How to Install Apache on Ubuntu 18.04

Prerequisites

  • A system running Ubuntu 18.04 LTS (Bionic Beaver)
  • An internet connection
  • Access to a user account with sudo privileges

How to Install Apache on Ubuntu

Before installing new software, it’s a good idea to refresh your local software package database to make sure you are accessing the latest versions. This helps cut down on the time it takes to update after installation, and it also helps prevent zero-day exploits against outdated software.

Open a terminal and type:

sudo apt-get update

Let the package manager finish updating.

Step 1: Install Apache

To install the Apache package on Ubuntu, use the command:

sudo apt-get install apache2

The system prompts for confirmation – do so, and allow the system to complete the installation.

Terminal command to install Apache on Ubuntu.

Step 2: Verify Apache Installation

To verify Apache was installed correctly, open a web browser and type in the address bar:

http://local.server.ip

The web browser should open a page labeled “Apache2 Ubuntu Default Page,” as in the image below:

apache2 the default welcome page on ubuntu

Note: Replace local.server.ip with the IP address of your server. If you are unsure what’s the IP address, run the following terminal command:

hostname -I | awk '{print $1}'

The output will return your server’s IP address.

Step 3: Configure Your Firewall

Although the Apache installation process is complete, there is one more additional step. Configure the default UFW firewall to allow traffic on port 80.

Start by displaying available app profiles on UFW:

sudo ufw show app list

The terminal should respond by listing all available application profiles, as seen in the example below.

Available applications:
  Apache
  Apache Full
  Apache Secure
  OpenSSH

Use the following command to allow normal web traffic on port 80:

sudo ufw allow 'Apache'
Image of how Apache traffic is allowed in Ubuntu terminal.

Verify the changes by checking UFW status:

sudo ufw status
Check UFW status and verify that Apache traffic is allowed.

If you have other applications or services to allow, make sure you configure your firewall to allow traffic. For example, using the sudo ufw allow 'OpenSSH' command will enable secure, encrypted logins over the network.

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