until 2032), without the licensing constraints of commercial distributions. Apache integrates seamlessly into AlmaLinux’s system architecture and benefits from:
- Kernel 5.14 LTS – performance improvements, modern hardware support
- Systemd 250+ – reliable service management
- SELinux (enforcing by default) – strict access control for enhanced security
- dnf package manager – enterprise-grade package control
- OpenSSL 3.0 – support for TLS 1.3 and modern cipher suites
This makes AlmaLinux 9 an ideal host OS for business-critical web infrastructure powered by Apache.
Apache Features on AlmaLinux 9
Apache provides a full-featured web serving environment with the following capabilities:
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Virtual Hosting | Serve multiple websites/domains on a single server |
| SSL/TLS Support | Secure communications using mod_ssl and OpenSSL 3.x |
| modular architecture | Load only the modules you need (mod_rewrite, mod_status, etc.) |
| .htaccess support | Per-directory configuration for overrides, access control, etc. |
| Logging and analytics | Built-in access/error logs for observability |
| Reverse proxy support | Use mod_proxy for backend forwarding and load balancing |
| PHP, Python, Perl integration | Via mod_php, php-fpm, CGI, or proxying |
Use Cases in AlmaLinux Environments
Apache is highly suited for a variety of workloads on AlmaLinux 9, including:
- CMS Hosting: WordPress, Drupal, Joomla
- LAMP Stacks: Apache, MariaDB, PHP
- Reverse Proxy / Load Balancer: For Node.js, Tomcat, Gunicorn
- SSL Termination and Access Control: For secure web services
- Internal Applications: Dashboards, control panels, intranet portals
- Enterprise Portals and Developer Tools: Jenkins, GitWeb, phpMyAdmin
AlmaLinux’s minimal default setup, coupled with its SELinux policies, makes Apache a good fit for hardened production systems and regulated industries.
Technical Highlights of Apache on AlmaLinux 9
| Component | Apache Benefit |
|---|---|
| SELinux | Apache processes confined with granular policy enforcement |
| Systemd | Full integration for restart, logging, and service management |
| FirewallD | Ports easily opened for HTTP/HTTPS via zones and services |
| Cockpit Compatibility | GUI-based server management (if enabled) |
| dnf modules | Easily enable compatible PHP versions and dependencies |
Apache works with PHP via mod_php or more securely through PHP-FPM, which is the recommended method in AlmaLinux 9, especially for performance and process isolation.
Apache vs Other Web Servers on AlmaLinux 9
| Feature | Apache | Nginx | OpenLiteSpeed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Hosting | Full | Full | Full |
| Dynamic Content (PHP) | mod_php or php-fpm | php-fpm only | Native |
| Configuration Model | Directive-based, granular | Block-based, modern | Web GUI or config files |
| .htaccess Support | Yes | No | Partial |
| Reverse Proxy | Full (mod_proxy) | Excellent | Yes |
| Static File Serving | Moderate | Excellent | Excellent |
Apache remains a strong choice for use cases requiring .htaccess, advanced access control, compatibility with legacy systems, or deep customization.
Security and Enterprise Considerations
- SELinux is enabled by default in AlmaLinux 9. Apache must operate within the expected security context (
httpd_t), ensuring stricter separation of access and services. - TLS 1.3 is supported, and HTTP/2 can be enabled via
mod_http2. - Apache integrates well with logrotate, fail2ban, and auditd for observability and intrusion mitigation.
- Apache’s multi-processing modules (MPMs) (event, prefork, worker) allow for performance tuning based on workload type.
System Integration and Compatibility
Apache on AlmaLinux 9 works seamlessly with:
- PHP 8.1+ (via AppStream modules)
- MariaDB 10.5+ or PostgreSQL
- Certbot (Let’s Encrypt) for automated HTTPS
- Cockpit for optional GUI-based server control
- Ansible, Terraform, and Kickstart for automated deployment
- Containers via Podman for hybrid service architectures
Apache HTTP Server on AlmaLinux 9 is a highly stable, flexible, and secure web server platform suited for both modern and legacy workloads. Backed by the reliability of AlmaLinux’s RHEL-based architecture, Apache delivers the configuration power, compatibility, and scalability expected in enterprise-grade environments.
For organizations migrating from CentOS or building new cloud-native infrastructure, Apache remains a dependable choice when paired with AlmaLinux 9—offering long-term support, extensive documentation, and a mature security model.
Step 1: Create a Shape.Host VPS
Go to https://shape.host and log in.
Click “Create” → “Instance”.
Choose your desired server location.
Select AlmaLinux 9 (64-bit) as the OS.
Choose a plan with at least 1 CPU and 1 GB RAM.
Click “Create Instance”.
Copy the public IP address from the Resources section.
Step 2: Connect to Your AlmaLinux Server
Access your server via SSH:
ssh root@your-server-ip
Step 3: Update the System and Install Apache
Update all packages:
dnf update
Install Apache HTTP Server:
dnf install httpd
Step 4: Start and Enable Apache
Start the Apache service:
systemctl start httpd
Enable Apache to run at boot:
systemctl enable httpd
Check Apache’s status:
systemctl status httpd
Step 5: Enable and Configure the Firewall
Unmask and start firewalld if it’s not active:
systemctl unmask firewalld
systemctl enable firewalld
systemctl start firewalld
Allow HTTP, HTTPS, and SSH traffic:
firewall-cmd --permanent --add-service=http
firewall-cmd --permanent --add-service=https
firewall-cmd --permanent --add-service=ssh
firewall-cmd --reload
Step 6: Test Apache Web Server
Visit your server in a browser:
http://your-server-ip
You should see the default Apache welcome page.
Step 7: Replace Default Page with Custom HTML
Overwrite the default index.html:
cd /var/www/html
echo "<h1>Hello from Apache on AlmaLinux 9</h1>" > /var/www/html/index.html
Now reload http://your-server-ip to see your custom message.
Step 8: Uninstall Apache (Optional)
To remove Apache completely:
dnf remove httpd
dnf autoremove
Need blazing-fast, secure cloud servers to run Apache, NGINX, or other services? Shape.Host offers flexible and affordable Cloud VPS hosting with AlmaLinux 9 support.
Deploy your server in seconds at https://shape.host
