Amazon.com: Apache Desktop Reference (0785342604702): Ralf S. Engelschall: Books

Book Description

Publication Date: December 15, 2000

Now, Apache web professionals have a single source for authoritative information on every Apache installation decision, command line option, configuration directive, add-on module, and Internet-based information resource they need to know -- both for Apache 1.x and the brand-new 2.0 release. Apache Core Development Team member Ralf Engelschall covers everything Web administrators need to know to get results and solve problems with Apache. He begins with detailed coverage of Apache's functionality and program architecture, including all standard Apache modules. He reviews building the Apache package from source, walking through a typical Apache installation step-by-step. Next, Engelschall provides a detailed reference to all Apache Autoconf-style Interface (APACI) options -- many of which he originally created -- as well as special issues such as configuring the Dynamic Shared Object (DSO) facility. The book covers Apache's run-time configuration, introducing configuration files and contexts, and providing a complete reference to all configuration directives associated with standard Apache modules. You'll find a full chapter on Apache command line options, especially useful for startup and restart situations; references to CGI/1.1 variables, Server Side Include (SSI) variables, and more. Finally, Engelschall offers a detailed guide to Apache resources and references on the Internet, designed to help Web professionals find answers to virtually any question.

#outer_postBodyPS { display: none; } #psGradient { display: none; } #psPlaceHolder { display: none; } #psExpand { display: none; } Now, Apache web professionals have a single source for authoritative information on every Apache installation decision, command line option, configuration directive, add-on module, and Internet-based information resource they need to know -- both for Apache 1.x and the brand-new 2.0 release. Apache Core Development Team member Ralf Engelschall covers everything Web administrators need to know to get results and solve problems with Apache. He begins with detailed coverage of Apache's functionality and program architecture, including all standard Apache modules. He reviews building the Apache package from source, walking through a typical Apache installation step-by-step. Next, Engelschall provides a detailed reference to all Apache Autoconf-style Interface (APACI) options -- many of which he originally created -- as well as special issues such as configuring the Dynamic Shared Object (DSO) facility. The book covers Apache's run-time configuration, introducing configuration files and contexts, and providing a complete reference to all configuration directives associated with standard Apache modules. You'll find a full chapter on Apache command line options, especially useful for startup and restart situations; references to CGI/1.1 variables, Server Side Include (SSI) variables, and more. Finally, Engelschall offers a detailed guide to Apache resources and references on the Internet, designed to help Web professionals find answers to virtually any question.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

The best way to predict the future is to invent it. --Alan Kay

On a monthly basis, Netcraft checks a representative set of web servers around the world to gather statistics about the server market. For its Web Server Survey 1 in April 2000 (see Figure 0.1 on the following page), more than 14 million web sites were contacted and their server software identified by parsing the HTTP responses.

According to Netcraft, as of April 2000, more than 60 percent of the servers were based on Apache--that is, more than 8 million web servers. Apache has been the market leader for more than three years now and has put a large distance between itself and its competitors (Microsoft Internet Information Server: 21 percent; Netscape server family and various others: less than 10 percent each). In other words, Apache is the definitive, world-leading web server software on the market and a drop in popularity is not expected in the next 12 months. On the contrary, its popularity is increasing. The Purpose and Audience of This Book

Most webmasters who must manage and maintain an Apache server installation are already familiar with Apache, either through the online available documentation from the Apache Software Foundation (ASF) or through the various Apache books on the market. The purpose of this book is to provide a concise but, fairly complete reference to the various Apache knobs and levers with which the webmaster is confronted at compile time, configuration time, and runtime. Thus the audience of this book consists of web-masters who are already familiar with Apache, but who need a reference on a daily basis.

The book does not purport to explain Apache or to describe all referenced material in great detail. Instead, it serves as a companion to the various Apache tutorial-style books on the market. As a result, the book does not cover special topics like existing third-party modules, optimization of Apache under runtime, or use of Apache under non-UNIX platforms. If you are interested in those topics, consult one of the tutorial-style books. Organization of This Book

This book is organized into six chapters.

Chapter 1, Introduction, discusses the history and evolution of the Internet, hypertext, and the World Wide Web and describes how Apache and the ASF fit into this world. This chapter is intended to provide a quick reference to historical Apache-related numbers and introduce the Apache world.

Chapter 2, Apache Functionality, considers the Apache program architecture, which consists of a core part and various extensional modules. A concise reference to the standard Apache modules follows this discussion. This chapter is intended to provide a compact overview of the Apache module world.

Chapter 3, Building Apache, covers building the Apache package from the distributed source codes. It first shows a typical Apache installation procedure step by step, then provides a reference to all Apache Autoconf-style Interface (APACI) options, and Finally discusses some special configuration issues like the Dynamic Shared Object (DSO) facility. This chapter is intended to help you install a reasonable Apache instance.

Chapter 4, Configuring Apache, focuses on the runtime configuration of Apache. It introduces the gory details of the Apache configuration files and contexts, then includes a complete reference of all configuration directives provided by all standard Apache modules. This chapter is the heart of this book.

Chapter 5, Running Apache, discusses ways to run the Apache web server and provides a reference to all command-line options. It is intended to provide the webmaster with a quick reference for the regular Apache start-up and restart situations.

Chapter 6, Apache Resources, lists the various other Apache resources that you can consult to obtain details on a topic. It provides references to the most important Apache resources on the Internet.

How to Read This Book

The most reasonable approach to reading this book is to first read the nonreference parts once and then to read the remaining parts only on demand. The first reading depends on your existing skill: You are familiar with Apache in general, but you are not an expert.We recommend that you first read Chapter 1 for an introduction to the material, than read the first sections of Chapters 2 and 3 to refresh your knowledge of the Apache module architecture and the APACI facility. Next, very carefully read the first nonreference sections of Chapter 4, trying to understand how the Apache configuration contexts work. Finally, glance over the remaining chapters, which contain material that you can find later on demand. You are an Apache expert. We recommend that you first read Chapter 1 to refresh your Apache background, followed by a careful reading of the first nonreference part of Chapter 4 to refresh your knowledge of Apache configuration context handling. Finally, glance over the remaining parts of the book, which contain material that you can find later on demand.

Your subsequent readings should occur only on demand or if you are interested in more details. Refer to Chapter 2 if you are searching for details on an Apache module, Chapter 3 if you want details on APACI options, Chapter 4 if you are seeking details on particular Apache configuration directives, Chapter 5 if you are searching for a command line directive, and Chapter 6 if you need more help. Typographic Conventions

We use italic text for special names and other highlighted terms. We use constant width text to indicate configuration directives, commands entered at the command line, and other computer code. Companion Web Site and Feedback

This book has a companion web site at apacheref/, maintained by this book's author. Here you can find online versions of the reference materials and resource lists in this book, errata, and other information about this book and Apache.

Please address comments and questions concerning this book and its companion web site via e-mail directly to the author at rse@apacheref. 0201604701P04062001

From the Back Cover

As a Web professional responsible for building and maintaining Web servers, you will want to keep Apache Desktop Reference within easy reach. This compact, handy reference presents concise, easy-to-find information on every aspect of Apache functionality, installation, configuration, and operation.

In addition to the reference material, this book includes an introduction to the history and evolution of the Internet, HTTP, the Web, and Apache. It reviews Apache architecture, discusses building the Apache package from the distributed source code, and demonstrates the run-time configuration.

You will find indispensable features such as:

A reference to all standard Apache modules
A step-by-step guide to a typical installation process
A reference to all Apache AutoConf-style Interface (APACI) options
Information on the Dynamic Shared Object (DSO) facility
An introduction to Apache configuration files and contexts
A reference to all configuration directives provided by both the standard Apache modules and some popular third-party modules
A reference to command-line options and regular Apache startup and restart situations
Information on the Apache Daemon Program and Apache Control Program
References to CGI/1.1 variables and Server Side Include (SSI) variables

The companion Web site at www.apacheref.com holds a complete online version of the book, errata, and other related information.

Whether you are already an Apache expert or just learning, Apache Desktop Reference will answer the questions that come up on a daily basis and will offer concise explanations of essential topics.

0201604701B04062001

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