Apache HTTP Server

The Apache HTTP Server [ əpætʃi ] is an open source and free product of the Apache Software Foundation and the most widely used Web server on the Internet.

  • 6.2.1 Apache 2.0
  • 6.2.2 Apache 2.2
  • 6.2.3 Apache 2.3
  • 6.2.4 Apache 2.4

History

A group of eight developers began in 1994 to extend the web server NCSA HTTPd. These were as follows: Brian Behlendorf, Roy T. Fielding, Rob Hartill, David Robinson, Cliff Skolnick, Randy Terbush, Robert S. Thau, and Andrew Wilson, assisted by Eric Hagberg, Frank Peters and Nicolas Pioch.

They gave the results of their work the name of the Apache HTTP server and published it in April 1995. He was the founding project of the Apache Software Foundation.

Features and Functions

In addition to Unix and Linux Apache Win32, NetWare, and a variety of other operating systems. Especially on non-Unix systems - - In version 2.0, the stability and speed of the server has been greatly improved: The Library Apache Portable Runtime (APR ) is a generalization of important system calls are available so that the individual strengths of each operating system can be exploited. There are also different multiprocessing modules ( MPM) that offer different depending on the platform solutions for the simultaneous operation of multiple client requests: for example, sets the prefork MPM for classic Unix systems on forking of processes, while mpm_winnt for the more advisable under Windows threads optimized is.

The Apache web server is modular: it can, for example, by appropriate modules, the communication between the browser and Web server to encrypt ( mod_ssl ), are used as a proxy server ( mod_proxy ) or complex manipulation of HTTP headers ( mod_headers ) and URLs perform ( mod_rewrite ).

The Apache offers the possibility of using server-side scripting languages ​​to create web pages dynamically. Scripting languages ​​are frequently used are PHP, Perl or Ruby. Other languages ​​are Python, JavaScript (eg V8CGI ), Lua, Tcl and. NET ( ASP.NET with or mono). These are not part of the Web server, but must also either be integrated as modules or be accessed via the CGI. About the mod_include contained in the Apache installation Server Side Includes ( SSI) can be performed. This makes it possible to create simple dynamic web pages and minimize the administrative burden of static web pages.

The Apache HTTP server is, like all programs of the Apache Software Foundation, a free software. Currently, even the stable version 2.2.x supports and thus powered example with security updates. The Apache developers recommend the 2.4.x version for production use.

Origin of the name

The name was chosen out of respect for the North American Indian tribe of the Apaches. Is not correct, that the name of a reinterpretation of "a patchy server " is what so much as " a composite patched server " means. This interpretation arose from the fact that the Apache HTTP Server was originally an extension of the old patched NCSA HTTP server.

Distributions

The Apache HTTP Server is included by default in almost all Linux distributions and Mac OS X. A popular development distribution for Windows, Linux and Mac OS X XAMPP.

Important versions

  • Apache 1.x: This version was first published in 1995. The further development of the last branch 1.3.x expired in February 2010. Since version 1 was only if necessary receives security updates. Meanwhile, the supply is set with security updates.
  • Apache 2.x: This version was first published in March 2000. From this version, all development branches, supplies up to 2.0, even with security updates and further developments. However, the focus of the developers is on version 2.4.

Version History

Apache 1

Apache 1.0

Apache 1.3

Apache 2

Apache 2.0

Apache 2.2

Apache 2.3

Apache 2.4

Extension

The Apache server may very well be extended with so-called modules, which bring additional features and almost always start with ' mod_ ' (eg mod_rewrite mod_php5, mod_ssl ). There are modules for, inter alia

  • SSL ( mod_ssl for OpenSSL, mod_gnutls for GnuTLS )
  • Integration and use of dynamic scripting languages ​​( mod_php5 inter alia, mod_perl, mod_python )
  • Support of additional protocols (WebDAV: mod_dav, mod_dav_fs, mod_dav_lock, mod_dav_repos )
  • Authentication ( mod_auth *)
  • Forwarding to another server ( mod_proxy )
  • Rewriting and forwarding of requests ( mod_rewrite, the latter using mod_proxy )
  • Changes to header lines ( mod_header )
  • Automatic Information about file types ( mod_mime, mod_mime_magic )
  • Automatic generation of status reports ( mod_status )
Apache License National Center for Supercomputing Applications Roy Fielding Client (computing) Fork (system call) Modular programming Uniform Resource Locator Rewrite-Engine Communications protocol List of HTTP header fields .htaccess Netcraft Integrated Authority File
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