HTTP Server
"Web server" may refer to just the software and not the entire computer system. In such cases, it refers to the HTTP server (IIS, Apache, etc.) that manages requests from the browser and delivers HTML documents and files in response. It also executes server-side scripts (CGI scripts, JSPs, ASPs, etc.) that provide functions such as database searching and e-commerce.
One Computer or Thousands
A single computer system that provides all the Internet services for a department or a small company would include the HTTP server (Web pages and files), FTP server (file downloads), NNTP server (newsgroups) and SMTP server (mail service). This system with all its services could be called a Web server. In ISPs and large companies, each of these services could be in a separate computer or in multiple computers. A datacenter for a large public Web site could contain hundreds and thousands of Web servers.
Web Servers Are Built Into Everything
Web servers are not only used to deliver Web pages. Web server software is built into numerous hardware devices and functions as the control panel for displaying and editing internal settings. Any network device, such as a router, access point or print server may have an internal Web server (HTTP server), which is accessed by its IP address just like a Web site. Contrast with Web client. See application server and embedded Web server.
Web Server Fundamentals
Web browsers communicate with Web servers via the TCP/IP protocol. The browser sends HTTP requests to the server, which responds with HTML pages and possibly additional programs in the form of ActiveX controls or Java applets.
Web Server Environment
This shows all the server-side processes that can take place in a Web server and application server. There is overlap between a Web server and an application server, as both can perform similar tasks. The Web server and application server can be in the same machine or in separate computers.
A Built-in Web Server
This home page is not coming from the Web, but from the Web server built into Tally's 8106 color laser printer. Any Web browser can access the configuration panel by IP address when Web server software provides the user interface. The 192.168.1.250 is the IP address of the printer.
Web Servers Are Everywhere
Web server software is built into this EasyCom print server, which plugs into the printer's parallel port.
![]() | Reproduced with permission from Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. Copyright (c) 1981-2009 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved. |
Additional Resources
- OpenLink Lite Edition ODBC Driver for SQL Server (TDS) 6.02.3280 (Mac)
- High-Performance ODBC Drivers provide transparent access to remote databases from any ODBC-compliant application. Desktop Productivity Tools (i.e., Spreadsheets, Word Processors, Presentation Packages, Desktop Databases, Personal Organizers, etc.), Client-Server Application Development Environments, Web-based Database Publishing Tools, and Computer Telephony Integration packages, are just a few of the many products that can...
- Software downloads 2009-11-05
- iPhone Chat Server (123FlashChat) 7.5 (Windows)
- iPhone Chat Server Software by 123FlashChat can add a chat room to your Web site in minutes. It organizes chat events or online meetings for social network or portals. Technology utilized: Java chat server and various chat client. It is secure, easy and affordable. It has text and video chat...
- Software downloads 2009-11-05
- Photostand 2.1.2 (Windows)
- Photostand changes the wallpaper of your PC automatically. It can use pictures on your HDD and web pictures on the Internet. Photostand collects many different kinds of Web wallpapers on the Internet Web Wallpaper servers and enables you to set those images at your PC's desktop. Photostand recommends more than...
- Software downloads 2009-11-05
- Bugzilla 3.4.3 (Mac)
- Bugzilla is the leading open-source/free software bug tracking system, with high-profile installations at mozilla.org (250,000 entries), Gnome, Red Hat and NASA, among others. It features a comprehensive set of fields, attachment management, inter-bug dependencies, email notification of changes, a powerful query interface, reporting, and web, xml, email and console interfaces....
- Software downloads 2009-11-05
- Xobni expands to include enterprise but where are Web, Mobile and even Mac versions
- Search tools more than important!!!Good that mostly everbody knows that in business life nothing works without e-mail and even that important is a reliable and fast search tool for Outlook! One of those is Lookeen It has so many features which lighten your work that is amazing. It works with...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-04
- News to know: AT&T, Verizon; T-Mobile; Microsoft CRM; Win7; datacenters; Sony-Ericcson
- Here are today's notable headlines. You can get News To Know via email alert and RSS daily. For continuous updates see BNET's around-the-Web tech coverage.: Sam Diaz: AT&T sues Verizon Wireless, calls map ad "misleading" but doesn't dispute accuracy Matthew Miller: T-Mobile experiences...
- Blog posts 2009-11-04
- ARI Asynchronous Remote Interface 1.0 (Windows)
- ARI, which stands for Asynchronous Remote Interface is a .NET Ajax library that eliminates all of the complexity of Ajax programming for .NET based web sites. ARI is a drop-in solution that allows you to make remote calls to all of the server side code residing in the App_Code directory...
- Software downloads 2009-11-04
- Yahoo does right by Traffic Server
- Traffic Server is designed to optimize Web sites by caching popular content at the network edge, closer to users. It's not something Google needs -- they have their own solution -- but it could be very useful for relatively new, fast-growing sites. by Dana Blankenhorn
- Blog posts 2009-11-03
- JumpBox for Tomcat Java Web Application Deployment 1.1.1 (Mac)
- Apache Tomcat is an open source servlet container that implements the Java Servlet and the JavaServer Pages specifications. Like other deployment JumpBoxes, the JumpBox for Tomcat makes it easy to deploy a web application (specifically a java-based web application). Notable features of this JumpBox include: Flexible deployment options: Applications...
- Software downloads 2009-11-03
- SmartCode ViewerX VNC ActiveX Control 2.9.7 (Windows)
- The SmartCode ViewerX VNC control provides developers with full access to the VNC Viewer features using a set of intuitive ActiveX properties and methods. With ViewerX control, developers can easily provide screen sharing and remote control capabilities to their applications. The SmartCode ViewerX can work behind HTTP/SOCKS5 and UltraVNC Repeater...
- Software downloads 2009-11-03
- New Trojan encrypts files but leaves no ransom note
- Symantec is warning about a new Trojan horse that encrypts files on compromised computers but offers no ransom note like other software designed to hold data hostage for a fee. Symantec is warning about a new Trojan horse that encrypts files on compromised computers but offers no ransom note...
- News items 2009-11-02
- Is Microsoft a dinosaur to Google's mammal?
- Random comments...How odd the mixed metaphors sound... "built from the ground up to work in the cloud"...The dinosaurs were around for tens of millions of years, and we mammals can barely say the same. The crown of creation can be wrested from the head of the wearer by something unforeseen--like...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-02
- RemoteSight 1.0 (Mac)
- RemoteSight is an application for video and audio transmission over a network. It captures video from any attached video input device (for example the built-in iSight camera included in many Macintosh computers), which can then be viewed on another computer over a network or the internet. The primary use of...
- Software downloads 2009-11-02
- AllWebMenus Pro 5.2.800 (Windows)
- AllWebMenus is a DHTML menu/JavaScript menu builder for web navigation that requires absolutely no DHTML or JavaScript experience. It creates any cross-browser, popup or drop-down web menu that works alike in all browsers supporting DHTML held by all popular platforms (Win, MAC, Unix) and browsers (IE, Firefox, Mozilla, Safari, Chrome)....
- Software downloads 2009-11-02
- JumpBox for LAMP Deployment 1.1.13 (Mac)
- The JumpBox for LAMP Deployment is a great utility system that allows you to easily deploy applications where a tailored JumpBox may not exist. It contains MySQL plus PHP, Perl, Ruby and Python along with PHPMyAdmin to help you manage the database. Using the JumpBox for LAMP Deployment you can...
- Software downloads 2009-11-02
- Open Search Server 1.1.1r652 (Mac)
- Open Search Server OSS is a search engine software developed under the GPL v3 open source licence. Built using the best open source technologies available, Open Search Server is a stable, high-performance piece of software. It is both a modern search engine and a suite of high-powered full text search...
- Software downloads 2009-11-01
- Home Ftp Server 1.10.0.137 (Windows)
- Home Ftp Server is an easy to use FTP server that allows you to share files directly from your PC with lots of setup possibilities. You can set up user accounts, specify directory permissions and monitor access to individual files. It supports implicit/explicit TLS, virtual directories, banned IP addresses and...
- Software downloads 2009-11-01
- Iron Speed Designer Free Edition 6.2.1 (Windows)
- Iron Speed Designer generates database and reporting applications for .NET in minutes, straight from your database. Quickly create visually stunning, feature-rich Web 2.0 applications that are easy-to-customize and ready-to-deploy. Simply point to an existing database and let the Iron Speed Designer wizards build a sophisticated, database-driven application thats ready to...
- Software downloads 2009-11-01
- Ability FTP Server 1.20 (Windows)
- FTP Server features 128-bit SSL, Remote Admin, security protection options, disk quota limits, bandwidth restrictions, IP restrictions, virtual folders, resume support, real-time activity viewer, and real-time control. The Remote Admin facility is designed for ultimate flexibility and so is accessible via a Web browser. This allows secure control over the...
- Software downloads 2009-10-30
- TCExam 9.0.032 (Windows)
- TCExam is a Computer Based Assessment CBA software system (also know as CBT - Computer Based Testing or e-exam) that enables educators and trainers to author, schedule, deliver, and report on surveys, quizzes, tests and exams. TCExam is Free Open Source Software, Web-Based, Platform Independent, Language Independent (includes translations in...
- Software downloads 2009-10-30
Neighboring Terms
Premier Vendor Content Whitepapers, webcasts & resources from our Power Center Sponsors
SmartPlanet
- Thought-provoking progressive ideas on diverse topics that intersect with technology, business, and life, and matter to the world at large. Visit SmartPlanet
- More from IBM
- Innovate your business' process model, play against the market, compete against others on our scoreboards and WIN! Try INNOV8 2.0: A BPM Simulator
- Enabling Real-World Business Transformation through IBM Service Management Read the EMA Analyst Report




