Is this the correct way to start Apache2?

I am trying to get Apache2 to start on bootup, on freeBSD 5.2.1; installed from ports.

In /etc/rc.conf I added

apache2_enable="YES"

This seems to start Apache on bootup, was the the 'correct' way? when I say that, I want to make sure I am starting it the way it was intended.

I am confused mainly because there is /etc and /usr/local/etc
Is there a standard in freeBSD as to what configuration files should be in each directory?

Thanks for any and all input.

apache places a startup script (apache2.sh) in the startup script directory (/usr/local/etc/rc.d/). It is dependant on the variables:

apache2_enable (probably the most pertinent)
apache2ssl_enable
apache2limits_enable
apache2_flags
apache2limits_args

at boot up the script apache2.sh is started, and if the variable apache2_enable is set to yes (by rc.conf) then it starts apache. You can manuall start and stop the apache httpd a number of ways. Probably the most convenient is with apachtctl. (man apachectl)

apachectl stop (start/restart/fullstatus/...)

there are of course other ways to acheive both of these (such as> kill -HUP pid_of_parent_httpd), but these work fine for me.


I believe the general rule of thumb on the placement of configuration files (and someone will surely correct me if I am wrong) is that the config files for the base system (group, passwd, rc.conf, profile, cron, etc.) go in /etc and the config files for everything not belonging to the base system (apache, bind, mysql, etc. ) should go in /usr/local/etc. The binarys are handled similarly. So far, the ports I have installed have all behaved as they should, using the standard unix locations.

-Steven
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