How can I tell which config file Apache is using?

Question

I'm trying to set up virtual hosts on Mac OS X. I've been modifying httpd.conf and restarting the server, but haven't had any luck in getting it to work. Furthermore, I notice that it's not serving files in the DocumentRoot mentioned in httpd.conf (Libraries/WebServer/Documents), but in a different directory (/usr/local/apache2/htdocs). I don't see this folder mentioned anywhere in httpd.conf. Furthermore, PHP works, but the "LoadModule php5_module" line is commented out. This makes me think it's using another .conf file. How can I figure out which config is actually being loaded?

Update: I just deleted that httpd.conf and apache behaves the same after restart, so it definitely wasn't using it!

score 56 · Accepted Answer · answered Jun 26 '10 at 17:58

With any *nix application, the easiest method is to query the binary itself. In the case of httpd, I'd imagine the process would be something like this:

$ whereis httpd
/usr/sbin/httpd
$ /usr/sbin/httpd -V
Server version: Apache/2.2.11 (Unix)
Server built:   Jun 17 2009 14:55:13
Server's Module Magic Number: 20051115:21
Server loaded:  APR 1.2.7, APR-Util 1.2.7
Compiled using: APR 1.2.7, APR-Util 1.2.7
Architecture:   64-bit
Server MPM:     Prefork
  threaded:     no
    forked:     yes (variable process count)
Server compiled with....
 -D APACHE_MPM_DIR="server/mpm/prefork"
 -D APR_HAS_SENDFILE
 -D APR_HAS_MMAP
 -D APR_HAVE_IPV6 (IPv4-mapped addresses enabled)
 -D APR_USE_FLOCK_SERIALIZE
 -D APR_USE_PTHREAD_SERIALIZE
 -D SINGLE_LISTEN_UNSERIALIZED_ACCEPT
 -D APR_HAS_OTHER_CHILD
 -D AP_HAVE_RELIABLE_PIPED_LOGS
 -D DYNAMIC_MODULE_LIMIT=128
 -D HTTPD_ROOT="/usr"
 -D SUEXEC_BIN="/usr/bin/suexec"
 -D DEFAULT_PIDLOG="/private/var/run/httpd.pid"
 -D DEFAULT_SCOREBOARD="logs/apache_runtime_status"
 -D DEFAULT_LOCKFILE="/private/var/run/accept.lock"
 -D DEFAULT_ERRORLOG="logs/error_log"
 -D AP_TYPES_CONFIG_FILE="/private/etc/apache2/mime.types"
 -D SERVER_CONFIG_FILE="/private/etc/apache2/httpd.conf"

As you can see - my OS X says the binary, if not directed otherwise, will use the config file: /private/etc/apache2/httpd.conf

If that doesn't help, perhaps Christopher's suggestion of find is the next step.

This won't work if you're using Apache via the Server.app In that case you'll need the process list in the answer from @msanford http://serverfault.com/a/155114/187798 which shows that the Server.app starts httpd with a different configuration file as shown here from my installation (Mavericks) `/usr/sbin/httpd -D FOREGROUND -f /Library/Server/Web/Config/apache2/httpd_server_app.conf -D WEBSERVICE_ON` — Jason S, Dec 01 '13 at 03:16
also does not work with when using apache installed via macports -- answer by msandord works for me! — pgee70, Jun 17 '14 at 09:53

score 23 · Answer 2 · edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:14

23

There's another serverfault question regarding this. If you're using a debian based server you can use apache2ctl to determine which config file is being used:

apache2ctl -V

More on this:

How to find out which httpd.conf apache is using at runtime

edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:14

Community

1

answered May 28 '14 at 03:24

chrisjlee

955
2
11
21

On macOS, the command to find out which config files the running instance of https is **actually** using is `apachectl -t -D DUMP_INCLUDES`. – fbitterlich Apr 06 '22 at 12:03

score 13 · Answer 3 · answered Jun 26 '10 at 15:45

13

Try

ps ax | grep httpd

and you should (might) get output like

1633   ??  Ss     0:00.21 /usr/sbin/httpd -f /etc/httpd.conf

Additionally, how exactly are you restarting the server? Just curious in case you somehow aren't actually re-reading the config file.

answered Jun 26 '10 at 15:45

msanford

1,427
15
27

hm it doesn't have the `-f` flag in it – Claudiu Jun 26 '10 at 15:50
1

+1 As this is the only answer that works for all cases, that is if you're configuring Apache yourself or if you're using Apache via Server.app – Jason S Dec 01 '13 at 03:17
It doesn't work for me, may due to my current error conf.... – Jean-Luc Barat Jul 09 '21 at 09:51

score 4 · Answer 4 · answered Dec 06 '16 at 12:27

4

Because some configs use Server app, brew or whatever, and because one liners FTW :

$(ps ax -o comm | grep -m 1 httpd) -V | grep SERVER_CONFIG_FILE

This command do the following :

Find an active httpd process
Output config info
Grep the config file

Tested on Sierra & El Capitan

answered Dec 06 '16 at 12:27

Creaforge

141
2

The `$` is important (it's not the command line prompt in this case). If converts the statement in parens into a command, to which we pass the `-V` flag. Leaving it out results in: "syntax error near unexpected token `-V'". – Tom Auger Nov 07 '19 at 19:35

score 0 · Answer 5 · edited Sep 29 '18 at 08:23

First, check which is the startup script for Apache. For macOS, it should be /Library/LaunchDaemons. That might include a working directory, or similar information.

You could also debug the running process itself with dtruss. You can connect to the running process using dtruss -p <pid>. Then, if you HUP it, you can probably pore over the output to see where it's grabbing its config from. Alternately, just start Apache by calling dtruss directly with dtruss start_apache_command.

You could always just do a system-wide search for httpd.conf with find / -name httpd.conf.

How can I tell which config file Apache is using?

5 Answers5