====== Introduction ======

This module has born since Apache 2.2 was lacking of some mass webhosting module that can be used on [[http://kazar.net|Association Kazar]].

After a quick look on some modules that was present when first needs about such module, finaly I decided to create my own module.

===== Design consideration =====

  - Needed to be rock stable
  - Needed to allow on the fly reconfiguration of some part of PHP configuration
  - Avoid to create httpd.conf file on every new host
===== Differences between other kind of vhosting modules =====

  * Idea is to be industrial. Lots of configuration is done one for all webhosting
  * Swiss Army concept : lots of options, and lots of good stuff
  * High integration with PHP, needed with all modern hosting needs.
====== Features ======

  - LDAP, PostgresSQL, MySQL, pam, flat file support, (pam and flat files only on mod_vhs 1.0) ...
  - Lamers mode
  - Defaults PHP configuration
  - Full PHP configuration
  - [[mod_vhs:mod_alias|mod_alias]] compatibility functions
  - [[mod_vhs:suphp|suphp]] support
  - [[mod_vhs:memcache|memcache]] support to cache data into local cache (TODO for 1.1.x version)

Some new features for next generation of mod_vhs :

  - Apache 2.2.xx only support
  - 100% Thread safe (but this is not garantee with PHP !!!)
  - libhome is not needed anymore, backend used is now mod_ldap and mod_dbd
  - caching support for mod_ldap (maybe for mod_dbd)
  - mpm-itk support to allow different uid/gid from DB.

===== LDAP, PostgresSQL, MySQL, ... =====

mod_vhs 1.0.xx uses [[http://pll.sourceforge.net|libhome]] as database / source provider. This allow to not rewrite the wheel since apache 2.0 was lacking of some database stuff.

libhome allow us to get data from various sources. See [[mod_vhs:libhome|libhome]] section on this site.

For mod_vhs 1.1.x, you will need an apache 2.2+ with mod_ldap for LDAP support or mod_dbd for *SQL support.

===== Lamers mode =====

Idea of this mode that is unique (I think) on this module that you cannot see anywhere is that a mode that tries to find the domain of a website if it cannot find it :
<code>
 $domain = "www.foo.com";
 $home = fetch_data($domain);
 if (!$home) {
   $lamer_domain = strip_www_from($domain);
   $home = fetch_data($domain);
 }
 if (!$home) {
   return DECLINED;
 }
 // Continue
</code>

===== PHP Configuration =====

mod_vhs can **override** default php.ini configuration either as global configuration, eg on all vhost handled by mod_vhs or on the fly when a specific vhost and configuration needs to be applied.

See [[mod_vhs:php|Php Configuration]] for more informations.

====== Mailing list ======

  * [[http://lists.oav.net/wws/info/mod_vhs|See some informations]]
  * [[http://lists.oav.net/wws/subrequest/mod_vhs|Subscribe to mailing list]]
  * [[http://lists.oav.net/wws/sigrequest/mod_vhs|Unsuscrube to mailing list]]
  * [[http://lists.oav.net/wws/arc/mod_vhs|Have a look to archives]]
====== Developpment ======

  * [[https://redmine.oav.net/repositories/entry/openvisp/mod_vhs/trunk/mod_vhs-apache/ChangeLog|View Changelog]]
  * [[https://redmine.oav.net/repositories/browse/openvisp/mod_vhs/trunk/mod_vhs-apache|View CVS]]

To download using svn (read only access)

<code>
 $ svn co https://svn.oav.net/openvisp/mod_vhs
</code>

====== Versionning & Download ======

I have been requested to write a little note about versioning. I use same method as Linux and lots of OpenSource projects :)

Version is 1.0.xx where xx is :
  * **even number** : it is a stable / release version
  * **odd number** : it is a development version (eg maybe unstable or even testing version)

Version 1.1 is the current CVS HEAD branch and current STABLE version !

Version 1.0 is "old" stable version and it can used for users that needs Apache 2.0 or 2.1 support (note the I will not update this branch anymore !).

Download place is [[ftp://ftp.oav.net/mod_vhs/]]

====== Feedback ======

Bugs, flames, money, junk food or postcard can be sent to Xavier Beaudouin <kiwi@oav.net>. You can use my paypal account (same as my mail) to send me money... Patches are welcomed !