Web Hosting Talk : Web Hosting Main Forums : Hosting Security and Technology : Apache vs lighttpd vs nginx

[ryan14]

What is the best free server software to use out of Apache/lighttpd/nginx?

Apache: Has it fixed the c10k problem of handling 10,000 simultaneous connections on a single server?

lighttpd: Not as big a developer base than Apache and has it fixed memory leak problems?

nginx: Pretty fast with caching but has problems with url rewriting?

Be interesting to know your opinions.

I need one that has no bugs and is fully compatible with php5, mysql, ssl, javascript, all web browsers.

[activelobby4u]

apache is still the majorly used and best supported web server software

[kohkindachi]

what about Cherokee HTTP Server?

[yajur]

nginx is the best from my point

[ramnet]

each of these servers is perfected for a specific task.

1) if you need .htaccess / .htpasswd, or if you need the features of mod_php, mod_perl, mod_layout, mod_whatever, or extended ssi, you'll want apache.

2) if all you need if static file serving, or if you want a really good reverse proxy to another http server, you'll want nginx.

3) if you need cgi/ssi/php, but don't need .htaccess / .htpasswd or any other apache-specific module, you'll want lighttpd.

4) if you need a simple web server that can do static and cgi, i'd suggest thttpd.

I use all 4 of the servers mentioned above for various things - nginx to protect apache from DoS attacks and handle ssl, lighttpd to handle simple sites that need php (and mod_secdownload) but nothing fancy beyond that, and thttpd to handle a site that has a few cgi and static files.

Also, I don't think apache has solved the c10k problem, and nginx doesn't have a rewrite problem afaik, and I'm pretty sure lighttpd doesn't leak memory anymore (at least the one in debian 5 doesn't seem to).

[kohkindachi]

are we able to use more than 1 or a server?

[ramnet]

Originally Posted by kohkindachi

are we able to use more than 1 or a server?

yes you can use more than 1 httpd at a time - running on different ports and/or ip addresses.

[10gbus]

Try litespeed. It supports all feature apache has

[yajur]

Originally Posted by 10gbUS

Try litespeed. It supports all feature apache has

but it $$

[IRCCo Jeff]

Originally Posted by yajur

but it $$

There is a very good reason for this. The software is rock solid, the performance is outstanding, and it is a well rounded product handling all of the elements ramnet was discussing in one package.

[yajur]

Originally Posted by IRCCo Jeff

There is a very good reason for this. The software is rock solid, the performance is outstanding, and it is a well rounded product handling all of the elements ramnet was discussing in one package.

Jeff i to tried litespeed webserver,in that i seen when i shifted from apache to litespeed i saw RAM useage is lowered from 60% to 12%then i installed nginx,where i saw the ram usage is gone to 40% but the server load is reduced from 2 to 0.50

totally litespeed will take some what load but the ram usage will be less in nginx the ram usage will be high but server load is lowered

[inspiron]

Nginx and lighttpd are better for low-memory environments such as on VPS. Apache is good if you want a wide range of configuration options.

[HD Fanatic]

Litespeed would be your best bet. A user reports that it handled 100,000 http requests per second. 10,000 connections doesn't even bring the server down.

http://www.litespeedtech.com/support...9&postcount=16

Read the whole thread.

[ryan14]

do you have instructions on how to run nginx in front of apache to protect apache from dos attacks? And does this work with cpanel?

Originally Posted by ramnet

each of these servers is perfected for a specific task.

1) if you need .htaccess / .htpasswd, or if you need the features of mod_php, mod_perl, mod_layout, mod_whatever, or extended ssi, you'll want apache.

2) if all you need if static file serving, or if you want a really good reverse proxy to another http server, you'll want nginx.

3) if you need cgi/ssi/php, but don't need .htaccess / .htpasswd or any other apache-specific module, you'll want lighttpd.

4) if you need a simple web server that can do static and cgi, i'd suggest thttpd.

I use all 4 of the servers mentioned above for various things - nginx to protect apache from DoS attacks and handle ssl, lighttpd to handle simple sites that need php (and mod_secdownload) but nothing fancy beyond that, and thttpd to handle a site that has a few cgi and static files.

Also, I don't think apache has solved the c10k problem, and nginx doesn't have a rewrite problem afaik, and I'm pretty sure lighttpd doesn't leak memory anymore (at least the one in debian 5 doesn't seem to).

[CretaForce]

Originally Posted by ryan14

lighttpd: Not as big a developer base than Apache and has it fixed memory leak problems?

My company uses lighttpd on more than 15 servers hosting more than 2.000 websites. If there were memory leak problems I am sure we would find them.