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freestyler
Joined: 21 May 2021
Posts: 5
Location: UK
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 Posted: Fri 21 May '21 11:58 Post subject: Apache WebServer (local use query) |
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Hi,
I have a local application that needs to communicate with a RESTful API using PHP. Instead of setting up a web server, I would much prefer to use a web server on the local machine/in house file server.
I can setup Apache Web Server to run on local host and this works perfect. My main concern is security as I have read many times that you should only use Apache Web Server for local development. The web server would be configured to only accept local connections, and should be off limits to anyone else outside the office. Can anyone advise me on whether this is a good idea or not, and what alternatives I have (other than setting up a VPS, which seems overkill for a few simple REST API queries per day.
Any help would be much appreciated
Kind regards |
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tangent
Moderator
Joined: 16 Aug 2020
Posts: 348
Location: UK
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| Posted: Sun 23 May '21 11:46 Post subject: |
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I'm surprised by your statement that Apache should only be used for local development. Properly configured and maintained, Apache can provide first class site security, matching that of any other leading web server, e.g. Nginx. Indeed, there's a reason Apache currently hosts over 30% of web sites out on the net.
If you're simply looking to restrict which clients or subnets can connect to your server, you can use various IP based access control constructs such as:
| Code: | <RequireAll>
Require all granted
Require ip 10.0.0.0/8
</RequireAll> |
Start with official documentation links:
There's plenty of additional information and worked examples out there to help with site access control and hardening. |
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freestyler
Joined: 21 May 2021
Posts: 5
Location: UK
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| Posted: Mon 24 May '21 7:23 Post subject: |
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Thanks tangent for clearing that up for me.
I have read many times to not use Apache Webserver for anything other than local testing, always citing security concerns.
Thanks again for taking the time to reply.
Much appreciated |
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Jan-E
Joined: 09 Mar 2012
Posts: 1266
Location: Amsterdam, NL, EU
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| Posted: Mon 24 May '21 13:39 Post subject: |
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| freestyler wrote: | | I have read many times to not use Apache Webserver for anything other than local testing, always citing security concerns. |
That might be statements about the default config of distributions like XAMMP, but properly configured Apache is as safe as any other webserver. |
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freestyler
Joined: 21 May 2021
Posts: 5
Location: UK
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| Posted: Tue 25 May '21 11:46 Post subject: |
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That's it Jan-E! I was getting mixed up there, it's actually what I was referring to.
Could Xampp be setup to be secure? Could I configure it to only accept local connections? Would this then be secure enough? Or is Xampp only for testing? |
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freestyler
Joined: 21 May 2021
Posts: 5
Location: UK
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| Posted: Tue 25 May '21 12:13 Post subject: |
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To communicate with the required RESTful APIs, I must do this via PHP. I don't want to actually go and set up a real web server. Ideally all the computers in the office will have access to a local web server.
Any ideas on the best approach? |
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James Blond
Moderator
Joined: 19 Jan 2006
Posts: 7371
Location: Germany, Next to Hamburg
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freestyler
Joined: 21 May 2021
Posts: 5
Location: UK
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| Posted: Fri 28 May '21 13:37 Post subject: |
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| Excellent! Much appreciated Mr Blond! |
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