php - Setting document root for Laravel project on Apache virtual host

Question

I inherited a php/Laravel app that was running on an Apache server that I don't have access to. My task is to get it running on another Apache server. I'm pretty good with php but relatively new to Laravel and very new to Apache configuration.

I have figured out how to get the Laravel app running on Apache that is running on an Ubuntu VM (VirtualBox.) I can access the Laravel app in a browser on the Ubuntu VM via http://localhost. I can also access the Laravel app in a browser from the Internet via http://appname.com/public. However, if I just use http://appname.com, then I just get a folder listing of /var/www/appname.

I have tried several modifications to the /etc/apache2/available-sites/appname.conf file but haven't quite got it right yet, apparently. I have also read a number of posts around the nets about making modifications to various other config files including php config files and Apache config files. It seems like these other mods (while they may be workable) shouldn't be necessary.

Here is my current /etc/apache2/available-sites/appname.conf

    <VirtualHost *:80>
        ServerAdmin webmaster@localhost
        ServerName appname.com
        ServiceAlias www.appname.com
        DocumentRoot /var/www/appname/public

        ErrorLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/error.log
        CustomLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/access.log combined
    </VirtualHost>

Any advise is appreciated.

• Bob

Answer 1

You need to allow the mod_rewrite in the apache server and allowSymLinks. Source

<VirtualHost *:80>
    ServerAdmin webmaster@localhost
    ServerName appname.com
    ServiceAlias www.appname.com
    DocumentRoot /var/www/appname/public

    <Directory "/var/www/appname/public">
            Options FollowSymLinks
            ReWriteEngine On
    </Directory>

    ErrorLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/error.log
    CustomLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/access.log combined
</VirtualHost>

in the DocumentRoot Directory i would also allow MultiViews

<Directory "/var/www/appname/public">
        Options FollowSymLinks MultiViews
        ReWriteEngine On
</Directory>

You may need to also do

sudo a2enmod rewrite

to enable module rewrite.

Edit 1:

In my .conf files i got them with the quotes and they are working. Did you enable the modudle rewrite?

Besides some options i also have the "/" folder with the next config.

<Directory "/">
    Options FollowSymLinks
    AllowOverride All
    ReWriteEngine On
</Directory>

and here i'll write my full code of public directory

<Directory "/var/www/appname/public">
        Options FollowSymLinks MultiViews
        Order Allow,Deny
        Allow from all
        ReWriteEngine On
</Directory>

Try it and see if it works, after delete the options that you don't like to use.