What is Apache? How To Download & Install Apache

What is Apache? How To Download & Install Apache

Apache will provide you web server. It will be helpful to create a new website, for example using WordPress, in your desktop.

Here, I will explain what is Apache and how to download and install Apache in your lap top. It will be easy steps, so let's look at them!

What is Apache?

Apache is one of the famous web server software developed by the Apache Software Foundation in 1995 and is about 50% of world's share. The official name is "Apache HTTP Server".

What is Web server?

If you use only software (contents) on your PC or server, it is useless. You must also have hardware (box) for storing and moving the contents. Using the Internet, we use a set of boxes and contents called many kinds of servers.

What is Web server?

When you try to see the homepage, first of all, a request to "send this page" is sent to the computer (Web server) where the file of the homepage is located from the software (Web browser) used.

In response to that request, the Web server sends a reply to the Web browser "This is that page."

The Web browser who received the reply displays the received contents (the file of the homepage) on the screen.

This is the flow that the homepage is displayed. Please pay attention to the web server here.

There is a file of the homepage and it responds to the request of the Web browser. This is JUST an ordinary computer. It is not a special computer dedicated to Web servers.

It is "Web server software" that creates the Web server. By inserting Web server software on a normal computer, it becomes a computer that can work as a Web server.

The important thing is not a box but it is inside. If you add Web server software, your computer can be a Web server even if you are using the normal computer.

Based on the above, (one of) Web server software is "Apache (Apache)".

When you put Apache in your computer, that computer becomes a computer that can work as a web server.

Two series version

There are two versions of Apache, generally "version 2.2 series" and "version 2.4 series". These are basically used depending on the compatibility situation of the environment to be used.

Version 2.2 series

The version 2.2 series was released on December 1, 2005 and it was the mainstream version until 2.4 series. Many users still use it. Currently, "2.2.32" released on January 31, 2017 is the latest version and it is officially announced that it plans to release patches for security enhancement in the future.

Version 2.4 series

The version 2.4 series has improved compared to the past Apache, for example improving the system in order to reduce the memory usage, adding a new function that makes it possible to build every MPM as a module. The latest version is "2.4.25" released on December 20, 2016. Various services tries to work with 2.4 series and it is expected to become the mainstream version in the future.

Features of Apache

There are some features about Apache below. You will know why Apache is so good and popular in the world.

High reliability and stability

Apache has been established as a major web server from the release of 1995 until now. It will be proved by the use of various engineers and websites. As open source software usually has no guarantee, the number of users is the key to judging reliability and stability.

According to W3 Techs' survey, Apache boasts a share rate of over 40%. In other words, it is a reliable Web server with practical stability.

Open source software (OSS) and FREE

As mentioned earlier, Apache is a high performance and reliable web server. On the other hand, it is open source, so it can be used for free.

With the spread of Linux, license-free software is not unusual, but free of Apache is very good point. Using Linux and Apache can build a web server with only hardware and labor costs.

Available on multiple server OS

Apache works not only on Linux and UNIX platforms, but also on Mac, Windows NT, OS / 2.

A feature that does not depend on the operating environment is a big merit. Because it is unnecessary to be conscious of differences in settings and actions due to differences in operating environment.

For example, suppose a site that was running under Windows NT environment has reached the limit due to an increase in access. What you can think about is whether to replace the hardware or add more hardware using a load balancer.

If you use Apache, there is little impact on the Web site by either means. It only makes minor modifications such as differences in directory expression techniques. If this is a transition from Linux (PC) to Linux (UNIX), no modifications are necessary at all.

Basic functions can be expanded by MPM

MPM is an abbreviation for "multiprocessing module" and is a specification for selecting necessary modules from among all the prepared modules.

Apache can add necessary functions by using modules. A variety of modules are prepared by standard, but you can increase the functions by adding ones distributed on the Internet or by making your own modules.

Download Apache

Please go to the website link at first. You will see the below picture site.

Apache - http://httpd.apache.org/

Apache - http://httpd.apache.org/

In the website, you can find a new version very easily. Then, please click "Download" link in the website.

Next page, you will see the download page. I am sure that most people use Windows (if not, I am sorry!), so please find "Files for Microsoft Windows

Files for Microsoft Windows

Then, you will find an explanation below.

The Apache HTTP Server Project itself does not provide binary releases of software, only source code. Individual committers may provide binary packages as a convenience, but it is not a release deliverable.

If you cannot compile the Apache HTTP Server yourself, you can obtain a binary package from numerous binary distributions available on the Internet.

Please don't think this page is wrong. You are on a correct way. Apache recommends other websites instead of Apache system, so you need to choose below links.

Downloading Apache for Windows

This time, I will choose Apache Lounge.

Apache Lounge

Install Apache

The installation of Apache will complete by extracting the downloaded compressed file. Please expand the downloaded "httpd-2.4.29-Win64-VC15. zip" file and place it in an arbitrary directory.

The expanded files are in the directory named "Apache 24" by default. This time, it expanded like "C:\Program Files\Apache24\".

Installation is completed now.

Correct the configuration file according to the directory where you extracted the file. The configuration file is the "http.conf" file in the directory "(Installed Directory) \ Apache24 \ conf \".

"http.conf" file

The "http.conf" file is a text file, so you can open it with a text editor.

First of all, search "ServerRoot" in the file. You can find the following description.

ServerRoot "c:/Apache24"

Make this change according to the installed directory as follows.

ServerRoot "C:\Program Files\Apache24"

In the same way, there are descriptions about three directories installed in the configuration file, so change them in the same way.

Before

DocumentRoot "c:/Apache24/htdocs"

<Directory "c:/Apache24/htdocs">

#

# Possible values for the Options directive are "None", "All",

# or any combination of:

Indexes Includes FollowSymLinks SymLinksifOwnerMatch ExecCGI MultiViews

#

# Note that "MultiViews" must be named *explicitly* --- "Options All"

# doesn't give it to you.

#

# The Options directive is both complicated and important.  Please see

# http://httpd.apache.org/docs/2.4/mod/core.html#options

# for more information.

#

Options Indexes FollowSymLinks

#

# AllowOverride controls what directives may be placed in .htaccess files.

# It can be "All", "None", or any combination of the keywords:

AllowOverride FileInfo AuthConfig Limit

#

AllowOverride None

#

# Controls who can get stuff from this server.

#

Require all granted

</Directory>

After

DocumentRoot "C:/Program Files/Apache24/htdocs"

<Directory "C:/Program Files/Apache24/htdocs">

#

# Possible values for the Options directive are "None", "All",

# or any combination of:

#   Indexes Includes FollowSymLinks SymLinksifOwnerMatch ExecCGI MultiViews

#

# Note that "MultiViews" must be named *explicitly* --- "Options All"

# doesn't give it to you.

#

# The Options directive is both complicated and important.  Please see

# http://httpd.apache.org/docs/2.4/mod/core.html#options

# for more information.

#

Options Indexes FollowSymLinks

#

# AllowOverride controls what directives may be placed in .htaccess files.

# It can be "All", "None", or any combination of the keywords:

AllowOverride FileInfo AuthConfig Limit

#

AllowOverride None

#

# Controls who can get stuff from this server.

#

Require all granted

</Directory>

Before

<IfModule alias_module>

#

# Redirect: Allows you to tell clients about documents that used to

# exist in your server's namespace, but do not anymore. The client

# will make a new request for the document at its new location.

# Example:

# Redirect permanent /foo http://www.example.com/bar

#

# Alias: Maps web paths into filesystem paths and is used to

# access content that does not live under the DocumentRoot.

# Example:

# Alias /webpath /full/filesystem/path

#

# If you include a trailing / on /webpath then the server will

# require it to be present in the URL.  You will also likely

# need to provide a <Directory> section to allow access to

# the filesystem path.

#

# ScriptAlias: This controls which directories contain server scripts.

# ScriptAliases are essentially the same as Aliases, except that

# documents in the target directory are treated as applications and

# run by the server when requested rather than as documents sent to the

# client.  The same rules about trailing "/" apply to ScriptAlias

# directives as to Alias.

#

ScriptAlias /cgi-bin/ "c:/Apache24/cgi-bin/"

</IfModule>

After

<IfModule alias_module>

#

# Redirect: Allows you to tell clients about documents that used to

# exist in your server's namespace, but do not anymore. The client

# will make a new request for the document at its new location.

# Example:

# Redirect permanent /foo http://www.example.com/bar

#

# Alias: Maps web paths into filesystem paths and is used to

# access content that does not live under the DocumentRoot.

# Example:

# Alias /webpath /full/filesystem/path

#

# If you include a trailing / on /webpath then the server will

# require it to be present in the URL.  You will also likely

# need to provide a <Directory> section to allow access to

# the filesystem path.

#

# ScriptAlias: This controls which directories contain server scripts.

# ScriptAliases are essentially the same as Aliases, except that

# documents in the target directory are treated as applications and

# run by the server when requested rather than as documents sent to the

# client.  The same rules about trailing "/" apply to ScriptAlias

# directives as to Alias.

#

ScriptAlias /cgi-bin/ "C:/Program Files/Apache24/cgi-bin/"

</IfModule>

Before

<Directory "c:/Apache24/cgi-bin">

AllowOverride None

Options None

Require all granted

</Directory>

After

<Directory "C:/Program Files/Apache24/cgi-bin">

AllowOverride None

Options None

Require all granted

</Directory>

Next, confirm the port number setting. Search "Listen" in the file.

Listen 80

The port number to be used defaults to 80. Normally, this is not a problem but you have to change it if you already know that you are using it in another application.

Lastly, it is the setting of "ServerName". Search "ServerName" in the file.

Before

#

# ServerName gives the name and port that the server uses to identify itself.

# This can often be determined automatically, but we recommend you specify

# it explicitly to prevent problems during startup.

#

# If your host doesn't have a registered DNS name, enter its IP address here.

#

#ServerName www.example.com:80

A line with a leading "#" is treated as a comment and it is not enabled by default. It is recommended that you set it clearly. If it is a public server, specify its host name + port number (if you omit the port number, specify the port number set in the previously set "Listen"). Running locally, please specify "localhost: 80" or "127.0.0.1: 80".

In this time, I will delete "#" before "ServerName" and changed it as follows.

After

#

# ServerName gives the name and port that the server uses to identify itself.

# This can often be determined automatically, but we recommend you specify

# it explicitly to prevent problems during startup.

#

# If your host doesn't have a registered DNS name, enter its IP address here.

#

ServerName www.example.com:80

Please save the file after setting is completed. Apache installation and preparations are complete now!

Kamiko

Hi, everyone! I am just a girl who is a beginner to study web and programming. Sometimes, knowledge of Internet makes us confused, so I will explain such the topics to make you understand very well through the eyes of a beginner. Hopefully, my contents will help you to be sucessful and give you joy and fun!

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