Apache HTTP Server is an open source HTTP web server for Unix-like systems (BSD, Linux, and UNIX systems), Microsoft Windows, and other platforms.

Apache features highly configurable error messages, DBMS-based authentication databases, and content negotiation. It is also supported by several GUIs which permit easier, more intuitive configuration of the server [1].

The Apache HTTP Server is developed and maintained by an open community of developers under the auspices of the Apache Software Foundation.

Brief history

Initially, Apache was the only viable open source alternative to the Netscape web server (currently known as iPlanet). It has since evolved to rival (and probably surpass) any other Unix based HTTP server in terms of functionality and speed. Since April 1996 Apache has been the most popular HTTP server on the Internet: in May 1999 it was running on 57% of all web servers; by August 2004 this percentage had increased to 67%.

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". It has since been rewritten from scratch and Apache 2.x does not contain any NCSA code.

Usage

Apache is the web server component of the popular web server set of programs called LAMP: Linux, Apache, MySQL and PHP.

Apache is redistributed as part of various proprietary packages, e.g., the Oracle database or the IBM WebSphere application server. It is also supported in some way by Borland in the Kylix and Delphi development tools.

Feature set

Apache supports a variety of features, many implemented as compiled modules. These can range from server-side programming language support to authentication schemes. Some common language interfaces support Perl, Python, and PHP. Popular authentication modules include mod_access, mod_auth, and mod_digest. A sample of other features include SSL and TLS support (mod_ssl), a 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.

Version 2.x

The Apache 2.x core has several major enhancements over Apache 1.x. These include UNIX threading, better support for non-Unix platforms (such as Windows), a new Apache API, and IPv6 support.

External links

• Apache official website
• New Features in Apache 2.0
• New Features in Apache 2.2
• SVN trunk of Apache 2.x
• Apache GUIs
• Netcraft Uptime Survey, a service tracking uptime of web servers
• Apache DevCenter
• Apache Week
• Links at Open Directory Project
• Accelerating Apache Project
• Introduction to mod_rewrites on Switch9
• mod_rewrite: A Beginner's Guide to URL Rewriting on Sitepoint