Compiling Apache for Microsoft Windows - Apache HTTP Server

Apache HTTP Server Version 2.2

Apache > HTTP Server > Documentation > Version 2.2 > Platform Specific Notes

# Compiling Apache for Microsoft Windows

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There are many important points before you begin compiling Apache. See Using Apache with Microsoft Windows before you begin.

## Requirements

Compiling Apache requires the following environment to be properly installed:

- Disk Space

  Make sure you have at least 180 MB of free disk space available. After installation Apache requires approximately 70 MB of disk space, plus space for log and cache files, which can grow rapidly. The actual disk space requirements will vary considerably based on your chosen configuration and any third-party modules or libraries, especially when OpenSSL is also built. Because many files are text and very easily compressed, NTFS filesystem compression cuts these requirements in half.

- Microsoft Visual C++ (Microsoft Visual Studio) 6.0 or higher.

  Apache can be built using the command line tools, or from within the Visual Studio IDE Workbench. The command line build requires the environment to reflect the `PATH`, `INCLUDE`, `LIB` and other variables that can be configured with the `vcvars32.bat` file:

  `"c:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\VC98\Bin\VCVARS32"`

- The Windows Platform SDK for Visual C++ 6.0 (97) or 7.0 (.NET)

  Apache's APR and APR-util builds require an updated Microsoft Windows Platform SDK, from Feb 2003 or later, included in the Visual C++ 7.1 (Studio 2003) and later. For command line builds with Visual C++ 6.0 or 7.0, the Platform SDK environment is prepared by the `setenv.bat` file:

  `"c:\Program Files\Platform SDK\setenv.bat"`

  The Platform SDK files distributed with Visual C++ 6.0 and Visual Studio .NET (2000) are no longer sufficient and cause many compilation warnings and linkage errors. Users of Visual C++ 7.1 (Studio 2003) and later versions (of the full product, not the 'Visual Studio Express' flavor) may skip this requirement.

  If using the GUI, either start msdev or devenv with the /setenv flag (after invoking setenv.bat), or ensure the paths are correct under the Tools -> Options -> (Projects ->) Directories menu option. The Platform SDK installer will generally help you configure this.

- The awk utility (awk, gawk or similar).

  To install Apache within the build system, several files are modified using the `awk.exe` utility. awk was chosen since it is a very small download (compared with Perl or WSH/VB) and accomplishes the task of modifying configuration files upon installation. Brian Kernighan's http://cm.bell-labs.com/cm/cs/who/bwk/ site has a compiled native Win32 binary, http://cm.bell-labs.com/cm/cs/who/bwk/awk95.exe which you must save with the name `awk.exe` rather than `awk95.exe`.

  If awk.exe is not found, Makefile.win's install target will not perform substitutions in the installed .conf files. The installed .conf files must then be modified by hand for this situation.

  Note that Developer Studio IDE will only find `awk.exe` from the Executable path specified in the menu option Tools -> Options -> (Projects ->) Directories. Add the path for `awk.exe` to this list, and your system `PATH` environment variable, as needed.

  Also note that if you are using Cygwin tools (http://www.cygwin.com/) the awk utility is named `gawk.exe` and that the file `awk.exe` is really a symlink to the `gawk.exe` file. The Windows command shell does not recognize symlinks, and because of this building InstallBin will fail. A workaround is to delete `awk.exe` from the cygwin installation and copy `gawk.exe` to `awk.exe`. Also note the cygwin/mingw ports of gawk 3.0.x were buggy, please upgrade to 3.1.x before attempting to use any gawk port.

- [Optional] zlib library (for `mod_deflate`)

  Zlib must be installed into a `srclib` subdirectory named `zlib`. This must be built in-place. Zlib can be obtained from http://www.zlib.net/ -- the `mod_deflate` is confirmed to work correctly with version 1.2.3.

  `nmake -f win32\Makefile.msc
  nmake -f win32\Makefile.msc test`

- [Optional] OpenSSL libraries (for `mod_ssl` and `ab.exe` with ssl support)

  Caution: there are significant restrictions and prohibitions on the use and distribution of strong cryptography and patented intellectual property throughout the world. OpenSSL includes strong cryptography controlled by both export regulations and domestic law, as well as intellectual property protected by patent, in the United States and elsewhere. Neither the Apache Software Foundation nor the OpenSSL project can provide legal advise regarding possession, use, or distribution of the code provided by the OpenSSL project. Consult your own legal counsel, you are responsible for your own actions.

  OpenSSL must be installed into a `srclib` subdirectory named `openssl`, obtained from http://www.openssl.org/source/, in order to compile `mod_ssl` or the abs project (`ab.exe` enabled with SSL support.) To prepare OpenSSL for both `release` and `debug` builds of Apache, and disable the patent protected features in OpenSSL, you might use the following build commands:

  `perl Configure no-mdc2 no-rc5 no-idea enable-zlib VC-WIN32 -Ipath/to/srclib/zlib
  ms\do_masm.bat
  nmake -f ms\ntdll.mak`

  Note: It is not advisable to use zlib-dynamic, as that could pose a thread race condition. If building zlib on win32, be sure to adjust the resulting ms\ntdll.mak file to link to the full path of srclib\zlib\zdll.lib rather than zlib1.lib (that error in configuration of OpenSSL through 0.9.8h and earlier reflects older zlib 1.1 versions.)

## Command-Line Build

First, unpack the Apache distribution into an appropriate directory. Open a command-line prompt and `cd` to that directory.

The master Apache makefile instructions are contained in the `Makefile.win` file. To compile Apache on Windows NT, simply use one of the following commands to compiled the `release` or `debug` build, respectively:

    nmake /f Makefile.win _apacher

    nmake /f Makefile.win _apached

Either command will compile Apache. The latter will disable optimization of the resulting files, making it easier to single step the code to find bugs and track down problems.

You can add your apr-util dbd provider choices with the additional make variable DBD_LIST, e.g. DBD_LIST="mysql oracle pgsql sqlite3" to build these four providers. However it's necessary to have the include headers in the INCLUDE path list, db client libraries in the LIB path list, and the db client dll files in the PATH. The specifics for each provider are an exercise left to the reader.

## Developer Studio Workspace IDE Build

Apache can also be compiled using VC++'s Visual Studio development environment. To simplify this process, a Visual Studio workspace, `Apache.dsw`, is provided. This workspace exposes the entire list of working `.dsp` projects that are required for the complete Apache binary release. It includes dependencies between the projects to assure that they are built in the appropriate order.

Open the `Apache.dsw` workspace, and select `InstallBin` (`Release` or `Debug` build, as desired) as the Active Project. `InstallBin` causes all related project to be built, and then invokes `Makefile.win` to move the compiled executables and dlls. You may personalize the `INSTDIR=` choice by changing `InstallBin`'s Settings, General tab, Build command line entry. `INSTDIR` defaults to the `/Apache2` directory. If you only want a test compile (without installing) you may build the `BuildBin` project instead.

The `.dsp` project files are distributed in Visual C++ 6.0 format. Visual C++ 5.0 (97) will recognize them. Visual C++ 7.0 (.net) must convert `Apache.dsw` plus the `.dsp` files into an `Apache.sln` plus `.msproj` files, be sure you reconvert the `.msproj` file if any of the source `.dsp` files change! This is really trivial, just open `Apache.dsw` in the VC++ 7.0 IDE once again.

There is a flaw in the .vcproj conversion of .dsp through Visual Studio 2005 SP1; devenv.exe will mis-parse the /D flag for RC flags containing long quoted /D'efines containing spaces. The command:

`perl srclib\apr\build\cvtdsp.pl -2005`

will convert the /D flags for RC flags to use an alternate, parseable syntax; unfortunately this syntax isn't supported by Visual Studio 97 or it's exported .mak files. These /D flags are used to pass the long description of the mod_apachemodule.so files to their .rc resource version-identifier compilations, and replace the use of awk for generating .rc files formerly used for Apache 2.0.

Visual C++ 7.0 (.net) users should also use the Build menu, Configuration Manager dialog to uncheck both the `Debug` and `Release` Solution modules abs, `mod_ssl` and `mod_deflate`. These modules are built by invoking `nmake` or the IDE directly with the `BinBuild` target to build those modules conditionally if the `srclib` directories `openssl` and/or `zlib` exist.

Exported `.mak` files pose a greater hassle, but they are required for Visual C++ 5.0 users to build `mod_ssl`, abs (`ab` with SSL support) and/or `mod_deflate`. VC++ 7.0 (Visual Studio .NET) users also benefit, `nmake` builds were faster than `binenv` builds until the parallel compilation features introduced in Visual Studio 2005. Build the entire project from within the VC++ 5.0 or 6.0 IDE, preferably with mod_deflate, mod_ssl and abs, then use the Project Menu Export for all makefiles (preferably, with dependencies.) You must build the projects first in order to create all dynamic auto-generated targets, so that dependencies can be parsed correctly. Run the following command to fix the paths so they will build anywhere:

`perl srclib\apr\build\fixwin32mak.pl`

You must type this command from the top level directory of the httpd source tree. Every `.mak` and `.dep` project file within the current directory and below will be corrected, and the timestamps adjusted to reflect the `.dsp`.

If you contribute back a patch that revises project files, we must commit project files in Visual Studio 6.0 format. Changes should be simple, with minimal compilation and linkage flags that will be recognized by all VC++ 5.0 through 7.0 environments.

## Project Components

The `Apache.dsw` workspace and `makefile.win` `nmake` script both build the `.dsp` projects of the Apache server in the following sequence:

1. `srclib\apr\apr.dsp`
2. `srclib\apr\libapr.dsp`
3. `srclib\apr-util\uri\gen_uri_delims.dsp`
4. `srclib\apr-util\xml\expat\lib\xml.dsp`
5. `srclib\apr-util\aprutil.dsp`
6. `srclib\apr-util\libaprutil.dsp`
7. `srclib\pcre\dftables.dsp`
8. `srclib\pcre\pcre.dsp`
9. `srclib\pcre\pcreposix.dsp`
10. `server\gen_test_char.dsp`
11. `libhttpd.dsp`
12. `Apache.dsp`

In addition, the `modules\` subdirectory tree contains project files for the majority of the modules.

The `support\` directory contains project files for additional programs that are not part of the Apache runtime, but are used by the administrator to test Apache and maintain password and log files. Windows-specific support projects are broken out in the `support\win32\` directory.

1. `support\ab.dsp`
2. `support\htdigest.dsp`
3. `support\htpasswd.dsp`
4. `support\logresolve.dsp`
5. `support\rotatelogs.dsp`
6. `support\win32\ApacheMonitor.dsp`
7. `support\win32\wintty.dsp`

Once Apache has been compiled, it needs to be installed in its server root directory. The default is the `\Apache2` directory, of the same drive.

To build and install all the files into the desired folder dir automatically, use one of the following `nmake` commands:

    nmake /f Makefile.win installr INSTDIR=dir

    nmake /f Makefile.win installd INSTDIR=dir

The dir argument to `INSTDIR` gives the installation directory; it can be omitted if Apache is to be installed into `\Apache2`.

This will install the following:

- `dir\bin\httpd.exe` - Apache executable
- `dir\bin\ApacheMonitor.exe` - Service monitor taskbar icon utility
- `dir\bin\htdigest.exe` - Digest auth password file utility
- `dir\bin\htdbm.exe` - SDBM auth database password file utility
- `dir\bin\htpasswd.exe` - Basic auth password file utility
- `dir\bin\logresolve.exe` - Log file dns name lookup utility
- `dir\bin\rotatelogs.exe` - Log file cycling utility
- `dir\bin\wintty.exe` - Console window utility
- `dir\bin\libapr.dll` - Apache Portable Runtime shared library
- `dir\bin\libaprutil.dll` - Apache Utility Runtime shared library
- `dir\bin\libhttpd.dll` - Apache Core library
- `dir\modules\mod_*.so` - Loadable Apache modules
- `dir\conf` - Configuration directory
- `dir\logs` - Empty logging directory
- `dir\include` - C language header files
- `dir\lib` - Link library files

### Warning about building Apache from the development tree

Note only the `.dsp` files are maintained between `release` builds. The `.mak` files are NOT regenerated, due to the tremendous waste of reviewer's time. Therefore, you cannot rely on the `NMAKE` commands above to build revised `.dsp` project files unless you then export all `.mak` files yourself from the project. This is unnecessary if you build from within the Microsoft Developer Studio environment.
Also note it is very worthwhile to build the `BuildBin` target project (or the command line `_apacher` or `_apached` target) prior to exporting the make files. Many files are autogenerated in the build process. Only a full build provides all of the dependent files required to build proper dependency trees for correct build behavior.

In order to create distribution `.mak` files, always review the generated `.mak` (or `.dep`) dependencies for Platform SDK or other garbage, machine specific includes. The `DevStudio\SharedIDE\bin\` (VC5) or `DevStudio\Common\MSDev98\bin\` (VC6) directory contains the `sysincl.dat` file, which must list all exceptions. Update this file (including both forward and backslashed paths, such as both `sys/time.h` and `sys\time.h`) to ignore such dependencies. Including local-install paths in a distributed `.mak` file will cause the build to fail completely. And don't forget to run `srclib/apr/build/fixwin32mak.pl` in order to fix absolute paths within the `.mak` files.

Available Languages: en | ko