Apache changing /etc/hosts?

[sparky87]

i would like to make something like creating subdomains on my Apache server.
it can only work, when i create a config file for every subdomains, or i add to httpd-vhosts something like this
<VirtualHost *:80>
ServerAdmin webmaster@dummy-host2.example.com
DocumentRoot "/www/docs/dummy-host2.example.com"
ServerName dummy-host2.example.com
ErrorLog "logs/dummy-host2.example.com-error_log"
CustomLog "logs/dummy-host2.example.com-access_log" common
</VirtualHost>

but what i have to do too, is, change the /etc/hosts file.
add something like, for example: 127.0.0.1 dummy-host2.example.com

the question is, how can i do this from some php script? when the user comes, wants to registrate himself -> by this registration i have to do those things written above, and he will have his subdomain. but, i cannot change /etc/hosts file, because it is owned by root, and php scripts are running under some apache user.

i dont know, if this is possible to make with suid and how is it possible...
pls, how can i do this?

thanks for answers

[matey]

I think may be you can chmod the files or the whole directory under /etc/ to include reg. users?!
I had to do this once using Zope (although zope makes its own user in proc. of installation)...

I am not sure it is such a good idea, and I am not sure if you have access as root yourself?
May be someone who knows more than me can help you?
good luck

[id10t]

You don't need to modify /etc/hosts when you add a virtual host... as long as DNS points to your IP apache will respond with the content for that name.

BTW - recommend putting each vhost in its own config under /etc/apache2/sites-available and then putting a link to it in /etc/apache2/sites-enabled

Also while I know how to hand create all the needed files for domain hosting (dns, web, email) I've found great joy in relaxing and just using ispconfig ...

[sparky87]

to matey:
thanks, i can chmod the files under /etc/ and it will work, of course. but i am not really sure, if it is secure and good to do it so. what do you think? i don't know...

to id10t:
well, i put each vhost in its own config -> these files are saved in /www/conf/vhosts and in file /www/conf/extra/httpd-vhosts.conf is this: Include conf/vhosts, what says, where apache has to look for vhosts config files. -> but i have to modify /etc/hosts too, like i wrote above...
but you say, i don't need to modify /etc/hosts. in fact, i dont understand this very well. the problem is, i don't have any DNS system so i cannot use A records. this system works only on my localhost - in this case i need to modify /etc/hosts . or is it possible to do it without that????

[matey]

sparky87;

As I said I had this problem with Zope but I am using this machine all by myself so no one else has any access to it therefore I do not know what happens?
I made it work though but again I made a mistake when I set up zope and installed it under /root directory!?
then I had to do chmod +x /root/zope/ to give the zope user the access...

so if you are in a situation where a lot of others (human users) have access to your machine then I would not do that, or just copy the (config) files you want to try (not the whole folder) to a safe location so you can later move them back in case some thing happened.
It's always a good thing to copy files for safe-keeping any way
Good Luck.

[sparky87]

to matey:
ok, thanks for your advices. when i won't find out any another way hot do it, i will do, what you say.

but when someone has some another idea, just let me know