I don't touch httpd.conf, but add virtual config files under conf.d (depends on your distrib).
Have a look at the install doc for the virtual host config here, they have the proper config described if you want to use nice urls (and you want, I'm sure ;)
I also put the rewrite rules ( <IfModule mod_rewrite.c> ... </IfModule> ) inside one seperate file, which I include in all regular eZ publish virtual hosts with the Include directive.