Linux: Apache - 1

-Apache is the most popular web server on the Internet today.
-The reason for its popularity: robust and extensible + easy install, config and maintenance.
-Web servers work on client-server tech. The clients being the web browsers on users computers.
-Web servers are oblivious to the content itself; server admin and content creation are two different functions.
-Apache design is modular. Parts of its code can be recompiled and loaded individually.
-Apache depends on three base pkgs - httpd, apr (apache portable runtime), apr-util
-other optional pkgs are mod_perl, mod_ssl, webalizer (logs) etc..
-To start/stop apache:
    # /sbin/service httpd start | stop | graceful        [graceful bounces apache without affecting current sessions]
-Apache uses tcp port 80 (or 443 for secure http).
-since Apache uses privileged ports, it is started as root.
-Once started for security, Apache process runs as user and group=apache.
-the root of the directory hierarchy that apace serves content from is called document root.
-the default document root is /var/www/html.
-it automatically displays index.html file from this dir.
-the current popular version on apache is 2.2
-default apache config file is /etc/httpd/conf/httpd.conf.
-three basic params in this file are:
    . servername    << name >>
    . serveradmin    << email addr >>
    . serversignature Email
-thereafter, bounce apache and point browser to http://<servername> to test

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