How to define a variable in apache's httpd.conf file? - apache

Question

I want to define a variable in Apache server's httpd.conf configuration file.
Ex: variable static_path = C:\codebase\snp_static
and I want to use this variable (static_path) in httpd.conf where ever required.
Please tell me how can define a variable in httpd.conf file ?

Answer 1

Within httpd.conf, declare your variable(s) with: Define (Preferably at the very first line)
Syntax: Define variable-name variable-value
In this manner:
#The line below creates the variable [static_path]
Define static_path C:/codebase/snp_static
You can later use this variable like so:
ServerRoot = ${static_path}
...
DocumentRoot = ${static_path}
...
<Directory ${static_path}>
...etc.
You can even combine multiple variables:
#Below, I am going to combine variables [server_space] and [static_path]
Define server_space c:/
Define static_path codebase/snp_static
...
ServerRoot = ${server_space}${static_path}
...
DocumentRoot = ${server_space}${static_path}
...
<Directory ${server_space}${static_path}>
...etc.
Documentation: http://httpd.apache.org/docs/2.4/mod/core.html#define

Answer 2

If all you want is simple variable substitution inside httpd.conf, then define an ordinary shell environment variable for the user that runs Apache, then use the ${ENVVAR} syntax to refer to it inside your httpd.conf file, see Apache docs

Answer 3

Apache2.4 I researched it out and here is what worked for me.
and tested using httpd_z.exe -t -D DUMP_RUN_CFG
RESULTS:::
ServerRoot: "C:/path/core/apache2"
Main DocumentRoot: "C:/path/apache/htdocs"
Main ErrorLog: "C:/path/core/apache2/logs/error.log"
Mutex rewrite-map: using_defaults
Mutex default: dir="C:/path/core/apache2/logs/" mechanism=default
PidFile: "C:/path/core/apache2/logs/httpd.pid"
Define: DUMP_RUN_CFG
Define: US_ROOTF=C:/path **THIS IS THE ROOT PATH VARIABLE I JUST MADE**
Define: php54
#<IfDefine TEST>
# Define servername test.example.com
#</IfDefine>
#<IfDefine !TEST>
# Define servername www.example.com
# Define SSL
#</IfDefine>
#DocumentRoot /var/www/${servername}/htdocs
<IfDefine US_ROOTF>
Define US_ROOTF C:/PATH **The path i want the variable for**
</IfDefine>
<IfDefine !US_ROOTF>
Define US_ROOTF C:/PATH **The path i want the variable for**
# Define SSL
</IfDefine>
#DocumentRoot /var/www/${servername}/htdocs OPTIONS ON HOW TO USE
EXAMPLE of use
ServerRoot = ${US_ROOTF}
<IfDefine php54>
LoadFile "${US_ROOTF}/core/php54/icudt53.dll"
PHPIniDir "${US_ROOTF}/core/php54/php_production.ini"
I was told never to use a direct HARD path to anything when serving something to the internet always use variables to help secure your system.
I found the hard way this is so true. Now I finally figured out how to set the variables for all services dealing with Apache i use them.
Hope it helps you too.

Answer 4

Late to the question but recently had this issue and fixed it like so:
DEFINE path "C:\path/to the/directory"
Then later use like so:
DocumentRoot ${path}
<Directory ${path}>
Note: In the path use \ after the drive letter

Answer 5

If your apache project is not taking system's environmental variables which we added to bashrc,
We can directly EXPORT variables to
/etc/apache2/envvars file
example: export ADMIN='Bibin'