What is Apache? Apache web server and how to install it

Today, the Apache server is generally highly compatible with current open-source code. That is why many providers of Hosting service choose to use it. It is easy to install and completely free. So What is Apache? Read on as MONA Media let's look at the details in the article below.

What is Apache?

It is short for Apache HTTP Server and is run and developed by Novell Netware. Apache is web server software that communicates over HTTP. Apache runs well on operating systems such as Linux, Novell Netware, Windows and Unix. Apache holds around 42% of the global website market share, because it costs nothing to use.

Its purpose is to help owners put their full content on the site. That is why Apache is classed among website server software. It is also one of the Web Server with a long history (in case you did not know, the first version came out more than 20 years ago) and very high trust.

With Apache, a business can also save the most on management staff and costs while keeping the website running efficiently. Small and medium-sized organizations in particular suit this software well.

How the Apache web server works

Now that we know what Apache is, let's look at how it works. The Apache web server is a program that runs on a server to connect browsers with the server.

It then exchanges and transfers files in a two-way, server-client structure. Apache is software that works across many different platforms.

More specifically, when a user visits a web page, the browser sends a request to the server. Apache then responds with everything that makes up the page (images, text, video, audio and so on) that the user wants to access.

Through HTTP, computers and users can communicate. At that point, Apache makes sure the process happens securely.

Thanks to this way of working, Apache is a highly customizable modular platform. It gives administrators the right to turn features off or freely add many others on the server. Apache also has other modules such as caching, URL rewriting and password authentication, so users can keep their site in the best shape.

Pros and cons of the Apache web server

Advantages of the Apache web server

• Apache is software that uses open-source platforms, so it is free of charge and saves users the most cost;
• Because the software is upgraded often, with many versions and security fixes, it is highly stable and reliable;
• Apache also has a modular structure and high flexibility, which makes it very convenient to use. The software is also simple to configure and use;
• Apache can run on many different platforms (linux, Unix, Windows and more). It works especially well with WordPress.

Disadvantages of the Apache web server

• Cannot be used with website that already have high traffic;
• Security becomes much weaker if there are too many options to set up.

The simplest way to install the Apache web server

Installing Apache successfully requires users to have knowledge and a certain understanding of information technology. The process has 2 main steps:

Step 1: Download Apache

Many users wonder where to download Apache. The answer is Apache Lounge, in the 32-bit or 64-bit version.

The VC15 build is based on Visual C Redistributable for Visual Studio 2017, so you need to install it directly on Windows. A tip if you use Windows XP: use the VC10 build.

Step 2: Detailed Apache installation

After downloading, unzip the folder containing Apache and place it on drive C and rename it as default. The installation is now complete.

Then start the software to access it. Note: when you check, if you see the text “it works” it means you have installed Apache successfully.

To start Apache again, click into the folder C:Apache24bin and run file httpd.exe. Then you can open the link http://localhost to check, and if you see the text “ it works” it means the Apache app is installed successfully.

How Apache differs from other web servers

Apache and NGINX

NGINX is a web server application that came out in 2004 and was quickly adopted by many IT people, as one of the first web servers of its kind. It was built to solve users' problems, handling a huge number of connections, up to 10,000.

Both are web servers, but Apache and NGINX differ in a few ways:

• Apache uses a thread-based structure, so high-traffic, data-heavy sites can often run into problems. NGINX is able to serve huge websites, so it has the advantage.
• NGINX handles everything on a single thread, so it does not create new processes for different requests. NGINX is therefore very good at managing and distributing requests, but fairly weak on processing speed.

In short, if your website has low to medium traffic levels, Apache is a perfect choice. Choose NGINX if you want to save resources on large websites.

Apache and Tomcat

Apache and Tomcat are both software products created and developed by the Apache Software Foundation, so they are the same kind of HTTP web server.

The difference is that Apache is used for static websites. Tomcat, by contrast, is mostly used for Java applications.

Tomcat can also support static websites, but it is not as effective as Apache. If you only run a static website, Tomcat is a waste because you do not use its full features. Tomcat is also harder to configure than most ordinary web servers. For example, if you run WordPress, choose NGINX or Apache.

In this article, Mona has answered your questions What is Apache? and shared useful information and knowledge. We hope you now have an overview of Apache and know when to use an effective web server. Good luck!