Overview
This lecture introduces platform services, focusing on web servers, their function, and setting up the Apache HTTP server for hosting web content.
Platform Services
- Platform services let developers build and deploy software without managing OS, server hardware, or networking.
- Examples include web servers for hosting apps and development tools for coding.
Web Servers and HTTP
- Businesses use web servers to store and serve content to clients online.
- A web server receives requests via domain names (e.g., google.com).
- Web servers store files and run HTTP server software to process HTTP requests and responses.
- HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) formats and transfers web pages.
- The Apache HTTP Server (Apache) is a popular, free, open-source HTTP server.
Setting Up a Web Server (Apache Example)
- Installing Apache on Linux uses the command:
sudo apt-get install apache2.
- Once installed, the web server runs and hosts content locally.
- The machine’s IP address (e.g., 127.0.0.1) or hostname (localhost) is used to access local content.
- Localhost is reserved and not a public domain name.
- Default web content can be replaced by adding files to the Apache directory.
- To make the server publicly accessible, DNS must be configured.
System Administrator’s Role
- System administrators ensure web content is available and managed, not created.
- IT support specialists managing web services must understand server operation and hosting basics.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Platform Services — Tools enabling software development without managing underlying hardware or OS.
- Web Server — A server storing and delivering web content via the internet.
- HTTP Server — Software that processes HTTP requests and sends HTTP responses for web communication.
- Apache — Widely-used, open-source HTTP server software.
- Localhost — Hostname referring to the local machine (IP: 127.0.0.1).
- DNS (Domain Name System) — System that links domain names to IP addresses.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Practice installing and accessing Apache on a local machine.
- Explore how to upload and manage web content in the Apache directory.
- Review how DNS is used to make a server accessible publicly.