apache2 - add virtual server that uses subdomain with PHP and Cloudflare DNS

In this article we would like to show how to add subdomain as virtual server for apache2 that uses PHP engine with Cloudflare DNS / CDN.

Preseted article configures Open Web Analitics that:

• was installed in own separated folder,
• will be available from: https://owa.my-domain.com.

Simple steps:

It is necessary to configure apache2 server at first and later Cloudflare DNS.

1. apache2 server configuration

1.1. login as root to yours server,

1.2. create new configuration file in sites-avaialble directory with command:

nano /etc/apache2/sites-available/open-web-analytics.conf

1.3. put inside following configuration:

<VirtualHost *:80>

  ServerName      owa.my-domain.com
  DocumentRoot    /var/www/html/open-web-analytics
  DirectoryIndex  index.php

</VirtualHost>

Where:

• owa.my-domain.com - subdomain used with Open Web Analitics,
• /var/www/html/open-web-analytics - directory path with installed Open Web Analitics,
• index.php - script that runs Open Web Analitics.

1.4. enable open-web-analytics site

Use following command:

a2ensite open-web-analytics.conf

Output:

Enabling site open-web-analytics.
To activate the new configuration, you need to run:
  systemctl reload apache2

1.5. Reload apache2 configuration witout restarting

Run following command:

systemctl reload apache2

2. Cloudflare DNS configuration

2.1. login to Cloudflare panel: https://dash.cloudflare.com/login

2.2. select your domain on main page - will be visible after login operation

2.3. go to DNS configuration

2.4. add new DNS record by clicking to: + Add record

2.5. select following configuration:

Type:            A
Name:            owa
IPv4 address:    77.55.222.88

Where: owa and 77.55.222.88 can be replaced by own configuration.

It will give us traffic from https://owa.my-domain.com to server located on 77.55.222.88 where virtual server described by ServerName owa.my-domain.com will be used.

2.6. save configuration and check if new record appeared

3. Check Open Web Analitics in Web Browser

3.1. go to following address: https://owa.my-domain.com,

3.2. as result you should see: