How to Install Apache on Google Cloud Server

Apache HTTP Server on a Google Cloud server lets you host websites online so people can view them from anywhere on the internet. Apache version 2.4 acts as the free web server software that handles incoming visitors and keeps your web pages loading quickly.

You need an Ubuntu Linux server on Google Cloud to follow this setup and get your web projects live. Once you finish the installation, Apache serves your site files straight to anyone who visits your domain.

How to connect to the Google Cloud server

Connecting to your Google Cloud server happens through SSH right from the web browser in the Google Cloud Console. This tool works with modern browsers, removing the need for extra installations. Establishing this connection prepares the Google Cloud server for the Apache installation.

SSH from the browser supports the following:

• Web browsers
  • The latest version of Google Chrome
  • Firefox
  • Microsoft Edge
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 11 and later
  • Safari 8 and later. Note that Safari is not supported in private browser mode.
• Virtual machine configurations
  • All Linux VM images are natively available in Google Cloud.

No additional software or browser extensions are needed. Log in to Google Cloud Console and go to Menu ==> Compute Engine ==> VM instances.

In the list of virtual machine instances, click SSH in the row of the instance that you want to connect to.

Alternatively, opening an SSH connection to an instance works by clicking its name and SSH from the instance details page.

An SSH terminal window with the Ubuntu Linux instance created in the series's second post will open.

Commands run successfully inside the Ubuntu Linux environment created on the Google Cloud server.

How to install Apache on Ubuntu Linux on Google Cloud Server

Setting up Apache on Ubuntu Linux follows the same process whether using Google Cloud or local hardware.

Apache packages are available in Ubuntu's default repositories. Downloading and installing the Apache HTTP server on Ubuntu Linux occurs through the `apt-get` commands.

Installation details for Apache on Ubuntu Linux appear in another post. Clicking the link below provides more information about setting up and managing Apache HTTP servers.

How to install Apache on Ubuntu Linux

With the Apache web server installed, typing the domain name into a browser brings up a default Apache help page.

Entering the domain name into a browser displays an example page matching the one below:

http://example.com

Servers hosted on Google Cloud now resolve domain names and serve content using the Apache HTTP web server.

Additional servers and software will be added later to run a functional website online.

Conclusion:

Getting the Apache HTTP server running on the Google Cloud Ubuntu server forms a key milestone for an online presence. Review these takeaways:

• Apache is a widely used open-source web server, ideal for hosting websites.
• Following the steps outlined, you can connect to your Google Cloud server via SSH.
• Apache can be installed easily using the apt-get commands from the Ubuntu default repositories.
• Once installed, your domain name will be an Apache default page, confirming the successful setup.
• This post builds on previous topics about creating domain names and setting up Google Cloud servers.

Having Apache installed brings the setup closer to a fully operational website. Future posts will explore additional software and configurations to optimize the web environment.