Apache Server2.4.62

Apache or, more precisely, the Apache httpd server, is one of the most trusted web server available now days. Mostly used on Linux, Unix and BSD systems, it can be installed on Windows without difficulties.

The purpose of a web server is to build and serve, not only every page of a website, but also all the resources they are containing: images, videos, medias of all kind as well as documents of all types. Most of them offer extra functionalities like the ability to compress those resources, or to send them over secure connections.

First released in 1996, Apache has since then been very well tested. For now more than twenty years it has proved itself as one of the most reliable httpd server available. Generally used in association with other open source software like PHP and MySQL, it powers more than 50% of all active websites.

An Apache server can be customized and adapted to your particular needs by loading external modules. For example the PHP module, mod_php, allow Apache to interpret, build and serve dynamic web pages from PHP scripts.

Other modules offers support for different programming languages, secure connections, load balancing, security features as well as a vast collection of features and protocols.

Installing Apache on a Linux system can usually be done via the standard distribution package manager. On a Red Hat or CentOS system, you just need to install it with yum: sudo yum install httpd

The more experienced users can easily compile and install the Apache httpd server by themselves. It's really nothing complicated with the help of the usual configure and make commands. Note that additional packages might be required (Apache Portable Runtime libraries in particular)

Configuration is done via traditional text configuration files, or with the help of management tools like Webmin.

Apache does not come with its own web analytics module. So you will have to install some software like Piwik. Or use online web statistics services.

There are of course different alternatives to Apache. NGiNX is certainly the most popular.r. But you should check also LightTPD and LiteSpeed Web Servers. Finally some high level programming compilers or interpreters, like Node.js or Go lang, offer the possibility to easily build your own httpd server.