OpenBSD

Using OpenBSD's chrooted httpd

Copyright © 2003-2008 by Marc Balmer. All rights reserved.

OpenBSD some time ago changed the mode of operation for the Apache webserver from the normal non-chrooted operation to chrooted operation. This enhances the security of the server on which Apache is run but it imposes a few challenges to the system administrator.

In this article I will discuss selected aspects of running a chrooted HTTP daemon and present strategies on how to set up a chrooted environment for more complex applications like database access or using CGI-scripts.

(First published on April 6, 2003, revised on March 20, 2004, converted to HTML for online publishing on December 21, 2007.)

Software Projects

All of these projects, except dynload and mod_clamscan, are in the OpenBSD ports and packages collection.

Contributions to OpenBSD

  • watchdogd(8), a daemon to periodically retrigger the watchdog(4) timer device from userland
  • nmea(4), a NMEA 0183 line discipline
  • nmeaattach(8), a utility to attach the nmea(4) line disciplines to ttys, no obsoleted by the newer and more general ldattach(8) command
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