On Fri, 2011-08-26 at 13:37 -0400, m.roth at 5-cent.us wrote: > Paul, you've completely missed what John was asking: what qualifies as > o/s, and what qualifies as third party, or whatever? Which is apache, or > php, or gcc, or tomcat5? Certainly, tomcat and httpd get fired off by root > at system boot. Mark, I don't know about your systems but on ours php gcc tomcat5 do NOT require customisation. Apache does. For example:- ServerAdmin ServerName DirectoryIndex DefaultLanguage LanguagePriority and all the other site options Keeping the bits that remain static separate from the bits that change per server is our choice. Putting virtual hosts, including those with sub-domains, in a individual 'domain name' text file ensures for us smooth running. For us deleting a virtual host is deleting one named text file. Adding a virtual host means creating one text file. Changing a virtual host means changing one file. Moving a virtual host to a different server or even to a different operating system means moving one file. Of course it requires a service httpd restart or reload Meanwhile nothing else is disrupted, or at risk of disruption or inadvertently altered. We like quickness, simpleness and easiness. Keep it plain and simple is our motive. Those who like dumping everything in one large text file can. I was speaking to a sys admin this week who has only 1,200 virtual hosts in the main Apache file. Paul.