Apache Modules

It should not surprise you that the "patchy" server does most of its work through modules. After all, it's this very modular design that has enabled it to become a powerful, flexible web server. Some 50 core modules are included in the Apache2 package, and a couple dozen more are included in the SUSE Linux distribution. All are installable with YaST. In addition, nearly 400 modules are stored in the Apache Module Registry, http://modules.apache.org. The following is but a brief sampling of modules available for Apache:

• bw_mod Limits the number of simultaneous connections and bandwidth usage for virtual hosts and directories.

• mod_auth_mysql Adds MySQL database-based authentication.

• mod_bt Extends Apache to handle the BitTorrent protocol and act as a tracker.

• mod_clamav Scans files for viruses with ClamAV before serving them to the client.

• mod_ftpd Extends Apache to handle FTP transactions.

• mod_gnutls An alternative to mod_ssl that provides the capability to use SSL/TLS.

• mod_mono Serves ASP.NET client applications in a non-Windows environment with Mono.

• mod_perl Processes embedded Perl code before serving a document.

• mod_php4 Processes embedded PHP code before serving a document.

• mod_python Processes embedded Python code before serving a document.

• mod_rewrite Manipulates URL addresses according to rules written using regular expressions.

• mod_ruby Processes embedded Ruby code before serving a document.

• mod_so Enables usage of modules linked at runtime in contrast to only those statically compiled.

• mod_ssl Adds the capability to establish and communicate across SSL/TSL connections.

• mod_websh Processes embedded Tcl code before serving a document.

• mod_xslt A filter that transforms XML files into other formats on-the-fly by applying XSLT stylesheets.

Each module adds new directives that can be added to your configuration files. Make sure the module is compatible with your Apache installation, though. Changes made to Apache between versions 1.3.x and 2.x break some modules. All that information, including the module's installation procedures and the new configuration directives they make available, can be found either in the module's or Apache's documentation.