Local Apache Host Manager

A collection of bash scripts to manage Apache virtual hosts and SSL certificates for local development environments in Ubuntu.

Author Shakil Ahmed   Website: shakilahmeed.com

Overview

This toolkit includes three main scripts:

1. createhost.sh - Creates new virtual hosts with SSL certificates
2. removehost.sh - Removes existing virtual hosts and their configurations
3. sitelist.sh - Lists all configured virtual hosts with their status

Prerequisites

• Ubuntu/Debian-based system
• Apache2 installed
• Root/sudo privileges

Installation

1. Clone the repository:

   git clone https://github.com/shakilahmed0369/local-apache-host-manager.git

2. Make the scripts executable:

   cd local-apache-host-manager
   chmod +x createhost.sh removehost.sh sitelist.sh

Usage

Creating a New Virtual Host

sudo ./createhost.sh

You will be prompted to enter:

• Domain name (e.g., myproject.local)
• Project folder name (must exist in /var/www/html)

The script will:

• Add the domain to /etc/hosts
• Create Apache virtual host configuration
• Generate and configure SSL certificates
• Enable the site in Apache

Removing a Virtual Host

sudo ./removehost.sh

You will be prompted to enter:

• Domain name to remove

The script will:

• Remove the domain from /etc/hosts
• Remove SSL certificates
• Remove Apache configuration
• Disable the site
• Clean up all related files

Listing Virtual Hosts

sudo ./sitelist.sh

This will display a table showing:

• Domain names
• SSL status (✓ or ✗)
• Project paths
• Enabled status (green = enabled, red = disabled)

Directory Structure

Your projects should follow this structure:

/var/www/html/
├── project1/
│   └── public/
└── project2/
    └── public/

SSL Certificates

• The scripts generate self-signed SSL certificates for local development
• Browsers will show a security warning (this is normal for local development)
• Certificates are valid for 365 days

Common Issues

1. SSL Warning in Browser

   • This is normal for self-signed certificates
   • Click "Advanced" → "Proceed to site" (Chrome)
   • Click "Advanced" → "Accept Risk" (Firefox)

2. Project Directory Not Found

   • Ensure your project exists in /var/www/html
   • Ensure the public directory exists in your project folder

3. Permission Issues

   • All scripts must be run with sudo privileges
   • Check Apache log files for detailed errors

File Locations

• Apache configs: /etc/apache2/sites-available/
• SSL certificates: /etc/ssl/[domain]/
• Host entries: /etc/hosts
• Project files: /var/www/html/[project]/public

Contributing

Feel free to open issues or submit pull requests for improvements.

License

MIT License - feel free to use and modify for your needs.