Server Admin 10.4 Help
Key Web Components
Web technologies in Mac OS X Server consist of several key components, which provide a flexible and scalable server environment.
Apache Web Server
Apache is an open source HTTP web server that administrators can configure with the Server Admin application.
Apache has a modular design, and the set of modules enabled by default is adequate for most uses. Server Admin can control a few optional modules. Experienced Apache users can add or remove modules and modify the server code. For information about modules, see Apache Modules.
Apache version 1.3 is installed in Mac OS X Server. Apache version 2 is provided with the server software for evaluation purposes; it is located in /opt/apache2/.WebDAV
Web-based Distributed Authoring and Versioning (WebDAV) is particularly useful for updating content on a website. Users who have WebDAV access to the server can open files, make changes or additions, and save those revisions.
You can also use the realms capability of Apache to control access to WebDAV folders containing all or part of a website's content.
You can also use WebDAV as if it were a file server, so that authorized users in different locations and on different platforms can read, copy, post, and modify files on a website.
CGI Support
The Common Gateway Interface (CGI) provides a means of interaction between the server and clients. For example, CGI scripts allow users to place an order for a product offered on a website or submit responses to information requests.
You can write CGI scripts in any of several scripting languages, including Perl and Python. The folder /Library/WebServer/CGI-Executables is the default location for CGI scripts.
SSL Support
Web service includes support for Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), a protocol that encrypts information being transferred between the client and server. SSL works in conjunction with a digital certificate that provides a certified identity for the server by establishing a secure, encrypted exchange of information.
Dynamic Content With Server-Side Includes (SSI)
Server side includes provide a method for using the same content on multiple pages in a site. They also can tell the server to run a script or insert specific data into a page. This feature makes updating content much easier, because you revise information in only one place and the SSI command displays that revised information on many pages.
See Enabling Server Side Includes (SSI) for more information about SSI.
Front-End Cache
The web server includes a high-performance cache that increases performance for websites that serve static pages. The static content stays in the cache once used, so the server can quickly retrieve this content when it is requested again.
See Improving Performance of Static Websites (Performance Cache) for more about using the performance cache.
Weblogs and RSS Support
The web server provides weblogs (blogs) as an option for each website. The weblogs comply with RSS and Atom XML standards and allow Open Directory authentication. Log users can choose from several techniques for working with templates and style sheets. Weblogs in Mac OS X Server are based on Blojsom, an open source application.
When you turn on weblogs, they are on for every site on the server.See the collaboration services overview for detailed information about weblogs.