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Apache Web server is the most commonly used http server today. About 80% of all websites and Intranets use Apache web server to deliver their content to requesting Browsers.
Why not go through each Opensourcevarsity, Apache web server tutorial? These will teach you step by step how to download, setup Apache, configure Apache and get Apache webserver to run successfully on M.S. Windows XP and Vista.
These operating systems, are most commonly used by web developers and web application programmer´s today.
While a ton of hosting companies, especially those that offer Linux based hosting, use Apache web server for delivering website content there are several other common implementations where Apache can be used, such as:
And more.
While the Apache webserver core has limited functionality, this functionality is greatly extended through a ton of compiled modules that can be embedded within the Apache core and used. You can pick up all the skills necessary to setup Apache. By stepping systematically through each Apache web server tutorial available.
Some examples of such compiled modules included with the Apache core are:
The end of the first Apache tutorial leads, pretty logically to the start of the next Apache tutorial. Hence if you work your way through each Apache web server tutorial steadily you will be able to deal with Apache web server with a whole lot of confidence.
Be the first to setup Apache on you desktop, then configure and use it. We've written each Apache web server tutorial carefully, with you in mind.
Do hop onto our Open source tutorial forum for a quick look while you are here. There are a lot of people who use it regularly, its lively and almost all of your Apache queries would get answered quickly.
Also, remember that every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, between 10:00am and 12:00am Indian Standard Time (i.e. GMT + 5.30) you can enter into live chat with Mr. Ivan Bayross a technical author who has written and published more than sixty seven books, and is still writing.
Apache web server has been developed by a loosely-knit group of programmers form the open source domain. It can be downloaded and used completely free of cost. The first version of Apache web server, based on the NCSA httpd Web server, was developed in 1995.
When Rob McCool, who had developed NCSA HTTPd, left NCSA in 1994, the project fizzled out. Since Apache web server's, source code was publicly available, many people using it had developed their own bug fixes and additional features that they needed for their own sites. The patches were shared via Usenet, as there was no centralized place for collecting and distributing these patches.
Brian Behlendorf and Cliff Skolnick had put up a mailing list and Brain set up a CVS (Concurrent Versioning System) tree, now anyone who wanted to could contribute new features and bug fixes. This led to a place where a group of developers could collect and distribute patches and bug fixes. Thus came into existence - Apache.
Since it was a patchy Web server, the name APACHE evolved from A PAtCHy sErver. The Apache version 0.6.2 was released in April 1995 and the version 1.0 was released on December 1, 1995. Currently there are two versions of Apache available the first is 1.3.X.XX-X the most popular and tried and tested and completely stable. Apache.org, the Apache website indicates that there will be no enhancements made to 1.3.X.XX-X only bug fixes will be done.
Apache is developed and maintained by an open community of developers under the auspices of the Apache Software Foundation. Apache is characterized as free software and open source software.
Apache web server is notable for playing a key role in the initial growth of the World Wide Web. In 2009 Apache web server became the first web server to surpass the 100 million web site milestone.
Apache web server was the first viable alternative to the Netscape Communications Corporation web server (currently known as Sun Java System Web Server), and has since evolved to rival other Unix- based web servers in terms of functionality and performance.
2.0.X.XX, is the latest version of Apache web server. This is being constantly bug fixed and enhanced (when creating this material). Either version can be used as a full-fledged production grade Web Server when required.
Apache Web Server can be downloaded from http://www.apache.org for free. Apache Web Server has the highest market share in the web server market (this includes parked web sites without any real content) and is Microsoft IIS's main competitor
Here’s the Internet’s Request / Response paradigm works.
Whenever a Browser makes an http request such as: http://www.opensourcevarsity.com/index.html
the following happens:
| http | This is the protocol used for communication between the Browser and the Web server. Since the Browser initiated the communication it has the privilege of setting the communication protocol. |
| :// | This is a separator that separates the protocol from the URL. |
| www.opensourcevarsity.com | This will be translated into a name:value pair i.e. ip:URL by DNS servers. Hence this will translate to an ip 74.86.170.172:www.opensourcevarsity.com |
Hence only the web server located on the computer identified by the ip 74.86.170.172 will reply to the requesting Browser and a communication link will be established.
As soon as the web server ( apache http server ) receives a request for the file index.html, the web server will search within URL’s folder on its hard disk for the existence of index.html.
If the file is found it is streamed back to the requesting Browser, where its content are processed appropriately and the web page is displayed in the Browser window.
If the file requested is not found an appropriate error message is streamed back to the requesting Browser which is displayed in the Browser window.
All of the above is described in a Diagram 1.
Diagram 1
Hence, to sum up, a Browser requests for a file, the web server searches for this file and responds by delivering it to the Browser. Then the web server breaks all connections with the Browser. The web server does not remember the Browser in anyway.
To install apache web server on Windows / XP / Vista :
Run the setup file of Apache web server which was dowloaded and saved to your harddisk earlier by double clicking on it.
Please take a look at our tutorial Download Apache Web Server.
Click Next as shown in Diagram 1
Diagram 1
On click of Next the Apache License screen will be shown as shown in Diagram 2
Diagram 2
Click Next and a screen will be displayed which contains information that should be read prior the install process starting as shown in Diagram 3
Diagram 3
Click Next and enter the Server Information details as explained below and shown in Diagram 4
Network Domain – any name can be given
Server Name – any name can be given
Administrator’s Email Address – should be a valid email address
(If apache server fails, then Apache sends a Email to the Administrators Email address)
Select the radio button - For All Users, on Apache Port 8080, as a service - Recommended
Diagram 4
Click Next and choose 'Typical' as the type of setup as shown in Diagram 5
Diagram 5
The Path to the folder where Apache will be installed is displayed. Change this if you wish Apache to be installed in any folder on your harddisk other than its default. Then Click Next as shown in Diagram 6
Diagram 6
The Apache installation process begins as shown in Diagram 7
Diagram 7
The installation completes as shown in Diagram 8
Diagram 8
The Apache control icon will be displayed in the Window's task bar. It’s the first icon in the image below, with the tiny green triangle as shown in Diagram 9
Diagram 9
To Restart Apache any time you need to simply double click this icon and from the Apache service monitor select 'Restart' as shown in Diagram 10
Diagram 10
To test Apache Web Server, open any Browser and type http://127.0.0.1 in its address bar and hit GO.
OR
Open any Browser and type - localhost - in its address bar and hit GO.
The page as shown in diagram 11 should be displayed in the Browser window. Apache has been successfully installed if it does.
Diagram 11
Apache is ready for use
The latest stable build of Apache http server can be downloaded from URL http://httpd.apache.org/download.cgi
Open a browser window and enter http://www.google.com in the address bar and hit GO.
In the Google search window that opens search for apache web server download or apache download as shown in Diagram 1.
Diagram 1
In the Search results window Click on the httpd.apache.org as shown in Diagram 2.
Diagram 2
When the httpd.apache.org site opens in the Browser window click on the link of “Win32 Binary without crypto (no mod_ssl) (MSI Installer):” latest available version as shown in Diagram 3.
Diagram 3
Save the zip file in the local drive of your computer system by clicking on the OK button of the window as shown in Diagram 4.
Diagram 4
The download process of the Apache Web Server setup file is successfully finished.
To uninstall Apache web server from Windows click on Start -> Control Panel as shown in Diagram 1.
Diagram 1
In the control panel window that opens locate and double click the Add or Remove Programs link as shown in Diagram 2.
Diagram 2
The Add or Remove Programs dialog box that pops up. Scroll down till the Apache HTTP Server 2.X entry is reached as shown in Diagram 3.
Diagram 3
Select this entry (i.e. Apache HTTP Server 2.X) as shown in Diagram 4 by clicking it once. Next click the Remove button on the right hand side to uninstall Apache.
Diagram 4
This will prompt for a confirmation to uninstall Apache HTTP server. Click on Yes as shown in Diagram 5.
Diagram 5
After collecting the information that the Apache server needs, the un-installation process begins.
This will be followed by a progress bar, indicating the uninstallation process of Apache HTTP server is in progress as shown in Diagram 6.
Diagram 6
Once complete, the Apache HTTP Server 2.X entry will finally disappear from the Add or Remove Programs as shown in Diagram 7.
Diagram 7
NOTE: At times during the uninstalling process of Apache web server from Windows via Add or Remove Program, the main folder of Apache is not deleted.
To confirm if this folder exists or not, navigate to C:\Program Files\ and check whether the Apache Software Foundation folder exists as shown in Diagram 8.
Diagram 8
If the Apache folder exists simply right click -> delete the folder manually as shown in Diagram 9.
Diagram 9
This will prompt for a confirmation to remove the Apache software foundation and all its contents. Click on Yes as shown in Diagram 10.
Diagram 10
This will successfully remove Apache from your system.
