Apache Server Frequently Asked Questions

$Revision: 1.4 $ ($Date: 2000/04/04 17:06:14 $)

The latest version of this FAQ is always available from the main Apache web site, at <http://www.apache.org/docs/misc/FAQ.html>.

If you are reading a text-only version of this FAQ, you may find numbers enclosed in brackets (such as "[12]"). These refer to the list of reference URLs to be found at the end of the document. These references do not appear, and are not needed, for the hypertext version.

The Questions

Background

The Answers

A. Background

What is Apache?
The Apache httpd server
- is a powerful, flexible, HTTP/1.1 compliant web server
- implements the latest protocols, including HTTP/1.1 (RFC2616)
- is highly configurable and extensible with third-party modules
- can be customised by writing 'modules' using the Apache module API
- provides full source code and comes with an unrestrictive license
- runs on Windows NT/9x, Netware 5.x, OS/2, and most versions of Unix, as well as several other operating systems
- is actively being developed
- encourages user feedback through new ideas, bug reports and patches
- implements many frequently requested features, including:
  
  DBM databases for authentication
  
  allows you to easily set up password-protected pages with enormous numbers of authorized users, without bogging down the server.
  Customized responses to errors and problems
  
  Allows you to set up files, or even CGI scripts, which are returned by the server in response to errors and problems, e.g. setup a script to intercept 500 Server Errors and perform on-the-fly diagnostics for both users and yourself.
  
  Multiple DirectoryIndex directives
  
  Allows you to say DirectoryIndex index.html index.cgi, which instructs the server to either send back index.html or run index.cgi when a directory URL is requested, whichever it finds in the directory.
  Unlimited flexible URL rewriting and aliasing
  
  Apache has no fixed limit on the numbers of Aliases and Redirects which may be declared in the config files. In addition, a powerful rewriting engine can be used to solve most URL manipulation problems.
  Content negotiation
  
  i.e. the ability to automatically serve clients of varying sophistication and HTML level compliance, with documents which offer the best representation of information that the client is capable of accepting.
  
  Virtual Hosts
  
  A much requested feature, sometimes known as multi-homed servers. This allows the server to distinguish between requests made to different IP addresses or names (mapped to the same machine). Apache also offers dynamically configurable mass-virtual hosting.
  
  Configurable Reliable Piped Logs
  
  You can configure Apache to generate logs in the format that you want. In addition, on most Unix architectures, Apache can send log files to a pipe, allowing for log rotation, hit filtering, real-time splitting of multiple vhosts into separate logs, and asynchronous DNS resolving on the fly.
How and why was Apache created?
The About Apache document explains how the Apache project evolved from its beginnings as an outgrowth of the NCSA httpd project to its current status as one of the fastest, most efficient, and most functional web servers in existence.
Why the name "Apache"?
A cute name which stuck. Apache is "A PAtCHy server". It was based on some existing code and a series of "patch files".

For many developers it is also a reverent connotation to the Native American Indian tribe of Apache, well-known for their superior skills in warfare strategy and inexhaustible endurance. Online information about the Apache Nation is tough to locate; we suggest searching Google, Northernlight, Infoseek, or AllTheWeb.

In addition, http://www.indian.org/ and http://www.nativeweb.com/ are two excellent resources for Native American information.
OK, so how does Apache compare to other servers?
For an independent assessment, see Web Compare's comparison chart.

Apache has been shown to be substantially faster, more stable, and more feature-full than many other web servers. Although certain commercial servers have claimed to surpass Apache's speed (it has not been demonstrated that any of these "benchmarks" are a good way of measuring WWW server speed at any rate), we feel that it is better to have a mostly-fast free server than an extremely-fast server that costs thousands of dollars. Apache is run on sites that get millions of hits per day, and they have experienced no performance difficulties.
How thoroughly tested is Apache?
Apache is run on over 6 million Internet servers (as of February 2000). It has been tested thoroughly by both developers and users. The Apache Group maintains rigorous standards before releasing new versions of their server, and our server runs without a hitch on over one half of all WWW servers available on the Internet. When bugs do show up, we release patches and new versions as soon as they are available.
What are the future plans for Apache?
- to continue to be an "open source" no-charge-for-use HTTP server,
- to keep up with advances in HTTP protocol and web developments in general,
- to collect suggestions for fixes/improvements from its users,
- to respond to needs of large volume providers as well as occasional users.
Whom do I contact for support?
There is no official support for Apache. None of the developers want to be swamped by a flood of trivial questions that can be resolved elsewhere. Bug reports and suggestions should be sent via the bug report page. Other questions should be directed to the comp.infosystems.www.servers.unix or comp.infosystems.www.servers.ms-windows newsgroup (as appropriate for the platform you use), where some of the Apache team lurk, in the company of many other httpd gurus who should be able to help.

Commercial support for Apache is, however, available from a number of third parties.
Is there any more information available on Apache?
Indeed there is. See the main Apache web site. There is also a regular electronic publication called Apache Week available. Links to relevant Apache Week articles are included below where appropriate. There are also some Apache-specific books available.
Where can I get Apache?
You can find out how to download the source for Apache at the project's main web page.