<h2><a name="configure" id="configure">Configuring the source tree</a></h2>
<p>The next step is to configure the Apache source tree for your
particular platform and personal requirements. This is done using
the script <code><a href="programs/configure.html">configure</a></code> included in
the root directory of the distribution. (Developers downloading
the CVS version of the Apache source tree will need to have
<code>autoconf</code> and <code>libtool</code> installed and will
need to run <code>buildconf</code> before proceeding with the next
steps. This is not necessary for official releases.)</p>
<p>To configure the source tree using all the default options,
simply type <code>./configure</code>. To change the default
options, <code>configure</code> accepts a variety of variables
and command line options.</p>
<p>The most important option is the location <code>--prefix</code>
where Apache is to be installed later, because Apache has to be
configured for this location to work correctly. More fine-tuned
control of the location of files is possible with additional <a href="programs/configure.html#installationdirectories">configure
options</a>.</p>
<p>Also at this point, you can specify which <a href="programs/configure.html#optionalfeatures">features</a> you
want included in Apache by enabling and disabling <a href="mod/">modules</a>. Apache comes with a <a href="mod/module-dict.html#Status">Base</a> set of modules included by
default. Other modules are enabled using the
<code>--enable-<var>module</var></code> option, where
<var>module</var> is the name of the module with the
<code>mod_</code> string removed and with any underscore converted
to a dash. You can also choose to compile modules as <a href="dso.html">shared objects (DSOs)</a> -- which can be loaded
or unloaded at runtime -- by using the option
<code>--enable-<var>module</var>=shared</code>. Similarly, you can
disable Base modules with the
<code>--disable-<var>module</var></code> option. Be careful when
using these options, since <code>configure</code> cannot warn you
if the module you specify does not exist; it will simply ignore the
option.</p>
<p>In addition, it is sometimes necessary to provide the
<code>configure</code> script with extra information about the
location of your compiler, libraries, or header files. This is
done by passing either environment variables or command line
options to <code>configure</code>. For more information, see the
<p>Next, you can customize your Apache HTTP server by editing
the <a href="configuring.html">configuration files</a> under
<code><em>PREFIX</em>/conf/</code>.</p>
<div class="example"><p><code>$ vi <em>PREFIX</em>/conf/httpd.conf</code></p></div>
<p>Have a look at the Apache manual under <a href="./">docs/manual/</a> or consult <a href="http://httpd.apache.org/docs-2.0/">http://httpd.apache.org/docs-2.0/</a> for the most recent version of
this manual and a complete reference of available <a href="mod/directives.html">configuration directives</a>.</p>
<p class="apache">Copyright 1999-2004 The Apache Software Foundation.<br />Licensed under the <a href="http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0">Apache License, Version 2.0</a>.</p>
