How to Install Apache Web Server on Linux? (Step-by-Step Tutorial)

Apache can be installed directly through the package manager of each Linux distribution: sudo apt install apache2 for Ubuntu/Debian, sudo dnf install httpd for RHEL/CentOS 8, and sudo yum install httpd for older versions. After installation, you need to start systemctl and enable auto-start at boot, configure the firewall to release the HTTP port, and finally visit the default IP verification page.

Apache is the most widely used web server software in the world — and installing it on Linux is straightforward. Most major Linux distributions include Apache in their default repositories, so you don't need to compile from source unless you have special requirements.

Install Apache Using Your Distribution's Package Manager

Commands differ slightly depending on your Linux distribution. Pick the one that matches your system:

• Ubuntu / Debian / Linux Mint: Run sudo apt update && sudo apt install apache2
• CentOS / RHEL / Rocky Linux / AlmaLinux (8): Run sudo dnf install httpd
• CentOS / RHEL / Fedora (older than 8): Run sudo yum install httpd

These commands download Apache and its dependencies, then install them automatically.

Start and Enable Apache at Boot

After installation, start the service and configure it to launch automatically when the system boots:

• Start Apache now: sudo systemctl start apache2 (Debian/Ubuntu) or sudo systemctl start httpd (RHEL/CentOS)
• Enable auto-start on boot: sudo systemctl enable apache2 or sudo systemctl enable httpd
• Check status: sudo systemctl status apache2 or sudo systemctl status httpd — look for “active (running)”

Adjust Firewall Settings (If Enabled)

If your system uses ufw (Ubuntu) or firewalld (RHEL/CentOS), allow HTTP traffic:

• UFW (Ubuntu): sudo ufw allow 'Apache Full' or sudo ufw allow 80
• Firewalld (RHEL/CentOS): sudo firewall-cmd --permanent --add-service=http , then sudo firewall-cmd --reload

Without this step, your server may be running but unreachable from outside.

Verify Apache Is Working

Open a web browser and go to http://your_server_ip or http://localhost if testing locally.

• You should see the default Apache welcome page (eg, “It works!” or “Apache2 Ubuntu Default Page”)
• The default document root is usually /var/www/html/ — drop an index.html there to test custom content
• Configuration files live in /etc/apache2/ (Debian/Ubuntu) or /etc/httpd/ (RHEL/CentOS)

That's it — Apache is installed, running, and ready for basic use or further configuration like virtual hosts or SSL.

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