Recently, I upgraded to Apache 2.4.46 on my Windows 10 laptop and tried modifying httpd-vhosts.conf to conditionally create the Virtual Host as follows:
<IfFile "Z/files/development/ApacheSmokeSignal.txt">
<VirtualHost *:8080>
DocumentRoot "Z:/files/development/xampp/code/htdocs"
<Directory "Z:/files/development/xampp/code/htdocs">
Options Indexes
Require all granted
</Directory>
</VirtualHost>
</IfFile>
Unfortunately, it is exhibiting the exact same behavior as documented earlier -
Apache starts whether or not the external drive that's mapped to Z: is attached to the PC. However, code within the <IfFile> tags is not executed because localhost:8080/miscellaneous/ returns a 404 error, even though that is a valid address. When the <IfFile> tags are commented out then localhost:8080/miscellaneous/ resolves correctly (Z: has to be attached when the <IfFile> tags are disabled so Apache will start).
I have also tried
<IfFile "\\?\Z:">
# same VirtualHost code as above
</IfFile>
but get the exact same result as described above.
Since a fix was created, tested, then deployed in Apache 2.4.43 for this specific issue I'm wondering why it's still behaving as it was prior to version 2.4.43 on my laptop. Thoughts?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From:Eric Covener <covener@gmail.com>
Sent:Tuesday, October 13, 2020 7:28 AM
To:users@httpd.apache.org <users@httpd.apache.org>
Cc:Christophe JAILLET <christophe.jaillet@wanadoo.fr>
Subject:Re: [users@httpd] Re: conditionally create a Virtual Host?
On Tue, Oct 13, 2020 at 8:11 AM Heather Lotz <knot22@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> Was this change released in a patch or will it be released in the next minor version?
The change is part of 2.4.43 (and later)
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________________________________
From: Heather Lotz <knot22@hotmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, October 13, 2020 7:11 AM
To: Christophe JAILLET <christophe.jaillet@wanadoo.fr>; users@httpd.apache.org <users@httpd.apache.org>
Subject: [users@httpd] Re: conditionally create a Virtual Host?
Was this change released in a patch or will it be released in the next minor version?
________________________________
From: Christophe JAILLET <christophe.jaillet@wanadoo.fr>
Sent: Thursday, September 5, 2019 2:12 PM
To: users@httpd.apache.org <users@httpd.apache.org>; Heather Lotz <knot22@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: conditionally create a Virtual Host?
Hi,
we don't have a fixed schedule for release.
2.4.41 has just been released a few weeks ago.
Unless a serious regression is spotted or some security issues discovered, you should not expect a new release before, let say, 3-4 months.
If you want to have an idea of the "release rate", have a look at [1].
CJ
[1]:
http://svn.apache.org/viewvc/httpd/httpd/branches/2.4.x/STATUS?revision=1866035&view=markup&sortby=date Le 05/09/2019 ? 00:41, Heather Lotz a ?crit :
That is fantastic news! Thank-you very much for figuring it out and fixing it. Assuming the change gets approved, approximately when will the next release become available?
________________________________
From: Christophe JAILLET <christophe.jaillet@wanadoo.fr><mailto:christophe.jaillet@wanadoo.fr>
Sent: Wednesday, September 4, 2019 2:14 PM
To: users@httpd.apache.org<mailto:users@httpd.apache.org> <users@httpd.apache.org><mailto:users@httpd.apache.org>; Heather Lotz <knot22@hotmail.com><mailto:knot22@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: conditionally create a Virtual Host?
Hi,
The issue has been tracked down and has been fixed on trunk in r1866418 [1].
It will be proposed for backport and should be in next release if the change is approved.
Best regards,
CJ
[1]:
http://svn.apache.org/viewvc?rev=1866418&view=rev Le 01/09/2019 ? 01:11, Heather Lotz a ?crit :
Hello - Just wondering if there has been any progress made on getting <IfFile> to work for Windows.
________________________________
From: Heather Lotz <knot22@hotmail.com><mailto:knot22@hotmail.com>
Sent: Saturday, August 24, 2019 11:40 AM
To: Christophe JAILLET <christophe.jaillet@wanadoo.fr><mailto:christophe.jaillet@wanadoo.fr>; users@httpd.apache.org<mailto:users@httpd.apache.org> <users@httpd.apache.org><mailto:users@httpd.apache.org>
Subject: Re: conditionally create a Virtual Host?
Seeking clarification - does this mean you were able to reproduce the issue?
________________________________
From: Christophe JAILLET <christophe.jaillet@wanadoo.fr><mailto:christophe.jaillet@wanadoo.fr>
Sent: Saturday, August 24, 2019 5:18 AM
To: users@httpd.apache.org<mailto:users@httpd.apache.org> <users@httpd.apache.org><mailto:users@httpd.apache.org>; Heather Lotz <knot22@hotmail.com><mailto:knot22@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: conditionally create a Virtual Host?
Hi,
confirmed, using the binaries provided by
https://www.apachelounge.com/download/ CJ
Le 23/08/2019 ? 23:53, Heather Lotz a ?crit :
Right, I have zero knowledge of C. That would be super if you would be able to replicate the issue in a Windows environment. Admittedly, I don't know what a Windows binary is.
I ran some more tests, based on your suggestion, and also found a couple of links about DOS device paths that proved to be helpful*.
Here are the results -
For each of these Apache would not start:
<IfFile "\\.\Z:">
<IfFile "\\.\Z:\">
<IfFile "\\.\Z:\files\development\ApacheSmokeSignal.txt">
<IfFile "\\.\C:">
For each of these Apache would start whether Z: was connected to the PC or not. However, the code within the <IfFile> tags never executed because localhost:8080/miscellaneous/ always returned a 404 error in the browser.
<IfFile "\\?\Z:">
<IfFile "\\?\Z:\">
<IfFile "\\?\Z:\files\development\ApacheSmokeSignal.txt">
<IfFile "\\?\C:">
<IfFile "\\?\C:\">
<IfFile "\\?\C:\Users\heather.lotz\Documents\_user_files\text.txt">
*For reference, here are links to the useful pages about DOS device paths -
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/standard/io/file-path-formats https://stackoverflow.com/questions/23041983/path-prefixes-and ________________________________
From: Christophe JAILLET <christophe.jaillet@wanadoo.fr><mailto:christophe.jaillet@wanadoo.fr>
Sent: Friday, August 23, 2019 8:55 AM
To: users@httpd.apache.org<mailto:users@httpd.apache.org> <users@httpd.apache.org><mailto:users@httpd.apache.org>; Heather Lotz <knot22@hotmail.com><mailto:knot22@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: conditionally create a Virtual Host?
Hi,
Ok, if you have little knowledge of C, no need to try to apply the patch.
You would need a compiler, some libraries, set-up the environment, configure, build, install...
I'll install a Windows binaries and try your configuration. Should be easy to reproduce.
The syntax you have used is correct (Z:/bla/bla/). AFAIK, the internals of httpd (the APR library to be precise) already translate the '/' (Linux style) in '\' (Windows style).
My proposal was just based on information taken from Microsoft doc (search for "When opening a volume or removable media drive (for example, a floppy disk drive or flash memory thumb drive), ..." near the end of
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/api/fileapi/nf-fileapi-createfilew). Because, at some point, on Windows, 'CreteFileW()' is called.
Just 2 words on the patch.
When a configuration file is parsed, when a '<IfFile ...>' directive is found, all lines up to the corresponding </Iffile> are discarded.
To do that the function, we call 'apr_stat()' which gives information on a file (size, name, dates...). In the specific case, no information is requested. This is unusual. Usually we ask for size only, or "standard" information.
The patch just changes the requirement from "do not return anything" to "return size file only".
However, asking for no information *should still work*. The function should tell us that the file exists or not, without any details on the file itself, if found.
My point is that using it this way, is unusual. This could hide a corner case (read: bug in the APR underlying library)
I've had in my todo list for a long time to setup a test environment for Windows. It could be a good occasion to do it. Or you could try with the supplier of a Windows binary (Steffen from Apache lounge is following closely the project and could be of help). Reproduce the issue with their binaries and report to issue to them as well.
Finally, I put back the mailing list in copy, should anyone have an opinion on it
CJ
Le 23/08/2019 ? 14:12, Heather Lotz a ?crit :
Also, it would be helpful to know the expected syntax to use in <IfFile> once the patch is applied.
For instance, does the patch expect
<IfFile "/z/files/development/ApacheSmokeSignal.txt">
and the purpose of the patch is to execute the code within the <IfFile> tags?
Or does the patch expect
<IfFile "Z:/files/development/ApacheSmokeSignal.txt">
and the patch will allow the code within the <IfFile> tags to execute as it would on a Linux machine?
I opened the patch file in Notepad++ but don't understand the contents.
________________________________
From: Heather Lotz <knot22@hotmail.com><mailto:knot22@hotmail.com>
Sent: Friday, August 23, 2019 6:44 AM
To: Christophe JAILLET <christophe.jaillet@wanadoo.fr><mailto:christophe.jaillet@wanadoo.fr>
Subject: Re: conditionally create a Virtual Host?
Hello Christophe - Thank-you for the reply. Can you please provide some instructions about how to apply the patch?
Heather
________________________________
From: Christophe JAILLET <christophe.jaillet@wanadoo.fr><mailto:christophe.jaillet@wanadoo.fr>
Sent: Friday, August 23, 2019 12:50 AM
To: users@httpd.apache.org<mailto:users@httpd.apache.org> <users@httpd.apache.org><mailto:users@httpd.apache.org>; Heather Lotz <knot22@hotmail.com><mailto:knot22@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: conditionally create a Virtual Host?
Le 23/08/2019 ? 05:04, Heather Lotz a ?crit :
After some more testing, it seems that this syntax -
<IfFile "Z:/files/development/ApacheSmokeSignal.txt">
is the root cause of Apache not starting when the external storage device, mapped to Z:, is detached from the Windows 10 PC.
I tested these variants individually, which are more *nix like -
<IfFile "Z/files/development/ApacheSmokeSignal.txt">
<IfFile "/Z/files/development/ApacheSmokeSignal.txt">
<IfFile "/z/files/development/ApacheSmokeSignal.txt">
and the behavior is Apache starts whether or not Z: is attached to the PC, so that is a step in the right direction. However, the code within the <IfFile> tags never executes because when localhost:8080/miscellaneous/ is entered in a browser it always returns a 404 error.
Another test was this -
<IfFile "/c/Users/heather.lotz/Documents/_user_files/test.txt">
which points to an existing file which is not stored on Z:. The behavior here was the same as that of the 3 *nix like tests. Apache starts whether or not Z: is attached to the PC but code within the <IfFile> tags is not executed because localhost:8080/miscellaneous/ returns a 404 error.
Does this constitute a bug of <IfFile> when used on a Windows OS?
________________________________
From: Heather Lotz <knot22@hotmail.com><mailto:knot22@hotmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, August 21, 2019 9:36 PM
To: users@httpd.apache.org<mailto:users@httpd.apache.org> <users@httpd.apache.org><mailto:users@httpd.apache.org>
Subject: Re: [users@httpd] conditionally create a Virtual Host?
A new file was created on Z: for the sole purpose of having a designated file for Apache to seek.
The file is called Z:\files\development\ApacheSmokeSignal.txt.
Here is what httpd-vhosts.conf looks like now:
<IfFile "Z:/files/development/ApacheSmokeSignal.txt">
<VirtualHost *:8080>
DocumentRoot "Z:/files/xampp/htdocs"
<Directory "Z:/files/xampp/htdocs">
Options Indexes
Require all granted
</Directory>
</VirtualHost>
</IfFile>
With this update in place, Apache starts fine when Z: is attached to the PC. However, when Z: is not attached to the PC Apache does not start and these lines appear in the XAMPP Control Panel console:
9:30:24 PM [Apache] Attempting to start Apache app...
9:30:24 PM [Apache] Status change detected: running
9:30:26 PM [Apache] Status change detected: stopped
9:30:26 PM [Apache] Error: Apache shutdown unexpectedly.
9:30:26 PM [Apache] This may be due to a blocked port, missing dependencies,
9:30:26 PM [Apache] improper privileges, a crash, or a shutdown by another method.
9:30:26 PM [Apache] Press the Logs button to view error logs and check
9:30:26 PM [Apache] the Windows Event Viewer for more clues
9:30:26 PM [Apache] If you need more help, copy and post this
9:30:26 PM [Apache] entire log window on the forums
There are no entries in error.log with a Wed Aug 21 21:30 or later timestamp.
Is the syntax incorrect? Note that Apache is installed in this location on the PC in question: C:\xampp\apache.
________________________________
From: Eric Covener <covener@gmail.com><mailto:covener@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, August 21, 2019 7:27 PM
To: users@httpd.apache.org<mailto:users@httpd.apache.org> <users@httpd.apache.org><mailto:users@httpd.apache.org>
Subject: Re: [users@httpd] conditionally create a Virtual Host?
On Wed, Aug 21, 2019 at 8:21 PM Heather Lotz <knot22@hotmail.com><mailto:knot22@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> Greetings,
>
> In my development environment on a Windows 10 PC I have added the following to Apache's configuration files -
>
> To httpd.conf:
> Listen 8080
>
> To httpd-vhosts.conf:
> <VirtualHost *:8080>
> DocumentRoot "Z:/files/xampp/htdocs"
> <Directory "Z:/files/xampp/htdocs">
> Options Indexes
> Require all granted
> </Directory>
> </VirtualHost>
>
> Note that Z: is mapped to an external storage device.
>
> With this setup, Apache successfully accesses C: on port 80 and Z: on port 8080. However, if the external storage device is not attached to the computer, Apache will not start. Is there a way to check if Z: is present, and only create the virtual host if that device is plugged in so that Apache always starts? If so, how can this be achieved?
Try <IfFile>
https://httpd.apache.org/docs/2.4/mod/core.html#iffile --
Eric Covener
covener@gmail.com<mailto:covener@gmail.com>
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Hi,
would you have the opportunity to test the attached patch?
The 0 passed to apr_stat looks spurious to me. (but should work)
(Pure speculation)
Also, based on Microsoft doc, could you also try:
<IfFile "\\.\Z:">
...
and
<IfFile "\\.\Z:\">
...
CJ
