How to apache identify for which virtual host the request has come?

kris_rocks! · 01-22-2011, 01:56 PM

Hi Guys!

I'm having some basic doubt! Consider 5 virtual domains has configured under a same server. I mean 5 different domains under same IP. Eg. mydomain1.com and mydomain2.com have IP 208.27.1.89. So when web browser request for mydomain1.com name server return IP address 208.27.1.89. Then browser contact IP 208.27.1.89 on port 80. Here comes my question how does apache know that the browser is looking for mydomain1.com not mydomain2.com. How apache differentiate the request for it's virtual hosts? By the way, what is a virtualhost ?

AlucardZero · 01-22-2011, 02:17 PM

The HTTP 1.1 specification provides this.

http://www.w3.org/Protocols/rfc2616/....html#sec14.23

Code:

 For example, a request on the origin server for <http://www.w3.org/pub/WWW/> would properly include: 
       GET /pub/WWW/ HTTP/1.1
       Host: www.w3.org

A client MUST include a Host header field in all HTTP/1.1 request messages

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_hosting