Apache Web Server vs IIS 6 - Coursework Example

16 March Apache Web Server vs. IIS 6 Apache and Microsoft are two most popular and well known server technologies in the web servers market. Thus, there is huge competition between these two market contenders. However, at the present, Microsoft IIS-6 and Apache have acquired a huge share of web based business market. But, Apache is the definite champion in the Security Space and Netcraft monthly surveys. Additionally, according to results of these surveys, Apache Internet Information Server has a better market share over 1000 enterprises (Netcraft). This paper presents a detailed comparison of these two web servers. IIS-6 vs. Apache Apache 2.0 web servers are continually releasing from mid-2002 on the other hand IIS 6.0 was released in the market in early 2009 (The Apache Software Foundation). This section will compare and contrast some of main characteristics and features of these two technology servers. Microsoft IIS has been a possible part of the Windows Server OS (or operating systems) as Windows NT 4.0 however not obligatory. In past IIS 3.0 was the fundamental Web server in Windows server operating system. After release of Windows NT 4.0 there was an Option Pack of IIS 4.0 was released shortly that was the initial real version of the IIS in the form of a greatly used Web server platform. After that next version of IIS that was IIS 5.0, it was incorporated in Windows 2000 in together the desktop as well as server versions. IIS 5.0 updated version that IIS 5.1 was incorporated in into Windows XP. However, the modifications between IIS 5 and IIS 4 are moderately slight. In addition, the present, Windows Server 2003 comprises the latest IIS 6.0 that is an approximately inclusive rewrite from the preceding editions. However, IIS 6.0 encompasses a new implementation and execution model, improved management services, as well as considerably augmented performance (Secunia ApS) & (Thangarathinam) & (Whitrow). On the other hand Apache has a grown-up inheritance that is foundational upon the http code. It was said that quantity of the entire web revolution was established through Apach web servers. Apache 1.3.x, was working version until 2002, and was a mainly UNIX product that employed a number of tricks to facilitate it to execute inside other operating systems, as well as Windows. In addition, the release of Apache 2.0 received highest popularity in 2002. The fresh release included a brand-new execution and implementation environment that divided the fundamental functionality of the Apache web based system in fact processed and supported requests. Apache 2.0 is at the present held up beneath a broad array of potential operating systems, comprising the entire versions of Linux, Windows, Mac OS X and UNIX. Furthermore, it also offered great help to a variety of nonmainstream operating systems like that VMS and BeOS (ApacheWeek). Apache and IIS work in a different style. Therefore, both have a range of disadvantages and advantages. Since, the IIS is apparently intended and obtainable to work simply inside the Windows environment. Through IIS 6.0, the simply platform presently maintained is Windows Server 2003. While this confines the operational platforms intended for IIS-based Web services, it as well offers a number of settlements, comprising better collaboration through the host operating system as well as simpler and effective control and management in the course of a range of standard operating system utilities and tools. However, in IIS 6.0, the collaboration among the operating system and the server is better than ever. In IIS 6.0 the kernel mode listener, HTTP.sys, waits for accepting requests from clients, establishing the requests into one or additional demand queues. IIS then executes and manages the requests in these queues using at least one worker procedure to manage the implementation of the individual requests as well as applications. In addition, this detached procedure permits requests to be established even when IIS worker procedure are not technically executing, and facilitates advanced control on the worker procedures that to manage requests. Therefore, the administration is able to recycle or reuse requests to recover from extension as well as application failures that would have before need a restart/ shutdown of the IIS web based service or else in tremendous cases, a reboot of the whole server (Microsoft) & (Whitrow) & (The Apache Software Foundation-2) & (The Apache Software Foundation). On the other hand, Apache 2.0 was a rewrite of the earlier versions. However, in this version lots of modifications are made. Additionally, the Apache 2.0 Web server is presently openly workable on a range of platforms comprising Windows. The decode and redesign of Apache 2.0 facilitates it to maintain a broad collection of platforms in more disciplined manners that lead to Windows and Unix specific implementation models that make the most excellent utilization of the Operating System (The Apache Software Foundation-2). The foundation of the system is the APR (Apache Portable Runtime) that facilitates the Apache system to execute on more or less systems using a C compiler. In addition, the Apache encompasses a number of MPMs (multi-processing modules) that support the real-time processing and requests approval. Furthermore, under the UNIX platform it can execute traditional "forked" model or a latest threaded model that is helpful in using the threading built into majority modern kernels. Also, the Apache under Windows platform utilizes a threaded model with a number of intentions that is comparable to the threaded model employed by the worker procedures within IIS 6.0 (Apacheweek-2) & (Thangarathinam). One of most important differences between the Apache and IIS is the feature of independent request handler that is available in Apache but in a limited way. On the other hand, IIS completely supports the independent request handling feature. However, Apache offers multiple process request handler that is also available in IIS but in less effective fashion. In the same way thread support is extensively offered by the IIS but Apache offers this functionality only in case of a suitable operating system (The PHP Group) & (Thangarathinam; Microsoft; Secunia ApS). The major dynamic situation intended for development inside IIS is APSs (Active Server Pages). Additionally, this is a standard term intended for a solution that permits code to be incorporated into HTML pages. In addition, these Active Server Pages are parsed through the server prior to being supplied to the client like HTML. Also, the Active Server Pages system permits web developers to write programming code in a number of diverse languages, comprising VBScript, Visual Basic, Java, JavaScript as well as C/C++, beside with other option of open source languages like that Python and Perl. As well, IIS carry on maintaining customary CGI techniques in conjunction with its own suite of filtering as well as executing systems in the form of ISAPI filters (Thangarathinam; Whitrow; The PHP Group). On the other hand, the Apache is as well designed to work using a broad variety of languages, either through the CGI model, or by making use of dynamic modules through openly integrating the Apache environment language interpreter. Thus, this considerably accelerates the execution of dynamic mechanisms intended for languages similar to Perl, PHP as well as Python (The Apache Software Foundation) & (The Apache Software Foundation-2; The Apache Software Foundation-2). Apache and IIS both web server technologies up hold the Java Server Pages model, as well as it is practicable to transfer the majority of JSP applications between the two platforms by making few changes. However, other languages could also be transferred with varying results. Furthermore, still ASP is supported though UNIX in the course of the ChilliSoft ASP module in the Apache (Thangarathinam; The Apache Software Foundation-2; Whitrow). One of main distinction of IIS 6.0 from Apache is the element that presently could not be followed under UNIX is the Microsoft.NET working structure. However, Windows Server 2003 and IIS 6.0 made use of and offered an outstanding level of combination of .NET Framework (Thangarathinam; The Apache Software Foundation-2; Whitrow). Conclusion This paper has presented a detailed analysis of two well known web server technologies Apache and IIS. This paper has offered a detailed overview of both technologies and their implementation areas. In addition, this paper has compared and contrasted both technologies with respect to their services and functionalities. Both the technologies are covering large shares of market. Both the technologies are offering advantages and disadvantages in different scenarios, thus, it is difficult to conclude which technology should be used or rejected. Bibliography 1. ApacheWeek. "Apache 2 Release:." n.d. 13 March 2010 . 2. Apacheweek-2. "Apache 2.0 Preview :." 2009. 14 March 2010 . 3. Microsoft. "IIS Server Variables." 2010. 14 March 2010 . 4. Netcraft. "February 2009 Web Server Survey." 2009. 13 March 2010 . 5. Secunia ApS. "Vulnerability Report: Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS) 6." 2010. Secunia.com. 14 March 2010 . 6. Thangarathinam, Thiru. "IIS 6.0 and ASP.NET, Part 1." 31 July 2003. Developer.com. 15 March 2010 . 7. The Apache Software Foundation. "Apache License, Version 2.0." January 2004. Apache.org. 14 March 2010 . 8. The Apache Software Foundation-2. "Overview of new features in Apache 2.0." 2009. Apache.org. 14 March 2010 . 9. The PHP Group. "Microsoft IIS 5.1 and IIS 6.0." 12 March 2009. PHP.net. 14 March 2010 . 10. Whitrow, Paul. "How to get IIS Web Server running on Windows XP Home Edition." 30 January 2006. Grow.com. 14 March 2010 . Read More