shankar0123
ecb8896b1c
Phase 4 structural (commit 633e440) moved 6 connector files into the
new docs/reference/connectors/ subdirectory but didn't update all
inter-doc references for the new path layout. Phase 11 caught the
high-traffic ones; this sweep gets the rest, found by the Phase 4
follow-on verification pass.
Mappings applied (relative to docs/reference/connectors/):
deployment-atomicity.md → ../deployment-model.md
deployment-vendor-matrix.md → ../vendor-matrix.md
architecture.md → ../architecture.md
est.md → ../protocols/est.md
scep-intune.md → ../protocols/scep-intune.md
async-polling.md → ../protocols/async-ca-polling.md
quickstart.md → ../../getting-started/quickstart.md
demo-advanced.md → ../../getting-started/advanced-demo.md
legacy-est-scep.md → ../protocols/scep-server.md
connectors.md → index.md
Plus prose backtick references (`docs/architecture.md` etc.) updated
to the new subdirectory paths.
Files touched: apache, f5, iis, k8s, nginx, index. 33 line changes.
Full link-check across docs/reference/connectors/*.md is now clean
(0 broken inter-doc references).
3.2 KiB
Apache httpd Connector — Operator Deep-Dive
Last reviewed: 2026-05-05
Per Phase 14 of the deploy-hardening II master bundle. For the connector-development context (interface contract, registry, atomic deploy primitive shared across all targets), see the connector index.
Overview
The Apache connector (internal/connector/target/apache/) deploys
TLS certs to Apache 2.4 LTS via separate cert/chain/key files +
apachectl configtest validate + apachectl graceful reload.
Mirrors the canonical NGINX template (Bundle I Phase 5).
Vendor versions tested
- Apache httpd 2.4 LTS (only LTS branch; 2.6 is dev branch)
Per-quirk operator guidance
Multi-vhost cert-by-vhost
TestVendorEdge_Apache_MultiVhostCertByVhost_DeployIsolated_E2E
When Apache has multiple <VirtualHost> blocks each with its own
SSLCertificateFile, connector deploys to the matching vhost
only. Other vhosts unchanged.
apachectl graceful-stop drains cleanly
TestVendorEdge_Apache_ApachectlGracefulStop_DrainsCleanly_E2E
apachectl graceful (the connector default) preserves in-flight
TLS connections. apachectl restart drops them.
mod_ssl absent
TestVendorEdge_Apache_ModSSLAbsent_DeployFailsWithActionableError_E2E
If mod_ssl isn't loaded, apachectl configtest fails with
"Invalid command 'SSLCertificateFile'". Connector surfaces this
verbatim — operator action: LoadModule ssl_module modules/mod_ssl.so.
.htaccess interactions
TestVendorEdge_Apache_HtaccessRequireSSL_NotImpactedByDeploy_E2E
.htaccess rules requiring SSL are not impacted by cert rotation.
The Require directive evaluates per-request against the
connection's TLS state, not the cert file.
Apache 2.4 LTS reload semantics pinned
TestVendorEdge_Apache_Apache24LTSReloadSemanticsPinned_E2E
apachectl graceful semantics stable across 2.4.x patch versions.
No per-version branch needed.
Syntax error rollback
TestVendorEdge_Apache_SyntaxErrorRollback_E2E
apachectl configtest failure aborts before atomic rename. Live
cert untouched.
Per-vhost key ownership
TestVendorEdge_Apache_PerVhostKeyOwnership_E2E
When multiple vhosts share the same key file, ownership is preserved across rotation. When each vhost has its own key, per-file ownership is preserved per Bundle I Phase 5.
Reload preserves connections
TestVendorEdge_Apache_ReloadVsRestart_PreservesConnections_E2E
In-flight TLS sessions survive apachectl graceful worker
swap. Documented in docs/reference/deployment-model.md.
SNI server_name binding
TestVendorEdge_Apache_SNIServerNameDeployBindsCorrect_E2E
When deploy specifies server_name metadata, connector targets
the matching <VirtualHost> block.
Cert chain ordering
TestVendorEdge_Apache_ChainOrderingNormalized_E2E
Apache requires leaf cert FIRST in SSLCertificateFile (or
chain in SSLCertificateChainFile). Connector preserves operator-
supplied ordering across rotation.
V3-Pro deferrals
- Apache 2.6 (when it ships LTS).
- mod_md (Apache's built-in ACME) interop.