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Apache HTTP server
*** Shopping-Tip: Apache HTTP server
{{Infobox_Software| name = Apache HTTP Server
|screenshot =
Image:Apache_HTTPd_logo.png 355px|center|Apache HTTPd Logo
|caption =
|developer =
Apache Software Foundation
|latest_release_version =
|latest_release_date =
|latest_preview_version =
|latest_preview_date =
|operating_system =
Cross-platform
|genre =
HTTP web server
|license =
|website = [http://www.apache.org/ www.apache.org]
}}
'''Apache HTTP Server''' is a
free software/
open-source software open source HyperText Transfer Protocol HTTP web server for
Unix-like systems (
Berkeley Software Distribution BSD,
Linux, and
Unix UNIX systems),
Microsoft Windows,
Novell NetWare and other platforms. Apache is notable for playing a key role in the initial growth of the
World Wide Web, and continues to be the most popular web server in use, serving as the reference platform against which other web servers are designed and judged.
Apache features highly configurable error messages,
Database management system DBMS-based authentication databases, and
content negotiation. It is also supported by several
graphical user interfaces (GUIs) which permit easier, more intuitive configuration of the server.
The Apache HTTP Server is developed and maintained by an open community of developers under the auspices of the
Apache Software Foundation.
History
Apache web server was originally created by
Robert McCool Rob McCool, who was heavily involved with the
National Center for Supercomputing Applications web server, known simply as
NCSA HTTPd. When Rob left NCSA in mid-1994, the development of httpd stalled, leaving a variety of patches for improvements circulating through e-mails.
Rob McCool was not alone in his efforts. Several other developers helped form the original "Apache Group":
Brian Behlendorf,
Roy Fielding Roy T. Fielding,
Rob Hartill, David Robinson, Cliff Skolnick, Randy Terbush, Robert S. Thau, Andrew Wilson, Eric Hagberg, Frank Peters, and Nicolas Pioch.
The author claims the name was initially chosen as a catchy name in order to be original, but the most widespread interpretation (which almost immediately surfaced) is that the name comes from the fact that when it was developed in early
1995, it consisted of changes in the code to the most popular HTTP server of the time,
NCSA HTTPd 1.3 and was therefore "a patchy" server. However, in the FAQ on the server's official site, it is stated: "The name 'Apache' was chosen from respect for the Native American Indian tribe of
Apache (Indé), well-known for their superior skills in warfare strategy and their inexhaustible endurance."
At the time, Apache was the only viable
open source alternative to the
Netscape Communications Corporation Netscape web server (currently known as
Sun Java System Web Server). It has since evolved to rival other
Unix-based
HTTP servers in terms of functionality and performance. Since April
1996 Apache has been the most popular HTTP server on the
Internet. By May
1999 Apache installations served 57% of all
web sites. Its popularity continued to rise, and in February 2006 Apache served 68% of all
web sites ([http://news.netcraft.com/archives/2006/02/02/february_2006_web_server_survey.html Netcraft Web Server Survey, February 2006]).
Microsoft's
Internet Information Services (IIS) is the main competitor to Apache, trailed by Sun Microsystem's
Sun Java Web Server and a host of other applications such as
Zeus Web Server Zeus.
License
{{main|Apache License}}
The
Open-source license License under which software from the Apache Foundation is distributed is a distinctive part of the Apache HTTP Server's history and presence in the open source software environment. The Apache License is atypical in that it allows for the distribution of both open- and closed-source
Fork (software development) derivations of the source code.
Furthermore, it is perhaps surprising that the
Free Software Foundation does not consider the Apache License to be "compatible" with version 2.0 of the
GPL, meaning that software licensed under the Apache License cannot be integrated with software that is distributed under the GPL. Here is what the FSF says about the Apache License:
:This is a free software license but it is incompatible with the GPL. The Apache Software License is incompatible with the GPL because it has a specific requirement that is not in the GPL: it has certain patent termination cases that the GPL does not require. (We don't think those patent termination cases are inherently a bad idea, but nonetheless they are incompatible with the GNU GPL.)
The current draft of Version 3 of the GPL includes a provision (Section 7e) which allows it to be compatible with licenses that have patent retaliation clauses, including the Apache License.
Usage
Apache is primarily used to serve static and
Dynamic Web page dynamic content on the World Wide Web. Many
web applications are designed expecting the environment and features that Apache provides.
Apache is the web server component of the popular
web server application stack called
LAMP (software bundle) LAMP (
Linux, Apache,
MySQL,
PHP/
Perl/
Python programming language Python).
Apache is redistributed as part of various
proprietary software proprietary packages, for example: the
Oracle database or the
International Business Machines IBM WebSphere application server.
Mac OS X integrates Apache as its built-in web server. It is also supported in some way by
Borland in the
Kylix programming tool Kylix and
Delphi programming language Delphi development tools. Apache is included with
Novell Netware 6.5, where it is the default web server.
Apache is used for many other tasks where content needs to be made available in a secure and reliable way. One example is sharing files from a personal computer over the Internet. A user who has Apache installed on their desktop can put arbitrary files in the Apache's document root which can then be shared.
Programmers developing web applications often use a locally installed version of Apache in order to preview and test code as it is being developed.
Features
Apache supports a variety of features, many implemented as compiled modules which extend the core functionality. These can range from server-side programming language support to authentication schemes. Some common language interfaces support
mod perl Perl,
mod python Python,
Apache Rivet Tcl, and
PHP. Popular authentication modules include mod_access, mod_auth, and mod_digest. A sample of other features include
Secure Sockets Layer SSL and
Transport Layer Security TLS support (mod_ssl), a
proxy server proxy module, a useful URL rewriter (also known as a
rewrite engine, implemented under mod_rewrite), custom log files (mod_log_config), and filtering support (mod_include and mod_ext_filter). Apache logs can be analysed through a web browser using free scripts such as
AWStats or
Visitors.
Apache 2
Version 2 of the Apache server was written from scratch and contains no code from NCSA. The Apache 2.x core has several major enhancements over Apache 1.x. These include
Thread (computer science) UNIX threading, better support for non-Unix platforms (such as Windows), a new Apache
application programming interface API, and
IPv6 support.
Version 2.2 introduced a new auth API that allows for more flexibility, it also features improved cache modules and proxy modules.
See also
{{portalpar|Free software}}
*
Comparison of web servers
*
Stronghold (software) Stronghold, commercial version formerly distributed by
Red Hat
*
ApacheBench
*
POSSE project
External links
-
Apache official website
-
Apache Win32 binaries
-
Apache 2.x source code repository
-
ONLamp.com Apache DevCenter
-
Apache Week
-
Apache News Online
-
Installing and configuring Apache on Windows XP - step-by-step tutorial describing virtual name-based hosting on Windows XP.
Further reading
*{{cite book | author=Lopez, Daniel | title= Sams Teach Yourself Apache 2 in 24 Hours| publisher= Sams| year= June 12, 2002| id=ISBN 0672323559}} Excellent easy to use book, the 3rd chapter, which explains how to install Apache, can be viewed on Amazon.com [http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0672323559/ here] ''(must register with Amazon first before viewing book pages)'' Page 45 explains how to download Apache on windows.
*{{cite book | author= Wrightson, Katherine| title=Apache Server 2.0: A Beginner's Guide | publisher= Osborne/McGraw-Hill| year= September 5, 2001| id=ISBN 007219183X}} Complex language makes this guide difficult to understand except for computer administrators familiar with the jargon.
{{FOLDOC}}
Category:Web server software
Category:Apache Software Foundation projects HTTP Server
cs:Apache HTTP Server
da:Apache (webserver)
de:Apache HTTP Server
es:Servidor HTTP Apache
fa:آپاچی (نرم‌اÙ?زار)
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ko:아파치 웹 서버
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ja:Apache
no:Apache (webserver)
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sl:Spletni strežnik Apache
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uk:Ð?пачі (веб Ñ?ервер)
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Apache HTTP Server
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