Ansible Role - Apache2 Webserver

Ansible Role to deploy one or multiple Apache2 sites on a linux server.

Molecule Integration-Tests:

• Status: |
• Logs: API | Short | Full

Internal CI: Tester Role | Jobs API

Tested:

• Debian 11
• Debian 12

---

Install

# latest
ansible-galaxy role install git+https://github.com/ansibleguy/infra_apache

# from galaxy
ansible-galaxy install ansibleguy.infra_apache

# or to custom role-path
ansible-galaxy install ansibleguy.infra_apache --roles-path ./roles

# install dependencies
ansible-galaxy install -r requirements.yml

---

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---

Usage

Config

Define the apache dictionary as needed!

apache:
  headers:
    mySuperCustom: 'headerContent'

  modules:
    present: ['evasive', 'ssl', 'headers', 'rewrite']

  guys_statics:
    mode: 'serve'
    domain: 'static.guy.net'
    serve:
      path: '/var/www/site_guys_statics'

    ssl:
      mode: 'snakeoil'

    config:  # add settings as key-value pairs
      KeepAliveTimeout: 10
    config_additions:   # add a list of custom lines of config
      - 'location = / { return 301 /kitty.jpg; }'

  git_stuff:
    mode: 'redirect'
    domain: 'ansibleguy.net'
    aliases: ['www.ansibleguy.net']
    redirect:
      target: 'https://github.com/ansibleguy'

    ssl:
      mode: 'letsencrypt'

    letsencrypt:
      email: 'apache@template.ansibleguy.net'

    security:
      restrict_methods: false

Execution

Run the playbook:

ansible-playbook -K -D -i inventory/hosts.yml playbook.yml

There are also some useful tags available:

• base => only configure basics; sites will not be touched
• sites
• config => configuration (base and instances)
• certs

To debug errors - you can set the 'debug' variable at runtime:

ansible-playbook -K -D -i inventory/hosts.yml playbook.yml -e debug=yes

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Functionality

• Package installation

  • Ansible dependencies (minimal)
  • Apache2

• Configuration

  • Support for multiple sites/servers

  • Two config-modes:

    • serve (default)
    • redirect

  • Support for specific configurations using the 'config' and 'config_additions' parameters

  • Default config:

    • Disabled: <TLS1.2, unsecure ciphers, autoindex, servertokens/-signature, ServerSideIncludes, CGI
    • Security headers: HSTS, X-Frame, Referrer-Policy, Content-Type nosniff, X-Domain-Policy, XXS-Protection
    • Limits to prevent DDoS
    • Using a Self-Signed certificate
    • Modules: +ssl, +http2, headers, rewrite; -autoindex
    • HTTP2 enabled with fallback to HTTP1.1
    • IPv6 support disabled (at least one ipv6 address MUST EXIST)

  • SSL modes (for more info see: CERT ROLE)

    • selfsigned => Generate self-signed ones
    • ca => Generate a minimal Certificate Authority and certificate signed by it
    • letsencrypt => Uses the LetsEncrypt certbot
    • existing => Copy certificate files or use existing ones

  • Default opt-ins:

    • restricting methods to POST/GET/HEAD
    • status-page listener on localhost
    • Logging to syslog
    • http2

  • Default opt-outs:

    • Include the config file 'sites-available/site_{{ site_name }}_app.conf' for advanced usage

Options to provide module config will be added in the future!
Also some basic mods will get a pre-config added. (prefork, evasive)

---

Info

• Note: Most of the role's functionality can be opted in or out.

  For all available options - see the default-config located in the main/site defaults-file!

• Note: this role currently only supports debian-based systems

• Note: This role expects that the site's unencrypted 'server' will only redirect to its encrypted connection.

• Note: If you want any requested domain to get handled by a site/server you need to add a wildcard '*' as alias!
  

  BUT: You still have to provide a main domain!

• Warning: Not every setting/variable you provide will be checked for validity. Bad config might break the role!

• Info: To disable default settings and headers => just set their value to: ''

• Info: For LetsEncrypt renewal to work, you must allow outgoing connections to:

  80/tcp, 443/tcp+udp to acme-v02.api.letsencrypt.org, staging-v02.api.letsencrypt.org (debug mode) and r3.o.lencr.org