Apache HTTP Server Fundamentals Training Course

Apache HTTP Server consistently dominates over 50% of the market share for internet-facing web servers. So it's vital for systems administrators, IT specialists, managers, and developers to have a comprehensive understanding of how to install, configure, and fine tune an Apache HTTP Server.

This course gives you a deep understanding of how Apache HTTP Server operates and what it's capable of doing. You will learn:

  • How to build a secure, finely-tuned, and high-performance Apache installation.
  • What key Apache modules are available and how they are installed and configured to improve your websites.
  • Common dangerous web server attacks and how to protect against them.
  • How to monitor your website through logging and monitoring tools.

What Will You Learn?

Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

  • Build a secure, fully-functional, highly-tuned Apache installation.
  • Select, install, and configure Apache modules.
  • Set up Apache for load balancing and caching.
  • Configure Apache to handle virtual hosts, header rewriting, and proxying for back-end services.
  • Lock down the Apache installation using advanced security features and SSL certificates.
  • Monitor and tune your Apache installation.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Audience

This course is designed for systems administrators, consultants, IT specialists, and small business owners who need to set up web servers. This course also benefits internet service providers that provide web hosting services. Technical managers and web developers will also gain valuable insight into what Apache can do and how to configure web servers.

Prerequisites

Knowing how to run commands from the command line or terminal window is helpful. No programming or shell-scripting knowledge is required for this course.

    If you have any questions please contact us at itraining@zend.com

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    Class Format

    This online class provides instructor-led, two-hour long lectures coupled with practical examples and student exercises. For labs, this course provides a virtual machine, constructed using VirtualBox and Vagrant. Following the course, students are free to continue to use the virtual machine to revisit labs.

    You will be given a participant course guide, to help you follow along with the lectures and exercises.

    This class can be also delivered by an instructor on site.

    Scheduling

    Classes are scheduled to meet the needs of our customers. Once you purchase a class, we will assign you to a class (based on your time zone) within 60 days of purchase.

    Next Steps

    After you have purchased your Zend online training course, you will receive an email detailing the registration process. If you have any questions, please contact us at itraining@zend.com.

    Registration, Terms, and Conditions

    Class Outline

    Introduction to Apache

    1. Apache history, background, and overview
    2. What is the HTTP protocol?
    3. Apache Web Server architecture
    4. What's new in Apache 2.4
    5. Program and module enhancements
    6. MPM, prefork, worker, and event

    Apache Setup and Configuration

    1. Host configuration, hints, and tips
    2. Startup mechanisms and ports
    3. Apache configuration directives
    4. RPM vs. SRC considerations
    5. Installing: Windows vs. Unix
    6. Starting and stopping Apache

    Building Apache from Source

    1. Installing Apache from source (official, documented method)
    2. Common build issues
    3. Platform specifics
    4. Build dependencies
    5. Shared objects vs. dynamic
    6. Building against external dependencies
    7. Adding modules at build-time
    8. Using APXS
    9. Fine tuning your custom layout

    Modules

    1. Apache review
    2. Core modules (sample)
    3. Provisioning: Many vs. least
    4. Recommended modules
    5. New modules in Apache 2.4

    Apache Logging

    1. Logging overview
    2. Logging directives and fields
    3. Log rotation methods
    4. Other logging tools
    5. Forensic logging
    6. Custom log directives and module

    Headers and Rewriting

    1. mod_headers
    2. Request and response headers
    3. Header directives
    4. Header arguments
    5. mod_rewrite
    6. Rewrite rules, conditions, and variables
    7. Comparisons
    8. mod_alias
    9. Alias directives

    Multi-instance Apache

    1. Overview of why multiple instances are required
    2. Vhosts
    3. Name-based
    4. IP-based
    5. Same binary vs. different binaries
    6. Multi-instance

    Apache, HTTP vs. HTTPS

    1. HTTP vs. HTTPS
    2. Port modifications
    3. SSL and TLS
    4. Known SSL vulnerabilities
    5. SSL vs. hardware accelerator
    6. mod_ssl

    Web Architecture

    1. Apache deployment considerations
    2. Network overview of Apache implementations
    3. Timeouts and lingering close
    4. Optimizing Apache for high traffic
    5. Changes to your ISP's back-end
    6. What is high availability (HA)?
    7. Failovers, fault tolerance, load balancing, session management
    8. Clustering HA bundle

    Apache as a Proxy

    1. Apache fronting an application
    2. Proxy and reverse proxy
    3. mod_proxy
    4. mod_proxy_* connect, fcgi, ftp, http, ajp, wstunnel, proxy, jk, cluster
    5. Apache and Tomcat

    Apache as a Load Balancer

    1. Using load balancing
    2. How to use the load tools
    3. mod_proxy, mod_proxy_balancer, mod_cluster
    4. Apache vs. third-party caching (Squid, Varnish, etc.)

    Monitoring Tools

    1. Monitoring overview
    2. What and how to monitor
    3. Using the tools
    4. Zabbix, Nagios, and Cacti

    Apache Security and Best Practices

    1. Securing Apache overview
    2. OS, firewall, and networking considerations
    3. Hardening security configuration
    4. mod_security

    Apache in the Enterprise

    1. Sessions
    2. mod_session, mod_session_crypto, mod_session_dbd
    3. Setup and configuration of Apache, Tomcat, mod_jk, and JBoss

    Caching

    1. mod_cache, mod_expires
    2. Thundering herd problem
    3. Cache filtering, status, and logging
    4. Cache directives
    5. Disk vs. memory
    6. M15Ex1: Configuring Apache for caching

    Performance Tuning

    1. Why tune?
    2. Cluster vs. tune: When to do which one?
    3. Detailed dive into tuning
    4. Tuning for various types of traffic
    5. Streaming vs. hosting
    6. Users accessing site and resources
    7. Incorporating storage
    8. How to measure tuning process
    9. Stickyness