mod_fastcgi-2.4.2 and Apache 2.2

This is a description of the steps needed to compile the mod-fastcgi module for Apache 2.2.

If you are trying to improve the performance of you web server or install the Rails web framework with Apache then this tech tip could save you a lot of frustration.

At the time of writing (01/25/2007) the distribution of this module (mod_fastacgi-2.4.2) will not compile for Apache 2.2 without patching the source. The problem stems from Apache dropping some definitions from an include file that mod_fastcgi relied upon. mod_fastcgi developers have known about the problem, and have had a workaround, since late 2005 but unfortunately the fix has not made it into a new release. Users are required to patch the source themselves... furthermore, to find this out you have to read through a bunch of messages on the fastcgi developers mailing list and be familiar with the patch command, which many of us are not.

So I've written up the necessary steps here with the goal of lessening this unnecessary pain for others. Hopefully the problem will be fixed properly soon but for now here is what you need to do...

This is written for a Linux Fedora Core 5 system but should be applicable to other Unix variants. You will want to be root when you install the software.

1. Install the Apache development libraries and include files

# yum install httpd-devel apr apr-devel apr-util-devel

On Fedora these will install the libraries into /usr/lib/httpd

2. Fetch the mod_fastcgi distribution and unpack

# wget http://www.fastcgi.com/dist/mod_fastcgi-2.4.2.tar.gz
# tar -zxvf mod_fastcgi-2.4.2.tar.gz
# cd mod_fastcgi-2.4.2

3. Fetch the patch

For convenience I've put a file containing the patch on my site

# wget http://www.craic.com/rails/installation/mod_fastcgi-2.4.2-apache2.2.patch

The original patch was created by Daniel Smertnig and can be found HERE.

4. Patch the distribution

Go to the directory that contains the mod_fastcgi distribution and apply the patch:

# patch -p0 < mod_fastcgi-2.4.2-apache2.2.patch
patching file mod_fastcgi-2.4.2/fcgi.h
patching file mod_fastcgi-2.4.2/Makefile.AP2
Hunk #1 succeeded at 20 with fuzz 1.

5. Fix the Makefile

Now cd into the mod_fasta-2.4.2 directory. Copy the Apache 2 specific Makefile into place:

# cp Makefile.AP2 Makefile

Open Makefile in an editor. Change top_dir to this:

top_dir = /usr/lib/httpd

Then uncomment the INCLUDES line and change it to this:

INCLUDES=-I /usr/include/httpd

Close the file and compile the module thus:

# make
# make install

You will see a bunch of warnings and commands that (hopefully) you can ignore. If the make suceeded you will see the module in the Apache modules directory:

# ls -l /usr/lib/httpd/modules/mod_fastcgi*
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 202193 Jan 24 18:07 /usr/lib/httpd/modules/mod_fastcgi.so

6. Update httpd.conf

Edit the Apache config file /etc/httpd/conf/httpd.conf add this line at the end of the LoadModules section:

LoadModule fastcgi_module modules/mod_fastcgi.so

Add this block towards the end of the file - just before the Virtual Hosts section. It has to be after the lines the begin User and Group.

<IfModule mod_fastcgi.c>
   FastCgiIpcDir /tmp/fcgi_ipc/
   AddHandler fastcgi-script .fcgi
</IfModule>

Save the file and restart Apache

# /sbin/service httpd restart

You should not have to jump through all these hoops to install this. FastCGI is a great piece of software and it is a shame that whoever maintains it has not been able to keep the distribution up to date.