Files
certctl/docs/connector-apache.md
T
claude b1ff59dbf2 docs: deployment vendor matrix + per-connector deep-dive docs (NGINX + K8s + IIS + Apache + F5)
Phase 14 of the deploy-hardening II master bundle. The procurement-
team headline doc + per-connector operator guides for the top 5
most-deployed connectors.

NEW docs/deployment-vendor-matrix.md (~30 rows):
- Per (connector × vendor-version) status: ✓ / CI / mock / pending / n/a
- Known issues + workarounds + e2e test name reference
- LTS + current-stable scope per frozen decision 0.1
- Quarterly re-pin cadence guidance for sidecar digests
- "How to add a new vendor version" recipe

Per frozen decision 0.14: a (connector × vendor-version) cell is
"verified" only when ALL apply: ≥1 happy-path e2e green; ≥1
specific-quirk test green for that version; operator manual smoke
completed at least once. Cells lacking the third criterion show
"CI" status (auto-tests green but pending operator validation).

Status snapshot at bundle close:
- NGINX 1.25 + 1.27: CI
- Apache 2.4: CI
- HAProxy 2.6 + 2.8 + 3.0: CI
- Traefik 2.x + 3.x: CI
- Caddy 2.x: CI
- Envoy 1.30 + 1.32: CI (file-mode SDS only; gRPC SDS V3-Pro)
- Postfix 3.6 + 3.8: CI
- Dovecot 2.3: CI
- IIS 10 (2019, 2022): pending (Windows-host-only CI)
- F5 v15.1 + v17.0 + v17.5: mock (real-F5 vagrant box documented)
- SSH OpenSSH 8.x + 9.x: CI
- WinCertStore (2019, 2022): pending (Windows-host-only)
- JavaKeystore JDK 11 + 17 + 21: pending
- K8s 1.28 + 1.30 + 1.31: CI

NEW per-connector deep-dive docs:
- docs/connector-nginx.md (~150 lines, 10 quirks documented)
- docs/connector-k8s.md (~110 lines, 10 quirks)
- docs/connector-iis.md (~120 lines, 10 quirks; Windows-host-only
  CI constraint loud)
- docs/connector-apache.md (~80 lines, 10 quirks)
- docs/connector-f5.md (~190 lines, 10 quirks; two-tier validation
  recipe for operator-supplied real-F5 vagrant box)

Each doc follows the same structure:
- Overview
- Vendor versions tested
- Per-quirk operator guidance (one section per
  TestVendorEdge_<vendor>_<edge>_E2E)
- Troubleshooting matrix
- V3-Pro deferrals
- Related docs cross-refs

Other connector docs (HAProxy, Traefik, Caddy, Envoy, Postfix,
Dovecot, SSH, WinCertStore, JavaKeystore) live in docs/connectors.md
+ are referenced from the matrix.

Phase 15 next: per-vendor CI matrix job in
.github/workflows/ci.yml.
2026-04-30 16:16:48 +00:00

3.0 KiB

Apache httpd Connector — Operator Deep-Dive

Per Phase 14 of the deploy-hardening II master bundle.

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/deployment-atomicity.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.