How to install Apache from Source Code on CentOS 6

Now install pcre and pcre-devel packages which is also required for Apache installation by running the following command.

[root@linuxhelp ~]# yum install expat-devel pcre pcre-devel openssl-devel -y
Loaded plugins: fastestmirror, refresh-packagekit, security
Setting up Install Process
Loading mirror speeds from cached hostfile
 * base: centos.myfahim.com
 * epel: epel.scopesky.iq
 * extras: centos.myfahim.com
 * updates: centos.myfahim.com
Package pcre-7.8-7.el6.x86_64 already installed and latest version
Resolving Dependencies
-->  Running transaction check
--->  Package expat-devel.x86_64 0:2.0.1-13.el6_8 will be installed
--->  Package openssl-devel.x86_64 0:1.0.1e-57.el6 will be installed
-->  Processing Dependency: zlib-devel for package: openssl-devel-1.0.1e-57.el6.x86_64
-->  Processing Dependency: krb5-devel for package: openssl-devel-1.0.1e-57.el6.x86_64
--->  Package pcre-devel.x86_64 0:7.8-7.el6 will be installed
-->  Running transaction check
--->  Package krb5-devel.x86_64 0:1.10.3-65.el6 will be installed
.
.
.
Installed:
  expat-devel.x86_64 0:2.0.1-13.el6_8                                    openssl-devel.x86_64 0:1.0.1e-57.el6                                    pcre-devel.x86_64 0:7.8-7.el6                                   

Dependency Installed:
  keyutils-libs-devel.x86_64 0:1.4-5.el6     krb5-devel.x86_64 0:1.10.3-65.el6     libcom_err-devel.x86_64 0:1.41.12-23.el6     libselinux-devel.x86_64 0:2.0.94-7.el6     libsepol-devel.x86_64 0:2.0.41-4.el6    
  zlib-devel.x86_64 0:1.2.3-29.el6          

Complete!

Download the Apache source code along with apr and apr-util from Apache' s official website or from Git repository by using below URLs

Apache httpd - https://github.com/apache/httpd/releases
Apr - https://github.com/apache/apr/releases
Apr-util - https://github.com/apache/apr-util/releases

or execute the wget command followed by the respective download links.

[root@linuxhelp ~]# wget https://github.com/apache/httpd/archive/2.4.28.tar.gz -O httpd-2.4.28.tar.gz
--2017-10-11 05:59:10--  https://github.com/apache/httpd/archive/2.4.28.tar.gz
Resolving github.com... 192.30.255.112, 192.30.255.113
Connecting to github.com|192.30.255.112|:443... connected.
HTTP request sent, awaiting response... 302 Found
Location: https://codeload.github.com/apache/httpd/tar.gz/2.4.28 [following]
--2017-10-11 05:59:11--  https://codeload.github.com/apache/httpd/tar.gz/2.4.28
Resolving codeload.github.com... 192.30.255.120, 192.30.255.121
Connecting to codeload.github.com|192.30.255.120|:443... connected.
HTTP request sent, awaiting response... 200 OK
Length: unspecified [application/x-gzip]
Saving to: “ httpd-2.4.28.tar.gz” 

    [                                                                                                                                                                < =>        ] 11,489,746   814K/s   in 36s     

2017-10-11 05:59:49 (314 KB/s) - “ httpd-2.4.28.tar.gz”  saved [11489746]

[root@linuxhelp ~]# wget https://github.com/apache/apr/archive/1.6.2.tar.gz -O apr-1.6.2.tar.gz
--2017-10-11 05:59:54--  https://github.com/apache/apr/archive/1.6.2.tar.gz
Resolving github.com... 192.30.255.113, 192.30.255.112
Connecting to github.com|192.30.255.113|:443... connected.
HTTP request sent, awaiting response... 302 Found
Location: https://codeload.github.com/apache/apr/tar.gz/1.6.2 [following]
--2017-10-11 05:59:55--  https://codeload.github.com/apache/apr/tar.gz/1.6.2
Resolving codeload.github.com... 192.30.255.120, 192.30.255.121
Connecting to codeload.github.com|192.30.255.120|:443... connected.
HTTP request sent, awaiting response... 200 OK
Length: unspecified [application/x-gzip]
Saving to: “ apr-1.6.2.tar.gz” 

    [        < =>                                                                                                                                                                ] 730,808      351K/s   in 2.0s    

2017-10-11 05:59:58 (351 KB/s) - “ apr-1.6.2.tar.gz”  saved [730808]

[root@linuxhelp ~]# wget https://github.com/apache/apr-util/archive/1.6.0.tar.gz -O apr-util-1.6.0.tar.gz
--2017-10-11 06:00:09--  https://github.com/apache/apr-util/archive/1.6.0.tar.gz
Resolving github.com... 192.30.255.112, 192.30.255.113
Connecting to github.com|192.30.255.112|:443... connected.
HTTP request sent, awaiting response... 302 Found
Location: https://codeload.github.com/apache/apr-util/tar.gz/1.6.0 [following]
--2017-10-11 06:00:11--  https://codeload.github.com/apache/apr-util/tar.gz/1.6.0
Resolving codeload.github.com... 192.30.255.121, 192.30.255.120
Connecting to codeload.github.com|192.30.255.121|:443... connected.
HTTP request sent, awaiting response... 200 OK
Length: unspecified [application/x-gzip]
Saving to: “ apr-util-1.6.0.tar.gz” 

    [            < =>                                                                                                                                                            ] 434,431      130K/s   in 3.3s    

2017-10-11 06:00:15 (130 KB/s) - “ apr-util-1.6.0.tar.gz”  saved [434431]

All the required packages has been downloaded. Now extract the packages by running the tar command as follows.

[root@linuxhelp ~]# tar -xzf httpd-2.4.28.tar.gz
[root@linuxhelp ~]# tar -xzf apr-1.6.2.tar.gz
[root@linuxhelp ~]# tar -xzf apr-util-1.6.0.tar.gz

Next we need to place apr and apr-util directory inside srclib directory which is located under HTTPD directory, and the name should be in apr and apr-util. Use below command to move apr and apr-util directory to the respective directory.

[root@linuxhelp ~]# mv apr-1.6.2 httpd-2.4.28/srclib/apr
[root@linuxhelp ~]# mv apr-util-1.6.0 httpd-2.4.28/srclib/apr-util

Now move to HTTPD directory.

[root@linuxhelp ~]# cd httpd-2.4.28

Compilation of Apache source

To build configure script, execute the following buildconf script file as follows.

[root@linuxhelp httpd-2.4.28]# ./buildconf 
found apr source: srclib/apr
found apr-util source: srclib/apr-util
rebuilding srclib/apr/configure
buildconf: checking installation...
buildconf: python version 2.6.6 (ok)
buildconf: autoconf version 2.63 (ok)
buildconf: libtool version 2.2.6b (ok)
.
.
.
rebuilding rpm spec file
copying build files
rebuilding include/ap_config_auto.h.in
rebuilding configure
rebuilding rpm spec file
fixing timestamps for ap_expr sources

Next run the configure command as shown below. You can change the default Apache installation directory path, here we have mentioned /usr/local/apache2 directory path.

[root@linuxhelp httpd-2.4.28]# ./configure --enable-ssl --enable-so --with-mpm=event --with-included-apr --prefix=/usr/local/apache2
checking for chosen layout... Apache
checking for working mkdir -p... yes
checking for grep that handles long lines and -e... /bin/grep
checking for egrep... /bin/grep -E
checking build system type... x86_64-pc-linux-gnu
checking host system type... x86_64-pc-linux-gnu
checking target system type... x86_64-pc-linux-gnu
configure: 
configure: Configuring Apache Portable Runtime library...
configure: 
configuring package in srclib/apr now
checking build system type... x86_64-pc-linux-gnu
checking host system type... x86_64-pc-linux-gnu
.
.
.
config.status: creating build/pkg/pkginfo
config.status: creating build/config_vars.sh
config.status: creating include/ap_config_auto.h
config.status: executing default commands
configure: summary of build options:

    Server Version: 2.4.28
    Install prefix: /usr/local/apache2
    C compiler:     gcc -std=gnu99
    CFLAGS:          -g -O2 -pthread
    LDFLAGS:         
    LIBS:           
    CPPFLAGS:        -DLINUX -D_REENTRANT -D_GNU_SOURCE
    C preprocessor: gcc -E

Execute the make command to prepare the files for the installation of Apache.

[root@linuxhelp httpd-2.4.28]# make
Making all in srclib
make[1]: Entering directory `/root/httpd-2.4.28/srclib' 
Making all in apr
make[2]: Entering directory `/root/httpd-2.4.28/srclib/apr' 
make[3]: Entering directory `/root/httpd-2.4.28/srclib/apr' 
/root/httpd-2.4.28/srclib/apr/build/mkdir.sh tools
/bin/sh /root/httpd-2.4.28/srclib/apr/libtool --silent --mode=compile gcc -g -O2 -pthread   -DHAVE_CONFIG_H  -DLINUX -D_REENTRANT -D_GNU_SOURCE   -I./include -I/root/httpd-2.4.28/srclib/apr/include/arch/unix -I./include/arch/unix -I/root/httpd-2.4.28/srclib/apr/include/arch/unix -I/root/httpd-2.4.28/srclib/apr/include -I/root/httpd-2.4.28/srclib/apr/include/private -I/root/httpd-2.4.28/srclib/apr/include/private  -o tools/gen_test_char.lo -c tools/gen_test_char.c & &  touch tools/gen_test_char.lo
/bin/sh /root/httpd-2.4.28/srclib/apr/libtool --silent --mode=link gcc -g -O2 -pthread   -DHAVE_CONFIG_H  -DLINUX -D_REENTRANT -D_GNU_SOURCE   -I./include -I/root/httpd-2.4.28/srclib/apr/include/arch/unix -I./include/arch/unix -I/root/httpd-2.4.28/srclib/apr/include/arch/unix -I/root/httpd-2.4.28/srclib/apr/include -I/root/httpd-2.4.28/srclib/apr/include/private -I/root/httpd-2.4.28/srclib/apr/include/private   -no-install    -o tools/gen_test_char tools/gen_test_char.lo    -lrt -lcrypt  -lpthread
/root/httpd-2.4.28/srclib/apr/build/mkdir.sh include/private
.
.
.
se -I/root/httpd-2.4.28/modules/filters -I/root/httpd-2.4.28/modules/ldap -I/root/httpd-2.4.28/modules/loggers -I/root/httpd-2.4.28/modules/lua -I/root/httpd-2.4.28/modules/proxy -I/root/httpd-2.4.28/modules/session -I/root/httpd-2.4.28/modules/ssl -I/root/httpd-2.4.28/modules/test -I/root/httpd-2.4.28/server -I/root/httpd-2.4.28/modules/arch/unix -I/root/httpd-2.4.28/modules/dav/main -I/root/httpd-2.4.28/modules/generators -I/root/httpd-2.4.28/modules/mappers -prefer-pic -c mod_rewrite.c & &  touch mod_rewrite.slo
/root/httpd-2.4.28/srclib/apr/libtool --silent --mode=link gcc -std=gnu99  -g -O2 -pthread           -o mod_rewrite.la -rpath /usr/local/apache2/modules -module -avoid-version  mod_rewrite.lo 
make[4]: Leaving directory `/root/httpd-2.4.28/modules/mappers' 
make[3]: Leaving directory `/root/httpd-2.4.28/modules/mappers' 
make[2]: Leaving directory `/root/httpd-2.4.28/modules' 
make[2]: Entering directory `/root/httpd-2.4.28/support' 
make[2]: Leaving directory `/root/httpd-2.4.28/support' 

make[1]: Leaving directory `/root/httpd-2.4.28' 

Exectue the make install command to install Apache to it' s appropriate directory.

[root@linuxhelp httpd-2.4.28]# make install
Making install in srclib
make[1]: Entering directory `/root/httpd-2.4.28/srclib' 
Making install in apr
make[2]: Entering directory `/root/httpd-2.4.28/srclib/apr' 
make[3]: Entering directory `/root/httpd-2.4.28/srclib/apr' 
make[3]: Nothing to be done for `local-all' .
make[3]: Leaving directory `/root/httpd-2.4.28/srclib/apr' 
/root/httpd-2.4.28/srclib/apr/build/mkdir.sh /usr/local/apache2/lib /usr/local/apache2/bin /usr/local/apache2/build 
             /usr/local/apache2/lib/pkgconfig /usr/local/apache2/include
mkdir /usr/local/apache2
mkdir /usr/local/apache2/lib
mkdir /usr/local/apache2/bin
mkdir /usr/local/apache2/build
mkdir /usr/local/apache2/lib/pkgconfig
.
.
.
Installing CGIs
mkdir /usr/local/apache2/cgi-bin
Installing header files
Installing build system files
Installing man pages and online manual
mkdir /usr/local/apache2/man
mkdir /usr/local/apache2/man/man1
mkdir /usr/local/apache2/man/man8
mkdir /usr/local/apache2/manual
make[1]: Leaving directory `/root/httpd-2.4.28' 

Now the Apache is successfully installed on the server from it' s source code. Next run the httpd -v command to check Apache version. A error may appear as shown below.

[root@linuxhelp ~]# httpd -v
bash: httpd: command not found

To remove that error, create a HTTPD commad manually. Create a script file for httpd command under /etc/profile.d/ directory. Enter the following line in the file and save it.

[root@linuxhelp ~]# vim /etc/profile.d/httpd.sh
pathmunge /usr/local/apache2/bin

The file has been created, now logout from the current session and relogin to reload the profile. Check the Apache version by running the following command.

[root@linuxhelp ~]# httpd -v
Server version: Apache/2.4.28 (Unix)
Server built:   Oct 11 2017 06:10:14

Create an init script for managing httpd service. So create a httpd file under /etc/init.d/ directory using vim editor and make the following changes in the file. Save and exit the file.

[root@linuxhelp ~]# vim /etc/init.d/httpd

#!/bin/sh
#
# Startup script for the Apache Web Server
#
# chkconfig: 345 85 15
# description: Apache is a World Wide Web server.  It is used to serve 
#          HTML files and CGI.
# processname: httpd
# pidfile: /var/run/httpd.pid
# config: /etc/httpd/conf/httpd.conf

# Source function library.
. /etc/rc.d/init.d/functions

# See how we were called.
case " $1"  in
start)
echo -n " Starting httpd: " 
daemon /usr/local/apache2/bin/httpd -DSSL
echo
touch /var/lock/subsys/httpd
  
stop)
echo -n " Shutting down httpd: " 
killproc httpd
echo
rm -f /var/lock/subsys/httpd
rm -f /var/run/httpd.pid
  
status)
status httpd
  
restart)
$0 stop
$0 start
  
reload)
echo -n " Reloading httpd: " 
killproc httpd -HUP
echo
  
*)
echo " Usage: $0 {start|stop|restart|reload|status}" 
exit 1
esac

exit 0

Create the new init script for httpd executable using below command.

[root@linuxhelp ~]# chmod +x /etc/init.d/httpd

[root@linuxhelp ~]# service httpd start
Starting httpd:                                            [  OK  ]
[root@linuxhelp ~]# chkconfig httpd on