Apache Webserver Administration- Introduction

Synopsis
An Apache webserver training course which provides a
technical introduction to installing, configuring and
managing the Apache web server and to supporting CGI
programming on the Apache server. This Apache course is
delivered over two days in our public schedule, but a
selected subset of the course can be delivered to
experienced development teams on an in-house basis.

It is common for such in-house apache training courses to

select particular families of Apache modules and application
servers to focus on. For example, Java oriented
development teams will typically create a Tomcat training
course focusing on the tomcat servlet container, excluding
less relevant topics like mod_perl and including material
from our Java programming courses. Perl programmers will
typically ignore tomcat and may want to add Perl
programming topics from elsewhere. Something similar may
apply for PHP shops.

Suitable For
• Software developers
• Webmasters
• Technical and support staff in electronic commerce
• Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
• Web-based Application Service Providers (ASPs).

N.B. This Apache webserver course was originally devised

to meet the needs of developers and technical support staff
at the Carribbean Islands largest ISP. The design of the
hands-on exercises in this Apache course and in our other
Apache courses draws heavily on their experience and that
of our own ecommerce consultants.

Prerequisites
• Awareness of the basic principles behind the
exchange of information between the webserver and
web clients (browsers) using HTTP requests and
responses.
• A basic understanding of TCP/IP protocols
• Competent use of a text editor
• Knowledge of programming or shell scripting
techniques is required, although a high level of
practical programming competence is not.

Delivery
This is an instructor-led, hands-on Apache webserver
course, organised around practical tasks in web server
configuration and administration.

Outline Course Contents

Getting started Dynamic pages with CGI
and PHP
• Apache
• Webservers • Dynamic pages
• Apache features • CGI
• Installing Apache • CGI programs
• Installing FoxServ • Sample Unix shell CGI
• Compiling Apache script
• Running Apache • Sample Perl CGI
• Running Apache script
automatically • Running CGI
• Checking Apache is programs with Apache
running • CGI parameters
• Serving webpages • Perl CGI parameter
• Setting the document example
root • CGI issues
• Applying configuration • PHP scripts
changes • Using mod_php
• Sample PHP scripts
Basic configuration Using mod_perl to create
dynamic webpages with
• Configuring Apache Perl
• Directives
• Modules
• Checking
configurations
• Logging
• A little HTTP
• Configuring log-file
contents
• Specifying log-files
• Logging errors
• Browser error
messages
• Custom error pages Using other modules
• Server and directory
index pages
• Custom index pages
• Forbidding index
pages
• Trailing slashes in
directory paths
• Directory paths
without trailing slashes
• Per-directory
configuration
• <Location> example
• Other directives
affecting where Serving pages using
settings apply HTTPS with mod_ssl
• Context for container
directives
• Per-directory
configuration outside
httpd.conf
• .htaccess file
configuration
• Protecting files with
passwords
• Creating a password
file
• Maintaining a
password file
• Password
• mod_perl
• Installing mod_perl
• Using mod_perl
• Using
Apache::Registry
• Apache::Registry v
CGI Perl
• Apache::PerlRun
• Other mod_perl
features
• Modules
• Loading modules
• mod_speling
• mod_rewrite
• URL rewriting patterns
• Redirecting
• Transforming URLs
• Browser-dependent
pages
• Deploying
mod_rewrite
• HTTP security
• HTTPS
• Installing mod_ssl
• Getting a certificate
• Configuring mod_ssl
• HTTP and HTTPS
sites cohabiting
• HTTP and HTTPS
virtual hosts
 authentication
example
• Password
authentication details
• Restricting access by
IP address
• Listening only on
specific IP addresses
• Restricting access by
IP address
• Address and
password
authentication

Serving multiple sites with

virtual hosts

• Multiple sites on a
server
• Setting up virtual host
names
• Testing host names
• Enabling virtual hosts
• Defining virtual hosts
• Configuring vitual
hosts
• Using virtual hosts
• Host aliases
• Managing many hosts

© 2004 Akati Technologies. All rights reserved.

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