Problems gettings started with Apache, newbie, please help

I've just installed RedHat Linux 7.0 as a server system. It comes with Apache... and I've configured the httpd.conf file to reflect the appropriate address and domains and such. I've also gotten my internet connection (768/768 sdsl) set up... with a static ip.
I try to access the main page by entering http://my.ip.address.blah but it wont show anything... but I noticed that when I do try to access the server, my Bridge/Modem blinks, obviously saying that it's working...
Could someone show me what the problem could be? Thanx

>> I've configured the httpd.conf file to reflect the appropriate address and domains and such

Tell us what exactly.

>> I've just installed RedHat Linux 7.0 as a server system. It comes with Apache

Redhat sucks in the first place. Second, don't use the default Apache, compile a new one yourself.

Ok... How do I remove the previously installed Apache?

rpm -evh apache

Forget what the user freebsd said, you seem to be new at this and the last thing you need is the biased and unhelpful opinion he/she has offered.

There is nothin wrong with RedHat, and the Apache rpm will work fine as long as evrything else is setup correctly. I set up Apache with ssl using RPMs and everything works fine. True compiling is the better way to go but is not necessarily responsible for things not working. There is no way for myself or the user freebsd to be able to tell that redhat or the apache RPM is the problem based only on the fact that it doesn't work. If a configuration file is wrong, it won't matter how you installed it. Post a little more info here and I will see if I can help you. On a fresh linux install Apache should work correctly (at least it always has for me) so your problem could lay somewhere else. Feel free to email me too.

try to run the following command :
ps aux ¦ grep httpd.
if you don't catch anything than your server is not running at all.
go to you main apache installation directory and issue the following command :
apachectl start
send the result of the command to us.

Check your log files too, they offer all kinds of info.

>> user freebsd to be able to tell that redhat or the apache RPM is the problem based only on the fact that it doesn't work

Did I say RPM was the cause of his problem? I answered Tell us what exactly but he didn't reply to that. You better read this thread all over again.

My 2nd answer Redhat sucks in the first place. Second, don't use the default Apache, compile a new one yourself. seem to be what he is interested in. Compiling Apache is plain easy, it might be too tough for you but who knows spinkick can't handle that?

Compiling Apache on your own has a few benefits over RPM:
1) Apache is highly flexible with tons of configure options, you can optimize Apache and configure whatever options you want. Unlike RPM (a binary made by someone), you need to accept everything by default.
2) Apache RPM may not be the latest version of Apache, therefore, critical bugs might be found.
3) There are many 3rd party Apache modules available only in source, therefore Apache RPM is not the way to go.
4) You might not have sufficient space on particular partition or wanted Apache to be installed elsewhere, you can do that easily if compiling from source.

spinkick, if you still need help on your problem, please followup with some details.
thobbes867, if you are ready to compile Apache from src, don't by shy to ask. You seem to be new here in devshed.com.

Thanx for the help guys. I took FreeBSD's advice... and installed FreeBSD, and I was able to access the server without even configuring everything... as soon as the OS was installed and IPs configured. I also decided to use FreeBSD because many people advised me that it was better than RedHat in many ways.
It seems that FreeBSD was developed more for the server environment...
Anyways, I was able to get everything work... until I came upon another problem.. and posted a new thread... DNS! help me with that if you can... thanx

>> I was able to get everything work... until I came upon another problem

Good. Welcome to the BSD community. If you have any *BSD-related questions, come over to http://bsdvault.net or http://www.openbsdpost.net
You may even check out Web Serving/Security and Other Unix based OS's forums at http://www.linuxnewbie.org/