Apache Cookbook

Chapter 4. Virtual Hosts

A web server system supports multiple web sites in a way similar to a person who responds to her given name, as well as her nickname. In the Apache configuration file, each alternate identity, and probably the “main” one as well, is known as a virtual host (sometimes written as vhost) identified with a <VirtualHost> container directive. Depending on the name used to access the web server, Apache responds appropriately, just as someone might answer differently depending on whether she is addressed as “Miss Jones” or “Hey, Debbie!” If you want to have a single system support multiple web sites, you must configure Apache appropriately.

There are two different types of virtual host supported by Apache. The first type, called address-based or IP-based, is tied to the numeric network address used to reach the system. Bruce Wayne never answered the parlour telephone with “Batman here!” nor did he answer the phone in the Batcave by saying, “Bruce Wayne speaking.” However, it’s the same person answering the phone, just as it’s the same web server receiving the request.

The other type of virtual host is name-based, because the server’s response depends on what it is called. To continue the telephone analogy, consider an apartment shared by multiple roommates; you call the same number whether you want to speak to Dave, Joyce, Amaterasu, or George. Just as multiple people may share a single telephone number, multiple web sites can share the same IP address. However, ...