Apache Cookbook, 2nd Edition

4.4. Creating a Default Address-Based Virtual Host

Problem

You want to create a virtual host to catch all requests that don’t map to one of your address-based virtual hosts.

Solution

Use the _default_ keyword to designate a default host:

<VirtualHost _default_>
    DocumentRoot /www/htdocs
</VirtualHost>

Discussion

The _default_ keyword creates a virtual host that catches all requests for any address:port combinations for which there is no virtual host configured.

The _default_ directive may—and should—be used in conjunction with a particular port number, such as:

<VirtualHost _default_:443>

Using this syntax means that the specified virtual host catches all requests to port 443, on all addresses for which there is not an explicit virtual host configured. SSL virtual hosts are usually set up using the _default_ syntax, so you’ll see this syntax used in the default SSL configuration file, along with the necessary directives to enable SSL.

_default_ typically does not work as people expect in the case of name-based virtual hosts. It does not match names for which there are no virtual host sections, only address:port combinations for which there are no virtual hosts configured. If you wish to create a default name-based host, see Recipe 4.2.

See Also

• Recipe 4.2