beanzai's blog: April 2007

Monday, April 2, 2007

Technical Report

Apache HTTP server is a web server, Apache able to apply on various platforms such as Unix-like systems, Microsoft windows. Novell Netware, Mac OS X and any others. The first release of Apache(version 1.x) using NCSA httpd 1.3 as a base. Due to apache was the only free web server available at the moment, Apache Web server has gain popularity in a short period of time, and turn to rival other Unix-base web server in terms of functionality and performance.

Version 2 of the Apache server was a substantial re-write of much of the Apache 1.x code, with a strong focus on further modularization and the development of a portability layer, the Apache Portable Runtime. 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 Microsoft Windows), a new Apache API, and IPv6 support. The first alpha release of Apache 2 was in March 2000 with the first general availability release on the 6^th of April 2002. Version 2.2 introduced a new auth API that allows for more flexibility. It also features improved cache modules and proxy modules.(Apache HTTP server, Wikipedia)

The key that makes Apache over other rivals is LAMP (software bundle), referring to a solution stacks of software program that includes free software programs to run dynamic Web sites. L stands of Linux, one of the major free operating system. A stands for Apache. M stands for mySQL, DBMS. P stands for PHP, Perl or Python, the server side programming language. (LAMP, Wikipedia)

By expanding apache capability, many compiled modules are ready to extend apache. For an instance, server-side programming PHP is the one of the most popular programming language that specially paired with apache to create dynamic content web pages. Authentication schemes has SSL and TSL, and also proxy modules, that resovles URL.

References:
1. New features on Apache version 2.0
http://httpd.apache.org/docs/2.0/new_features_2_0.html

2. Apache HTTP server, Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apache_HTTP_Server

3. Apache HTTP server project
http://httpd.apache.org/

4. LAMP(software bundle), Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LAMP_%28software_bundle%29

Sunday, April 1, 2007

Non-Technical Report

Often referred to as simply Apache, a public-domain open source Web server developed by a loosely-knit group of programmers. The first version of Apache, was developed in 1995 and been the most popular HTTP server.

Apache HTTP server is free/open-source web server software, that playing an important roll in the growth of the World Wide Web. Core development of the Apache Web server is performed by a group of about 20 volunteer programmers, called the Apache Group. However, because the source code is freely available, anyone can adapt the server for specific needs, and there is a large public library of Apache add-ons. In many aspects, development of Apache is similar to development of the Linux operating system.

Unlikely to other open-source/free software that under GPL license, Apache released under Apache license because there are some specific requirements conflict between Apache and GPL license.

The original version of Apache was written for UNIXbase system, but the latest version which has much improvement on supporting non-UNIX base system, for example, Microsoft Windows, OS/2, MacosX and other operating system. Moreover, Apache support various of feature, by combining other modules able to enhance the core functionality. For an instance server-side programming language (PHP) enable apache to create dynamic content web page from server-side to client, authentication schemes (SSL) enable apache for better security on data transfer. This is to avoid important information being tempered during data transfer, not only on prevention, but it also provide authentication process to ensure the information being sent to the trusted site by verifying the digital signature.