Accelerate Apache

As the main server-of-choice for the web, considerable effort has been placed on getting Apache to run as swiftly as possible. Running the latest full Apache release and patching up your operating system gives you the best foundation to build upon.

Many configuration options and tips are outlined in detail at the official Apache Performance Tuning page (http://httpd.apache.org/docs-2.0/misc/perf-tuning.html). There, you can find detailed instructions for adjusting your MaxRequestsPerChild and MaxClients settings, how to disable htaccess checks and Domain Name System (DNS) lookups, and many other settings.

Should those settings not produce enough speed, you can also try changes from the Accelerating Apache project (aap.sourceforge.net). Their changes can make Apache 2.0 four times faster and Apache 1.3 up to ten times faster. The project is open source and the patch changes were formally submitted to the Apache Software Foundation, but it was felt the settings were a little too aggressive, and as yet the Accelerating Apache patch is not part of the Apache server. Performance can be improved, but use the patch with care.