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) 1981-2008 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved. |
Additional Resources
- Inventor of Web lamented election results
- Inventor of Web lamented election resultsLAUDING G DUBYA????i had come across these statements while searching for an article and (albeit 4 yrs later) i was appalled by the plaudits given him by so many!!! he will, no doubt, be remembered in history as a "who cares" and the...
- Discussion threads 2008-07-03
- Say it ain't so AVG, say it ain't so: AVG LinkScanner = Badware?
- Say it ain't so AVG, say it ain't so: AVG LinkScanner = Badware?AVG Freeware Ain't So Free After All...Man, am I shocked that AVG is doing this. Of course I don't use the product but have made recommendations in the past to folks who could not afford to purchase good...
- Discussion threads 2008-07-03
- Say it ain't so AVG, say it ain't so: AVG LinkScanner = Badware?
- The Register covered a very interesting story about AVG. Apparently AVG is spamming the Internet with traffic that looks to be coming from Internet Explorer. AVG software pre-crawls search results to try to protect users, but uses a user agent that makes the software appear to be Internet Explorer. This pre-crawling is flooding websites with...
- Blog posts 2008-07-03
- Nothing stealthy about this Windows Update update
- Nothing stealthy about this Windows Update updateStill got it wrong?!?!What part of "check for updates but let me decide" do they not understand???If the people at MS are feeling so benevolentwhy not have the programmers pop up a box when the update occurs, sort of hand holding for the wary.If...
- Discussion threads 2008-07-03
- On deck from MS: Four 'important' patches but nothing for IE
- Next Tuesday, Microsoft plans to ship four security updates for multiple flaws affecting Windows, Microsoft SQL Server and Microsoft Exchange Server but the absence of fixes for publicly known Internet Explorer issues is causing raised eyebrows among security professionals. According to the company's advance notice for July's...
- Blog posts 2008-07-03
- Apple caught neglecting iPhone security
- Apple caught neglecting iPhone securityApple doesn't really care.I believe that Apple puts security of its products at the bottom of the list, with cool design at the top. All this stuff just proves me right, that sure they have a neat casing and a touch screen, but underneath it...
- Discussion threads 2008-07-03
- I have to stop using Gmail :(
- I have to stop using Gmail :(You can enable POP3 support in Gmail...If you switch on POP3 support in Gmail, then you can still comply with archiving procedures: http://mail.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=13273That way, you can both send and receive e-mails with an e-mail client like Thunderbird or Evolution or even Outlook Express. I...
- Discussion threads 2008-07-03
- Apple caught neglecting iPhone security
- If you're waiting on iPhone 2 to standardize your business on the awesome new device (yeah, I'll be on line to buy one), you might want to pay attention to the conspicuous absence of iPhone security patches over the last four months. As WaPo's Brian Krebs reports,...
- Blog posts 2008-07-03
- Nothing stealthy about this Windows Update update
- For years, Microsoft has occasionally updated its Windows Update client software automatically on systems that are configured to check for updates. This has been true even when Windows Update is set to simply check for (and optionally, download) updates but not to install them. That decision led...
- Blog posts 2008-07-03
- Opera patches serious code exection flaw
- Opera Software has joined the list of browser vendors shipping fixes for serious remote code execution vulnerabilities. The company's new Opera 9.5.1 patches at least four security issues, the most serious being a flaw reported by Microsoft's Billy Rios that could be used to execute arbitrary code....
- Blog posts 2008-07-03
- Q'n'A: Are Youtube users are royally screwed?
- Q'n'A: Are Youtube users are royally screwed?.....“[B]Had this not happened, Viacom would have made a huge amount of profit, but have now obviously lost out.[/B]”Subjective speculation that is unsubstantiated.“[B]YouTube could get shut down, Google could get fined to the nth degree, or maybe Google will get sued and it have...
- Discussion threads 2008-07-03
- WordPress, Gears, and the converging browser/desktop
- WordPress, Gears, and the converging browser/desktopGears is good, but, we still need support for a better compiled languagelike a special sand-boxed version of Java. Without Java or similar, we can NOT do things like import complex file types or do a lot of the things that we need for full...
- Discussion threads 2008-07-03
- Weekend Gadget Guidance: Sync files between computers over the Web, free
- Freeware application and Web service Dropbox instantly backs up and syncs your files over the Internet and to any Windows or Mac computer. Once you install the application, it will create a Dropbox folder on your hard drive. Any file you put inside that folder will sync...
- Blog posts 2008-07-03
- 12 terabytes of YouTube data
- 12 terabytes of YouTube dataHorrible loss for ConsumersThis Judge needs to be taught what he has the power to do, and not to do. This is a clear violation of the Video Privacy Protection Act. Not to mention a major privacy issue for all of us that have ever watched...
- Discussion threads 2008-07-03
- Use Google Talk on your iPhone/Touch
- Use Google Talk on your iPhone/TouchAs mobile browsers get better, we will see fewer and fewer applicationscompiled for a specific platform. Instead, there will just be a special web version tailored to the screen size and resolution. What could be better? No installation, upgrade, patching. Simple.Wait for Adium for the...
- Discussion threads 2008-07-03
- NoScript vs. Internet Explorer 8 Filters
- NoScript vs. Internet Explorer 8 FiltersThink About End UsersI've tried, a couple of times, to use NoScript in my normal surfing, and it became unbearable quickly. Too many sites were disfunctional. MLB.com is a good example.It's one thing to make an add-in for technical users that they can tweak on...
- Discussion threads 2008-07-03
- Google Talk isn't the only iPhone optimized IM client
- The news that Google Talk has now been optimized for the Apple iPhone web browser is all over the internet this morning. I also wanted to let IM users know there are other web browser based options for clients other than Google Talk. by Matthew Miller
- Blog posts 2008-07-03
- Cool Tools - Plan a festive Fourth of July with social apps
- The Cool Tools feature is taking a long weekend with the rest of us so it's making its holiday splash today. This week in Cool Tools I explore ways that we can leverage the social Web to plan for a fun and festive Fourth of July celebration. by Jennifer Leggio
- Blog posts 2008-07-03
- DJ your Independence Day party with your Mac
- DJ your Independence Day party with your MacMake sure you install Windows on that MacAfter all, none of what you've written requires OS X and Windows has the advantage of being able to play every codec that OS X can play [b]plus[/b] all the Windows only codecs. Hey, this is...
- Discussion threads 2008-07-03
- Gmail, Yahoo and Hotmail's CAPTCHA broken by spammers
- Gmail, Yahoo and Hotmail's CAPTCHA broken by spammersIt is impossible to manage...networks the size of Google with technology alone. It takes a real live person. Now we can expect more spam coming from these networks. Spam that will be harder to filter. If these companies can't manage their networks in...
- Discussion threads 2008-07-03
Neighboring Terms
Premier Vendor Content Whitepapers, webcasts & resources from our Power Center Sponsors
- Learn how collaboration fuels success with this FREE Economist report
-
According to a new study from the Economist, future success belongs to those who collaborate effectively. Learn how successful collaboration can improve profits, problem-solving, and competitive differentiation.
- Visit Cisco's Collaboration Resource Center today!
- BNET Industries
- Check out BNET's newest resource for managers and executives. Need to do research on your competitors? Don't have time to read every trade pub? BNET Industries is the new source for daily news, insights, and research on 11 major industries and 9,000 public companies.
-
- The technology industry from a different angle
-
- See what's hot in the auto industry
-
- Stay on top of the energy industry







