| When the World Wide Web first started out, there | | | | server'. Whatever the reason the name is chosen, it |
| weren't many servers to go around. There was only | | | | doesn't change the fact that this server has come a |
| the Netscape Communication Corporation server, | | | | long way. |
| which is now known as Sun Java Systems, and that | | | | Features |
| was it. So, as you must imagine, when the Apache | | | | The Apache web server boasts a bevy of features, |
| HTTP server came onto the scene, there was a lot of | | | | some of them being SSL and TSL support, a proxy |
| hype. | | | | module, common languages interfaces support, |
| Being the first viable alternative to the Netscape | | | | authentication modules, server-side programming |
| servers served Apache really well. Users who were | | | | language and a rewrite engine. |
| fed up with the usual took on this server that runs on | | | | Being a web server, it is used for virtual hosting. And |
| multiple platforms. In fact, the Apache web server has | | | | one Apache installation can be used to serve many |
| become so popular that it only took a mere four years | | | | different websites. And for remote viewing of Apache |
| for it to rival any other Unix-based web servers. Now | | | | logs, you can view them through an Internet browser |
| it has grown into a fully-fledged organization (the | | | | using free scripts, such as AWStats/W3Perl or |
| Apache Software Foundation) which advocates free | | | | Visitors. |
| and open software. | | | | And all of these features are upgraded with the |
| History | | | | release of Apache 2.0 on April 6 2002. Several |
| The Apache web server is a patchwork of ideas and | | | | upgrades include more flexible authorization API and |
| software, collectively developed by a group of | | | | improved cache and proxy modules. |
| programmers in mid-1994. It started off when Robert | | | | Aside from being able to serve the static and dynamic |
| McCool, who was involved in the NCSA web server | | | | web content on the Internet, the Apache web server |
| circulated a variety of patches via email to Brian | | | | is also used to serve other applications. Some of them |
| Behlendorf, Roy Fielding, Rob Hartill, David Robinson, | | | | include the LAMP web server application stack and |
| Cliff Skolnick, Randy Terbush, Robert S. Thau, Andrew | | | | IBM's Oracle Database. Another use of Apache is for |
| Wilson, Eric Hagberg, Frank Peters and Nicolas Pioch. | | | | the transmission of data over the Internet safely and |
| Altogether, they became the first Apache Team. | | | | securely. |
| The amusing moniker that this corporation has gained | | | | License |
| is a direct reference to the Native American tribe. The | | | | Being an open source program, the Apache web |
| primary developer, Brian Behlendorf, said that the | | | | server is made available to the general public for free. |
| name is obtained from a group of people that the | | | | This allows modifications and upgrades to be done by |
| organization wishes to emulate. However, some | | | | anyone in the open source community. This has been |
| people say that the name 'Apache web server' is | | | | a distinctive facet of the Apache HTTP server all |
| actually clever wordplay, derived from 'a patchy web | | | | throughout its history. |