Linux Network Administrator's Guide, 3rd Edition

Chapter 14. Configuring the Apache Web Server

One of the most widely used software packages under Linux currently is the Apache web server. Starting in 1995 as small group of developers, the Apache Software foundation incorporated in 1999 to develop and support the Apache HTTP server. With a base of more than 25 million operational Internet web servers, Apache’s HTTP server is known for its flexibility and performance benefits. In this section, we will explore the basics of building and configuring an Apache HTTP server and examine some options that will assist in the security and performance of its operation. In this chapter, we’ll be looking at Apache v1.3, which is currently the most widely deployed and supported version.

Apache HTTPD Server—An Introduction

Apache is in itself just a simple web server. It was designed with the goal of serving web pages. Some commercial web servers have tried to pack many different features into a web server product, but such combination products tend to be open to substantial numbers of security vulnerabilities. The simplicity and modular design of the Apache HTTPD server brings a more secure product, and its track record especially when compared to other web servers shows it to be a stable and robust product.

This is not to say that Apache servers are incapable of providing dynamic content to users. There are many Apache modules that can be integrated to provide an almost infinite number of new features. Add-on products, such as PHP and mod_perl ...