Version of Apache installed on a Debian machine

Question

How can I check which version of Apache is installed on a Debian machine?

Is there a command for doing this?

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score 418 · Answer 1 · edited Sep 04 '16 at 19:12

418

Try apachectl -V:

$ apachectl -V
Server version: Apache/2.2.9 (Unix)
Server built:   Sep 18 2008 21:54:05
Server's Module Magic Number: 20051115:15
Server loaded:  APR 1.2.7, APR-Util 1.2.7
Compiled using: APR 1.2.7, APR-Util 1.2.7
... etc ...

If it does not work for you, run the command with sudo.

edited Sep 04 '16 at 19:12

daltonfury42

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answered Nov 14 '08 at 09:23

Todd Gamblin

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Warning: when running Apache 2.4 on Ubuntu 14, `apache2ctl -V` does not work without root privileges (... and it does not print the version). Whereas it works on Ubuntu 12 with Apache 2.2. Tricky. – philippe_b May 12 '14 at 16:25
It works on Ubuntu 12.04 and I believe a lot of people are still using Ubuntu 12.04, like me, who don't want to upgrade to 14 yet until all bugs with various software are eliminated complete.y – JohnMerlino Jul 15 '14 at 21:25
Works on `Debian 7.1` – Cyclonecode Sep 25 '14 at 11:25
apachectl -V dosen't work on suse10.04 instead we have to type /usr/sbin/apache2ctl -v to get right answer with root permission – farzam Sep 29 '14 at 08:42
how to check it in windows? Apache server – Hitesh Feb 05 '15 at 10:41
Worked on debian 8. But only for root user. `$ whereis apachectl apachectl: /usr/sbin/apachectl /user/share/man/man8/apachectl.8.gz` – NgaNguyenDuy Aug 27 '15 at 19:10
1

Worked fine on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 (64-bit) – DemiSheep Jan 26 '16 at 16:49
For the cases in which it doesn't work try "dpkg -l | grep apache", which has been posted in another reply below. It is the most accurate way! – GTodorov Mar 04 '16 at 06:39
Use the one in /usr/apache2/bin/apachectl . I have several. – jim May 19 '16 at 18:57
**apachectl -v** is OK! – xgqfrms Nov 07 '16 at 09:15
Starting from Debian 10 you should run "su -l" before "apachectl -V" – nurb Nov 18 '19 at 13:40

score 150 · Answer 2 · answered Jan 23 '12 at 13:03

150

This works for my Debian:

$ /usr/sbin/apache2 -v

answered Jan 23 '12 at 13:03

Elzo Valugi

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score 34 · Answer 3 · answered Aug 05 '11 at 12:48

You should use apache2ctl -v or apache2 -v for newer Debian or Ubuntu distributions.

apache:/etc/apache2# apache2ctl -v
Server version: Apache/2.2.16 (Debian)
Server built:   May 12 2011 11:58:18

or you can use apache2 -V to get more information.

apache2 -V
Server version: Apache/2.2.16 (Debian)
Server built:   May 12 2011 11:58:18
Server's Module Magic Number: x
Server loaded:  APR 1.4.2, APR-Util 1.3.9
Compiled using: APR 1.2.12, APR-Util 1.3.9
Architecture:   64-bit
Server MPM:     Worker
  threaded:     yes (fixed thread count)
    forked:     yes (variable process count)
Server compiled with....

Either upper -V or lowercase -v is ok but you may need to use sudo unless you're logged in as root. — sdexp, Jul 01 '18 at 14:28

Keshav Dial · Answer 4 · 2016-03-05T01:13:44.993

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The command varies depending on how your version of Linux has named the Apache Server.

On Debian and Mac OS:

apachectl -v

On Red Hat and Amazon's EC2 Linux use:

httpd -v

On other verisons of Linux try:

apache2 -v

You can use two different flags:

-v # gives you the version number
-V # gives you the compile settings including version number.

If you want to run the command with the full directory like user3786265 did but don't know where your apache is located, use the whereis command:

whereis httpd

edited Mar 05 '16 at 01:13

answered Mar 05 '16 at 01:07

Keshav Dial

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Brilliant. Your answer covers the range of server environments one might be trying to find the Apache version within. If it were my question, I'd have marked this as *the answer*. Perhaps the only thing I would suggest adding to your answer, is the common paths. In some environments the command might not be in the $PATH, so people trying these commands may get stuck. e.g. In my Debian enviro, I had to use `$ /usr/sbin/apache2 -v` because just `$ apache2 -v` returns `command not found`. This command will help users locate path to apache, if required: `ps -ef | grep apache` – inspirednz Aug 02 '16 at 19:20
`apache2 -v` also works on Debian (at least [Debian 8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debian#Release_timeline) (Jessie) on Raspberry Pi). – Peter Mortensen Dec 27 '16 at 14:44

score 25 · Answer 5 · edited Dec 27 '16 at 14:18

25

I am using Red Hat Linux and the following command works:

httpd -V

edited Dec 27 '16 at 14:18

Peter Mortensen

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answered Sep 24 '14 at 08:25

Dinesh

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score 15 · Answer 6 · answered Sep 17 '14 at 15:34

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Try it with sudo

apachectl -V
-bash: apachectl: command not found

sudo apachectl -V
Server version: Apache/2.4.6 (Debian)
Server built:   Aug 12 2013 18:20:23
Server's Module Magic Number: 20120211:24
Server loaded:  APR 1.4.8, APR-UTIL 1.5.3
Compiled using: APR 1.4.8, APR-UTIL 1.5.2
Architecture:   32-bit
Server MPM:     prefork
  threaded:     no
  forked:     yes (variable process count)
Server compiled with....
bla bla....

answered Sep 17 '14 at 15:34

Yogesh Yadav

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This won't work if there are currently syntax error in your configuration files – Wolfgang Fahl Nov 28 '15 at 08:03

score 15 · Answer 7 · edited Jul 17 '17 at 13:21

I think you have to be sure what type of installation you have binary or source. To check what binary packages is installed: with root rights execute following command:

dpkg -l |grep apache2

result should be something like:

dpkg -l |grep apache2

ii  apache2                               2.4.10-10+deb8u8                      amd64        Apache HTTP Server
ii  apache2-bin                           2.4.10-10+deb8u8                      amd64        Apache HTTP Server (modules and other binary files)
ii  apache2-data                          2.4.10-10+deb8u8                      all          Apache HTTP Server (common files)
ii  apache2-doc                           2.4.10-10+deb8u8                      all          Apache HTTP Server (on-site documentation)

To find version you can run :

apache2ctl -V |grep -i "Server version"

result should be something like: Server version: Apache/2.4.10 (Debian)

score 11 · Answer 8 · edited Dec 27 '16 at 14:19

11

You can also use the package manager directly:

dpkg -l | grep apache

This isn't focused on just version number, but it will make a broader search, which will give you other useful information, like module versions.

edited Dec 27 '16 at 14:19

Peter Mortensen

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answered Apr 09 '15 at 09:28

Balmipour

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The restriction to apache may be passed to dpkg directly. For an automated interpretation you also need a single value rather than a list, and you should not have the "uninstalled" apache2-* packages shown. Please also consider `dpkg -l apache2 | grep ^ii | awk '{print $3}' | cut -f1 -d-`or `dpkg -l "apache2*" | grep ^ii | awk '{print $3}' | cut -f1 -d- | head -n 1`. – smoe Jun 04 '17 at 10:21

score 6 · Answer 9 · edited Dec 27 '16 at 14:18

6

For me this works on Debian 6 (Squeeze):

Linux www809 2.6.26-2-xen-686 #1 SMP Wed Sep 21 09:56:47 UTC 2011 i686 GNU/Linux

I had to go to the right path:

/usr/local/apache/bin** $ **./apachectl -v

./apachectl: line 71: ulimit: open files: cannot modify limit: Operation not permitted
Server version: Apache/2.2.21 (Unix)
Server built: Dec 17 2011 19:57:53

edited Dec 27 '16 at 14:18

Peter Mortensen

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answered Jun 28 '14 at 16:01

merlinuwe

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score 6 · Answer 10 · answered Jun 23 '15 at 06:12

Another way round to check a package (including Apache) installed version on Debian-based system, we can use:

apt-cache policy <package_name>

e.g. for Apache

apt-cache policy apache2

which will show something like (look at the Installed line):

$ apt-cache policy apache2
apache2:
  Installed: (none)
  Candidate: 2.2.22-1ubuntu1.9
  Version table:
     2.2.22-1ubuntu1.9 0
        500 http://hk.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-updates/main amd64 Packages
        500 http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-security/main amd64 Packages
     2.2.22-1ubuntu1 0
        500 http://hk.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise/main amd64 Packages

score 5 · Answer 11 · edited Dec 27 '16 at 14:42

I tried running the command "httpd -V" and "apachectl -V", but I could not execute and was getting the error:

-ksh: php: not found [No such file or directory]

Then I tried another way. I went to the Apache directory on my server and then tried executing the command:

./apachectl -v

This worked for me and returned the output:

Server version: Apache/2.2.20 (Unix)
Server built:   Sep  6 2012 17:22:16

I hope this helps.

score 5 · Answer 12 · edited Dec 27 '16 at 14:49

You can use apachectl -V or apachectl -v. Both of them will return the Apache version information!

    xgqfrms:~/workspace $ apachectl -v

    Server version: Apache/2.4.7 (Ubuntu)
    Server built:   Jul 15 2016 15:34:04


    xgqfrms:~/workspace $ apachectl -V

    Server version: Apache/2.4.7 (Ubuntu)
    Server built:   Jul 15 2016 15:34:04
    Server's Module Magic Number: 20120211:27
    Server loaded:  APR 1.5.1-dev, APR-UTIL 1.5.3
    Compiled using: APR 1.5.1-dev, APR-UTIL 1.5.3
    Architecture:   64-bit
    Server MPM:     prefork
      threaded:     no
        forked:     yes (variable process count)
    Server compiled with....
     -D APR_HAS_SENDFILE
     -D APR_HAS_MMAP
     -D APR_HAVE_IPV6 (IPv4-mapped addresses enabled)
     -D APR_USE_SYSVSEM_SERIALIZE
     -D APR_USE_PTHREAD_SERIALIZE
     -D SINGLE_LISTEN_UNSERIALIZED_ACCEPT
     -D APR_HAS_OTHER_CHILD
     -D AP_HAVE_RELIABLE_PIPED_LOGS
     -D DYNAMIC_MODULE_LIMIT=256
     -D HTTPD_ROOT="/etc/apache2"
     -D SUEXEC_BIN="/usr/lib/apache2/suexec"
     -D DEFAULT_PIDLOG="/var/run/apache2.pid"
     -D DEFAULT_SCOREBOARD="logs/apache_runtime_status"
     -D DEFAULT_ERRORLOG="logs/error_log"
     -D AP_TYPES_CONFIG_FILE="mime.types"
     -D SERVER_CONFIG_FILE="apache2.conf"

You may be more like using apache2 -V or apache2 -v. It seems easier to remember!

    xgqfrms:~/workspace $ apache2 -v

    Server version: Apache/2.4.7 (Ubuntu)
    Server built:   Jul 15 2016 15:34:04


    xgqfrms:~/workspace $ apache2 -V

    Server version: Apache/2.4.7 (Ubuntu)
    Server built:   Jul 15 2016 15:34:04
    Server's Module Magic Number: 20120211:27
    Server loaded:  APR 1.5.1-dev, APR-UTIL 1.5.3
    Compiled using: APR 1.5.1-dev, APR-UTIL 1.5.3
    Architecture:   64-bit
    Server MPM:     prefork
      threaded:     no
        forked:     yes (variable process count)
    Server compiled with....
     -D APR_HAS_SENDFILE
     -D APR_HAS_MMAP
     -D APR_HAVE_IPV6 (IPv4-mapped addresses enabled)
     -D APR_USE_SYSVSEM_SERIALIZE
     -D APR_USE_PTHREAD_SERIALIZE
     -D SINGLE_LISTEN_UNSERIALIZED_ACCEPT
     -D APR_HAS_OTHER_CHILD
     -D AP_HAVE_RELIABLE_PIPED_LOGS
     -D DYNAMIC_MODULE_LIMIT=256
     -D HTTPD_ROOT="/etc/apache2"
     -D SUEXEC_BIN="/usr/lib/apache2/suexec"
     -D DEFAULT_PIDLOG="/var/run/apache2.pid"
     -D DEFAULT_SCOREBOARD="logs/apache_runtime_status"
     -D DEFAULT_ERRORLOG="logs/error_log"
     -D AP_TYPES_CONFIG_FILE="mime.types"
     -D SERVER_CONFIG_FILE="apache2.conf"

score 3 · Answer 13 · edited Jan 12 '11 at 15:10

3

For me apachectl -V did not work, but apachectl fullstatus gave me my version.

edited Jan 12 '11 at 15:10

Kev

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answered Nov 14 '08 at 09:33

pindiwala

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'apachectl -v' works for me on Mac, CentOS and Ubuntu. Which distro were you running on? apachectl fullstatus needs mod_status to make this work. So it's not universal solution either. – Konzulic Mar 05 '14 at 09:47
`apachectl fullstatus` did not work for me. I got `/usr/sbin/apachectl: 101: /usr/sbin/apachectl: www-browser: not found 'www-browser -dump http://localhost:80/server-status' failed.` (Debian 8 - Raspbian on a Raspberry Pi). However, `apachectl -V` did work. – Peter Mortensen Dec 27 '16 at 12:54

luis.espinal · Answer 14 · 2017-03-27T12:52:54.750

3

Some installations of Apache are fubar (think Oracle's packaging of it, OHS) and do not understand the -V flag, nor can be invoked directly without running into missing library errors.

Easiest way is to use the strings command (part of binutils) on the httpd binary and grep for a string that might resemble a version. For example, assuming your httpd binary is under directory /foo/bar:

$ strings /foo/bar/httpd  | grep 2.2
GLIBC_2.2.5
Oracle-HTTP-Server/2.2.22 (Unix)
Success_Accepted_202
202 Accepted

Most binaries (not all) contain their version (at least their major version) as static strings. This is my go-to way to get versions (or to corroborate what a binary's help message matches what reality on the ground truly is.)

edited Mar 27 '17 at 12:52

answered Sep 09 '16 at 12:22

luis.espinal

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Isn't `httpd` required to be in the current directory for this to work? – Peter Mortensen Dec 27 '16 at 14:47
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This helped me find out my previous version on my mounted old root from within the new Ubuntu installation. Worth mentioning: "strings" is part of package "binutils" – Zefiro Mar 26 '17 at 00:20
@PeterMortensen, yep. I guess my example assumed httpd would be in the current directory (and that the reader would infer that from the example and adjust as required.) *I'm editing my answer now to reflect that*. – luis.espinal Mar 27 '17 at 12:51
@Zefiro, thanks for the heads up. I'll update my answer to mention binutils. – luis.espinal Mar 27 '17 at 12:53

score 2 · Answer 15 · edited Jan 12 '11 at 15:10

2

Or, less directly:

nmap -A localhost -p 80

edited Jan 12 '11 at 15:10

Kev

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answered Nov 14 '08 at 09:24

Chad

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If apache is configured not to add version information to HTTP headers, you won't find anything. – Marki555 Jul 02 '15 at 14:21
nmap may not be installed (e.g. on a Raspberry Pi): `-bash: nmap: command not found` – Peter Mortensen Dec 27 '16 at 12:50

score 2 · Answer 16 · answered Feb 17 '17 at 01:04

Surely typing /usr/sbin/apache2 -v into the shell is the best and quickest way to go, by the way here's another option, just in case there's PHP too in your server and you're interested into gathering Apache version (and much more infos) in quick programmatical steps.

Just make an info.php file in your Apache web root folder (or whatever you like) and write these inside it:

<?php
    phpinfo();
?>

Now go to yoursite.com/info.php (or localhost/info.php for local machines).

You'll see your Apache version in PHP Variables section, here's an example:

phpinfo() example dump page

Also, please notice that these steps obviously apply to any web server with PHP integration, so it's not limited to Apache and once created that page could be handy while developing (just don't forget to remove it on production environments!!)

score 1 · Answer 17 · answered Aug 05 '16 at 19:58

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dlocate -s apache2 | grep '^Version:'

answered Aug 05 '16 at 19:58

agc

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Version of Apache installed on a Debian machine

17 Answers17