Hosting Multiple Web Sites

Sept 22,  2004
John Garmany
 

Hosting multiple web site on Oracle Application Server 10g is easy.  By default, AS10g supports one site that can host multiple application.  However, AS10g (and 9iAS for that matter) can host multiple sites, with different names and/or different IP addresses.  When Oracle HTTP Server (OHS) or Apache host multiple site they are called Virtual Host.

Virtual Host are different web sites hosted by the same OHS server.  They are configured in the OHS/Apache configuration file httpd.conf or preferably in the Application Server Control.  First lets look at the conf file directly.

NameVirtualHost *:80
#
<VirtualHost *:80>
DocumentRoot /var/www/website1
ServerName www.website1.com
ServerAlias website1.com *.website1.com
</VirtualHost>
#
<VirtualHost *:80>
DocumentRoot /var/www/website2
ServerName www.website2.com
ServerAlias website2.com *.website2.com
</VirtualHost>

In the section of the httpd.conf file shown above I defined the minimum requirements for virtual host as separate websites. 

NameVirtualHost *:80

Tells OHS to listen for named virtual host on port 80 (the standard web listening port).  In the heading of each virtual host I define the port for that virtual host (also 80).

<VirtualHost *:80>

Then I defined the document root for that web site.  This is where the OHS process executing that request will go to find the documents to server.

DocumentRoot /var/www/website1

Finally, I define the name for that website as the ServerName and the accaptable aliases as the ServerAlias.

Since the HTTP header sent to OHS contains the name of the site, OHS will use that information to server the appropriate website page.

Of course the final step is outside the OHS.  If each site has their own IP address, you simple forward the request to the same server, or set up both websites with the same IP address in your DNS. 

You can also setup an IP based Virtual Host to create a site with its own IP and port.

Important Point!!!!!

 When you create Virtual Host, the main host goes away.  The first Virtual Host must be the default host.  In other words, all host must be named.  If no site name is sent with the request header, OHS will  serve the first Virtual Host.

Use Application Server Control to Setup Your Virtual Host.

If you use an infrastructure/Metadata Repository, you need to use the Application Server Control to configure your Virtual Host.

Logon to AS Control and open the HTTP Server component.  Select Virtual Host and select the Create Button.   Application Server Control will now walk you through seven steps to configure you virtual host.  This includes defining separate access and error logs etc

Next Week we will discuss connecting your application to a Virtual Host.

If you are a DBA that inherited the administration of AS10g, this is the book for you.  Written by a DBA for DBAs Oracle Application Server 10g Administration Handbook by Oracle Press. In Book Stores Now!

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Regards,

John Garmany

Burleson Oracle Consulting

Kittrell, NC, USA, 27544
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