Web Server Overview

Different options for establishing a presence: hosting (shared, dedicated), co-location, in-house. Cost/benefit. Professional vs. fun.

Which web server? Apache, boa, AOLServer.

Let's assume Apache for our purposes. It's the most popular web server on the public internet, with more sites served than all other web servers combined.

Apache documentation:

• http://httpd.apache.org/docs

Different categories of files:

• configuration - /etc/httpd, /etc/apache
• web pages - /var/www, ~/public_html
• logs - /var/log/httpd, /var/log/apache

Static pages vs. cgi vs. server extensions. PHP.

Startup, shutdown. /usr/sbin/apachectl

Good server hygeine

• Check logs: access logs, error logs
• Keep up with patches

Case study: the Caboteria http://www.caboteria.org/. The goal is to have fun so it's run on a cable modem with DNS hosted by a DNS hosting company. Apache, Debian, Wiki, PHP. Pros: flexible. Cons: not reliable (IP change, cable outage, power outage, hw failure).

-- TobyCabot - 24 Mar 2003