ICT:Clean URLs for MW 1.45

MediaWiki 1.45.2 Clean URL Configuration for kb.costasano.club

This document outlines the "Short URL" configuration for the wiki migration to version 1.45.2 on AlmaLinux 10.

Architecture Overview

• **Domain:** https://costasano.club
• **Frontend (Reverse Proxy):** Nginx on AlmaLinux 10 (Handling SSL/HTTPS).
• **Backend (Web Server):** Apache on AlmaLinux 10 (Handling PHP/MediaWiki).
• **Document Root:** /var/www/mw145 (index.php is located here).
• **URL Strategy:** Using the /wiki/ virtual prefix to simplify the Apache configuration and avoid the complex "exclusion lists" used in version 1.43.

Step 1: Nginx Proxy Configuration (The Bridge)

The Nginx proxy is configured as a "transparent bridge." It does not handle rewrites; it simply passes the /wiki/ path through to the Apache backend.

server {
    listen 443 ssl;
    server_name kb.costasano.club;

    # SSL Certs (Managed at Nginx layer)
    ssl_certificate /etc/letsencrypt/live/kb.costasano.club/fullchain.pem;
    ssl_certificate_key /etc/letsencrypt/live/kb.costasano.club/privkey.pem;

    location / {
        proxy_pass http://[BACKEND_IP_OR_HOSTNAME];
        proxy_set_header Host $host;
        proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-Proto https; # Tells MediaWiki the user is on HTTPS
        proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;
        proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-For $proxy_add_x_forwarded_for;
    }
}

Step 2: Apache Configuration (The Logic)

Apache handles the translation of the "clean" URL into a format PHP understands.

2.1 Enable Overrides

Ensure /etc/httpd/conf/httpd.conf (or your specific Vhost file) allows the .htaccess file to function:

<Directory "/var/www/mw145">
    AllowOverride All
    Require all granted
</Directory>

2.2 Create .htaccess

Place this file at /var/www/mw145/.htaccess. It maps the virtual /wiki/ path to the physical index.php.

RewriteEngine On

# 1. Map the virtual /wiki/ path to index.php
RewriteRule ^wiki/(.*)$ /index.php?title=$1 [PT,L,QSA]

# 2. Redirect root domain (kb.costasano.club/) to the Main Page
RewriteRule ^$ /wiki/ [R,L]

Step 3: MediaWiki LocalSettings.php

Update /var/www/mw145/LocalSettings.php to define the identity of the wiki and trust the Nginx header.

## URL Settings
$wgServer = "https://costasano.club";
$wgScriptPath = "";         // Files are directly in /var/www/mw145
$wgArticlePath = "/wiki/$1"; // Users see this path

## Reverse Proxy / HTTPS Handling
# Ensures MediaWiki knows it is served over HTTPS even if Apache is HTTP
if (isset($_SERVER['HTTP_X_FORWARDED_PROTO']) && $_SERVER['HTTP_X_FORWARDED_PROTO'] === 'https') {
    $_SERVER['HTTPS'] = 'on';
}

# Trust the internal IP of your Nginx Proxy
$wgUsePrivateIPs = true;
$wgCdnServersNoPurge = [ '127.0.0.1', '[IP_OF_NGINX_PROXY]' ];

Why we use the "/wiki/" prefix

• Simplicity: Unlike the version 1.43 setup, we no longer need a massive list of exclusions (RewriteCond) for every folder (skins, images, resources, etc.).
• Stability: It prevents "Path Collisions" where a wiki page name might conflict with a real folder on the disk.
• Performance: Reduces the processing load on Apache for every request.