Apache and MOD_SSL

[mg911]

Since Solaris and this web page dont get along... searching was a pain, so hopefully this isnt a repost.

In my apache(with modssl) installation on Solaris, I go to the mod_ssl directory and then do my configure script

./configure --with-apache=../apache..... and so on

i then go to the apache directory and run

SSL_BASE=/usr/local/ssl ./configure --enable-module=ssl

OK now that you know the set-up here is my question for those appache/ssl brainy people

1) WHAT in the heck does SSL_BASE do ? do i even need it
2) I have found that running the SSL_BASE command remakes the MAKE file so it seems that it deletes all the initial settings i had done in my intial configure, THUS making it pointless for me running the fir configure in the first place (i can KINDA verify this befcause it changes the install directory)
3) is there a way to combine both steps into one?
4) Thanks to anyone who helps me out here - been trying to figure this out for a couple days and well the internet is no help

even on suns page it has 2 (two) configure statements -

http://www.sun.com/bigadmin/content/submitted/apache_mod_ssl.html

i just dont know why -- if the make file doesnt get modified, how do i make the install go to a directory like /usr/local/apache2 (when i do the SSL_BASE configure?)?

ok enough questions thanks again for the help!