Developing custom Apache modules

[outpostmm]

Hello,

We have several servers that look like they are on 74 right now, but updates to 76 are pending.

We have a need in our application for a custom Apache module. Are there any special considerations to make with WHM/EA4?

Is the current Apache source already on the server somewhere so that I can include those header files, or should I download a particular version and compile against that?

What's the most effective way to make sure the custom module is included across updates to WHM, Apache, EA, etc?

If we need to run EA again in the future (say, to enable a new PHP extension or Apache module), do we need to do anything special to make sure our custom module gets compiled/included also?

Any other considerations that anyone could think of would be helpful.

Thanks

 

[cPanelMichael]

Hello @outpostmm,

Here's a link to our guide on how to build a custom RPM for use with EasyApache 4:

Tutorial - Building Custom Packages For EasyApache 4

Let us know if you have any questions!

Thank you.

 

[outpostmm]

I'm still going through the explanation of the spec file and things like that, but looking at one of the examples it looks like the source file just includes the various Apache header files, is that right? I don't have to distribute or get those headers myself as part of the package, correct? As long as I set up the spec file and other things right, when it compiles my package it's going to do it in an environment where all of the header files are available, right? How do I do the actual development and testing, I don't have to actually run EA every time I want to test my code, do I?

 

[cPanelMichael]

Hello @outpostmm,

We provide an example of everything that's included/required in a custom Apache module and it's source as part of the EA4 package at:

CpanelInc/ea4-example-specs

It's probably a good idea to setup a development server running cPanel & WHM so you can test out the custom EA4 package before using it on a production system:

Quickstart Development Guide - Obtain a cPanel Developer License - Developer Documentation - cPanel Documentation

Thank you.