Ubuntu – How to resolve 403 Forbidden on localhost

If you're getting a 403 error it probably means the directory does not exist, or the privileges on that directory won't let you see it.

My problem was that the default virtual host settings were pointing to a directory that didn't exist.

So here's what you should do: (assuming you're on Snow Leopard)

1. Find and open your virtual hosts configuration file.

   pico /etc/apache2/extra/httpd-vhosts.conf
   

2. Check that your virtual host definitions are in there, otherwise create them

   <VirtualHost *:80>
   ServerAdmin webmaster@localhost
   DocumentRoot "/Users/yourusername/Sites/mysite"
   ServerName mysite.local
   ErrorLog "/private/var/log/apache2/mysite-error_log"
   CustomLog "/private/var/log/apache2/mysite-access_log" common
   </VirtualHost>
   

3. Open up /etc/hosts file and add your virtual host name. This is what's in mine:

   ##
   # Host Database
   #
   # localhost is used to configure the loopback interface
   # when the system is booting.  Do not change this entry.
   ##
   127.0.0.1          localhost
   255.255.255.255    broadcasthost
   ::1                localhost 
   fe80::1%lo0        localhost
   
   # VIRTUAL HOST START
   127.0.0.1          localhost
   127.0.0.1          mysite.local
   # VIRTUAL HOST STOP
   

4. Now restart Apache and you should be good to go!

   sudo apachectl restart
   

I added the name server in the httpd.conf file but still am coming up with this error message.

Sorry to say but no, you didn’t. This is effectively what you have:

# If your host doesn't have a registered DNS name, enter its IP address here.
#
#ServerName www.example.com:80
#ServerName localhost:8080

Note how all of the lines above #ServerName localhost:8080 have # prepended to them. That means they are commented out. Look around that config file; there are other lines that are commented as well as commented out. To make your setting take effect, you need to uncomment it like this.

# If your host doesn't have a registered DNS name, enter its IP address here.
#
#ServerName www.example.com:80
ServerName localhost:8080

Then restart Apache and you should be able to access that Apache server at http://localhost:8080 as expected.