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Apache HTTP Server vs Websphere Liberty: What are the differences?
Introduction: In the world of web servers, Apache HTTP Server and Websphere Liberty are two popular choices. However, they differ in various aspects that cater to different needs and requirements of users and developers. Let's explore the key differences between Apache HTTP Server and Websphere Liberty.
Architecture: Apache HTTP Server is an open-source, highly extensible web server that follows a modular architecture allowing users to plug in various modules based on their requirements. On the other hand, Websphere Liberty is a lightweight and flexible Java EE application server that follows a microservices architecture and is designed for cloud-native applications, providing features like dynamic scaling and easy deployment of microservices.
Scalability: Apache HTTP Server is known for its scalability and can handle a large number of simultaneous connections efficiently. It is often used in high-traffic websites and applications. Websphere Liberty, on the other hand, is designed for scalability in cloud environments, offering features like dynamic clustering and auto-scaling to handle varying workloads and ensure high availability.
Administration: Apache HTTP Server is commonly configured and managed through configuration files, requiring some level of manual intervention for updates and maintenance. In contrast, Websphere Liberty provides a more user-friendly administration console that allows users to easily manage and monitor the server, applications, and resources, making it easier for developers and administrators to handle various tasks.
Supported Technologies: Apache HTTP Server primarily supports technologies like PHP, Perl, and Python, making it a versatile choice for hosting various types of websites and applications. Websphere Liberty, on the other hand, is specifically built for Java EE applications and provides comprehensive support for Java technologies, making it an ideal choice for enterprises working with Java applications and services.
Commercial Support: While Apache HTTP Server is free and open-source with a vast community of users providing support, commercial support options are available through third-party vendors. Websphere Liberty, being a part of IBM's Websphere family, offers commercial support directly from IBM, providing users with access to professional support services, patches, and updates tailored to enterprise needs.
In Summary, Apache HTTP Server and Websphere Liberty differ in terms of architecture, scalability, administration, supported technologies, and commercial support, catering to different user requirements and preferences.
I am diving into web development, both front and back end. I feel comfortable with administration, scripting and moderate coding in bash, Python and C++, but I am also a Windows fan (i love inner conflict). What are the votes on web servers? IIS is expensive and restrictive (has Windows adoption of open source changed this?) Apache has the history but seems to be at the root of most of my Infosec issues, and I know nothing about nginx (is it too new to rely on?). And no, I don't know what I want to do on the web explicitly, but hosting and data storage (both cloud and tape) are possibilities. Ready, aim fire!
I would pick nginx over both IIS and Apace HTTP Server any day. Combine it with docker, and as you grow maybe even traefik, and you'll have a really flexible solution for serving http content where you can take sites and projects up and down without effort, easily move it between systems and dont have to handle any dependencies on your actual local machine.
From a StackShare Community member: "We are a LAMP shop currently focused on improving web performance for our customers. We have made many front-end optimizations and now we are considering replacing Apache with nginx. I was wondering if others saw a noticeable performance gain or any other benefits by switching."
I use nginx because it is very light weight. Where Apache tries to include everything in the web server, nginx opts to have external programs/facilities take care of that so the web server can focus on efficiently serving web pages. While this can seem inefficient, it limits the number of new bugs found in the web server, which is the element that faces the client most directly.
I use nginx because its more flexible and easy to configure
I use Apache HTTP Server because it's intuitive, comprehensive, well-documented, and just works
I was in a situation where I have to configure 40 RHEL servers 20 each for Apache HTTP Server and Tomcat server. My task was to 1. configure LVM with required logical volumes, format and mount for HTTP and Tomcat servers accordingly. 2. Install apache and tomcat. 3. Generate and apply selfsigned certs to http server. 4. Modify default ports on Tomcat to different ports. 5. Create users on RHEL for application support team. 6. other administrative tasks like, start, stop and restart HTTP and Tomcat services.
I have utilized the power of ansible for all these tasks, which made it easy and manageable.