Apache

Did you know that Apache is one of the most widely used web servers in the world? Currently, 43% of websites run on it. 

What is a web server?

A web server is software that is part of the server and has the main task of returning information (pages) when receiving requests from users. In other words, it is the software that allows users who want to view a web page in their browser to do so.

For a web server to work correctly, we need a web client that makes an HTTP or HTTPS request through a browser like Chrome, Firefox, or Safari, and a server where the information is stored.

In essence, a web server is a computer program responsible for processing a server-side application, each of which can access files stored on a physical server and use them for various purposes. This is done through one-way or two-way connections with the client's machine, after which a client-side response is generated.

A server's job is to serve websites on the internet. To achieve this, it acts as an intermediary between the server and client machines. It retrieves content from the server for each user request and sends it to the web.

Another server that's also essential for consolidating your digital presence is a VPS cloud. Why should you consider this service? A VPS is a virtual private server, or VPS cloud, which provides web hosting by dividing a physical server into multiple virtual servers, making each of them have dedicated resources and be isolated from others.

Operationally, a VPS cloud works like other web hosting services, offering a space permanently connected to the internet where we can upload our website's content so others can access it.

What is Apache?

Apache HTTP Server is a free and open-source web server software for Unix platforms, on which a large part of the world's websites run. It is maintained and developed by the Apache Software Foundation. It allows website owners to serve content on the web and is one of the oldest and most reliable servers, with the first version released over 20 years ago, in 1995.

When someone wants to visit a website, they enter a domain name into their browser’s address bar. The server then sends the requested files, acting as a virtual delivery service.

The name Apache refers to the Native American tribe, known for their resilience in combat and war strategies. It has become very popular among developers due to its modularity and constant updates by the community.

Apache servers can be found on most hosting platforms worldwide, working seamlessly with panels like WePanel, Plesk, VestaCP, etc. One of Apache's main features is the use of the .htaccess file, widely used among web users.

How does Apache work?

Apache's essential function is to serve websites hosted on the server to various browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Safari. Apache ensures that the communication between the web server and the web client (the user requesting information) is smooth and continuous.

When a user makes an HTTP request through a browser to visit a specific website or URL, Apache returns the requested information via the HTTP protocol. Apache allows high customization through its modular system, where we can enable or disable various functionalities using Apache modules.

For example, when a user types itdconsulting.com into their browser, that request goes to our Apache server, which, using the HTTP protocol, retrieves and securely delivers the texts, images, styles, etc., that make up our website's homepage.

Apache has a modular structure, allowing additional features to be activated or deactivated, such as security modules like mod_security, caching modules like Varnish, or header customization modules like mod_headers. It also allows personalized PHP settings for your hosting via the .htaccess file.

What is Apache used for?

Apache is mainly used to serve static and dynamic web pages on the World Wide Web. Many web applications are designed assuming Apache as the deployment environment or that they will use features specific to this web server.

Apache is the web server component in the popular LAMP application platform, along with MySQL and programming languages PHP/Perl/Python (and now also Ruby).

This web server is redistributed as part of several proprietary software packages, including Oracle’s database and IBM’s WebSphere application server. MacOS integrates Apache as part of its web server and as support for its WebObjects application server. It is supported to some extent by Borland in Kylix and Delphi development tools. Apache is included with Novell NetWare 6.5, where it is the default web server, and in many Linux distributions.

Apache is used for many other tasks where content needs to be made available securely and reliably. One example is sharing files from a personal computer to the internet. A user with Apache installed on their desktop can arbitrarily place files in Apache’s document root, from where they can be shared. This feature is crucial for virtual server tasks, such as those of a VPS cloud.

Web application developers sometimes use a local version of Apache to preview and test code as it's developed.

What are Apache's advantages?

Some of the advantages of using an Apache server include:

• It has a large community of developers worldwide who help improve the software, as the original source code is available for free viewing and collaboration.
• Compatible with websites that use WordPress and most popular CMS platforms.
• Module-based structure.
• It is cross-platform. It can be used on Windows and Linux servers, expanding its use cases.
• Open-source and free.
• High level of security due to constant updates.
• You can use .htaccess, which allows easier work with major CMS.

The advantages of Apache also remind us of the many benefits of having a VPS cloud. With VPS cloud, you get:

• Guaranteed resources: In a VPS cloud, we have guaranteed resources like in a dedicated server. A VPS cloud has an isolated environment with its own RAM and dedicated CPU, so no other user can use those resources.
• Highly customizable: VPS clouds share the same hardware with other VPS, but their software is entirely independent, allowing access to make any changes or improvements to the configuration.
• The main advantage of a VPS cloud is that it has many of the benefits of a dedicated server but at a fraction of the cost, making it an excellent option for users who need more freedom in usage and configuration.

What sets Apache apart from other servers?

NGINX

NGINX can be defined as a web server application. It was designed to solve issues that appeared in some servers like Apache: site owners with high traffic encountered performance difficulties.

NGINX allows all requests to a website to be handled in a single process. It provides better scalability and is used by international brands like Netflix, Airbnb, and Pinterest. In other words, it is ideal for websites with heavy traffic.

As mentioned, for high-traffic websites, NGINX is what you need. For those with fewer visitors, Apache is ideal.

Tomcat

Tomcat is another web server, which Neolo also works with in VPS plans. It was developed by the same company that created Apache and is designed exclusively for Java applications.

Tomcat can also serve static pages, but in some cases, it is less efficient than Apache. It is also not as easy to configure as Apache.

We know Apache is essential for establishing your virtual presence, but a VPS cloud service is also necessary.