Apache is the world's most popular Web server. The Apache Software Foundation, located online at www.apache.org, is the central body behind Apache server development. The original Apache Project was started in 1995 by a small group of Internet pioneers who wanted better Web server software than was already available. They cobbled together a server program that was, as the legend goes, nothing but "patches," or simple fixes to existing software, and called it "A Patchy Server" in one of those punishing moments that seem to infest the brains of otherwise intelligent and comparatively sane programmers from time to time. New and more advanced versions of Apache have been released steadily ever since. Apache support is obtainable through channels similar to those that provide Linux support, and a company called Covalent (www.covalent.net) has developed a commercial software package that makes managing Apache-based servers easy even for sysadmins who have not worked with Apache before, and streamlines administration of large Apache installations (in other words, saves labor) for workers of all skill levels. |