Rating: 
Summary: Excellent, comprehensive Guide to the latest version of Apac
Review: Apache's HTTP server has been by many measures the most popular web server on the web, and perhaps the primary application that drives people to Linux and open source. Three years ago, Wrox published the definitive book on running the Apache server by Peter Wainwright. Excellent though the book was, it badly needed updating. In May 2002, Wrox published another book, Professional Apache 2.0, which covers the new generation of Apache server, as well as older 1.3x versions that are still running production servers around the world." Although Apache changed a great deal in its version 2.0, it is a credit to the Apache folk that the config files and command line options have basically remained the same for sys admins. For this reason, the book seems to include a lot of material (CGI security, building, core modules) from the original book. However, a closer look reveals many changes. Almost every chapter includes a discussion about how features differ in both versions of Apache. The book does a good job of giving an overview of Apache's architectural changes and how the use of multi-processing modules (MPM) allow the admin to choose an optimal implementation of apache. This edition, noticeably bigger than the previous one, contains many more examples of how one can extend apache functionality (configuring for binary distribution, setting up virtual interfaces, load sharing). Many sections have been expanded. The discussion of security and SSL is more detailed, yet more succinct; so is the section on content negotiation, (which is twice as long as the previous book), doing proxy server configurations, rsync and benchmarking performance. The discussion on hardening the server was great and up-to-date, although I wish the book spent more time discussing on patching and upgrading. What is new to the book? We find a longer discussion of graphic administration tools for Windows and Unix, including webmin (which actually I wanted more of). We also have discussions of newer modules such as mod_ruby, mod_python, mod_dav as well as a brief description on how to install tomcat alongside apache. The discussion of mod_dav was especially helpful and interesting to me (and I was especially glad that the author acknowledged the Subversion DAV module, something which is bound to become more important). The php stuff hasn't changed much (although at the time the book was published, 2.0 compatibility with PHP was still an iffy proposition). The book's discussion of mod_perl isn't significantly different, although it does point out migration issues and some additional features. Generally, the book is clearly written and contains enough examples to find any configuration you want. A few parts required rereading (especially the part about proxies and proxypasses), and occasionally I needed a better explanation of what the example code was supposed to do. No book can be everything for everybody, and nobody can accuse the book of not having enough content (it is after all more than 700 pages!). I found myself wishing for other things. The book briefly discussed 2.0's support for ipv6, but I longed for a fuller explanation and a more detailed example (Fortunately, I had seen a good ipv6 tutorial on Linux Journal ). Also, I would have liked more information about other web application servers (like zope that Apache sometimes coexists with, content frameworks (such as cocoon) and other goodies produced by the Apache Foundation. The author might legitimately feel that such subjects lie outside the book's scope, but such topics are becoming more important. In summary: for newbies who are looking for a guide to start with: this is the definitive book to read. It's definitive and a little imposing, but it is well written and logically arranged. For people already familiar with Apache 1.3 but looking for more depth about ipv6, php, content frameworks or Tomcat, it might be better to read books on those specific subjects instead of this one. Indeed, Wrox will soon be coming out with a book specifically on Apache and Tomcat. For experienced system administrators, the material in this book may not be terribly new, but they will still appreciate the variety of configuration examples for managing large numbers of virtual hosts and the convenience of having documentation of the 1.3/2.0 differences at their fingertips.
Rating: 
Summary: Comprehensive
Review: Fisrt of all, covering all of Apache is quite a difficult task. Add to that the need for updated information keeping in pace with release timings. I think a good job has been done by Peter on this book. He has covered all that a System Admin needs to know in short space. Definitely recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Good For Developers Deploying Applications on Apache
Review: It was really nice to see this title , especially looking towards the timeframe in which it has covered a latest & hot topic like Apche 2.0
I would like to put 4 stars for it after taking a glance at the whole work done. One should agree on the fact that the coverage is huge. This is a good *reference* for developers who are deploying their applications "on Apache" , but certainly not for an "Apache developer" ! Putting all the plus points together , I found it a -Good squence of contents , which maintain the flow with conciseness.
-Covers all the basic-to-intermediate level requirements for the admins with full configuration options,
building , controling contents and maintaining the server.
-A well spanned covergae on all aspects/technologies related to Apache security is a major strength of this title
-Good coverage of all the major topics related to Apache for admin and system architects who are using Apache for
deploying their products like Java using Tomcat,Ruby,PHP,CGI,Perl etc.
-Coverage of topics like Tomcat configuration , WebDAV , What log files DON'T tell you etc. were delighting one.
-Nice to see some very useful info on related points like basics of networking , migrating to IPv6 , hardware choice etc
along with the core subject. They will prove useful for beginners. But this title certainly deficit in , -Detailed underlying execution behavior of Apache, it's modules and the underlying OS.
-Information on mod_jk , AJP and WARP regarding configuration of Tomcat with Apache is very less.
-Little coverage on Apache module development and internals of it.
-Most of the illustarions/illustrative steps are mentioned assuming unix variant OS. For Win32 there are very few tips provided.
-Some snap-shots and more details about configuring a Digital Certificate could have made a lot difference.
-Log Analysers and GUI config tools coverage is quite little. This is another thing which of practical use.
-Few but some serious typographic mistakes are annoying one like APJ (which should be AJP - Apache JServ Protocol) under
tomcat configuration.
Rating:
Summary: Not for beginners
Review: Moving from the IIS environment to the Unix environment; being fairly computer literate and having become quite familiar with basic Unix administration, I was looking for a good source to get me up to speed on Apache. This book is not it. It assumes a fairly detailed basic knowledge which most 'newbies' to the Unix/Apache world just do not have. After I had learnt quite a bit about Apache (from another source) I found this book excelent to tune that knowledge. It is however, as the title 'Professional Apache' suggests, for the Professional Apache administrator. Don't get it to learn about Apache, get it when you already know quite a bit about Apache, and need to learn how to refine that knowledge and need to tweak Apache for maximum performance! Wainwright is incredibly knowledable, but like many knowledgeable people he forgets that for the average Joe to get from A to Z he has to go via BCDE & F and can't start at UVWX & Y. This is not a criticism of Peter but rather is a criticism of the Wrox editorial staff. I do feel that the editorial staff could, with a little intelligent effort, have helped Peter create a book that could indeed have become the 'bible' of Apache Administration.
Rating:
Summary: Inspiring!
Review: Peter Wainwright and the co-authors combine a vast knowledge of the Apache webserver with the talent to share it to a mixed audience. They also manage to combine some of the many possibilities of the software into new solutions. I used this book as part of an Apache course and was happy to find many of the answers to unexpected questions from students on special matters.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent resource for Apache administrators
Review: Peter Wainwright has done another fine job of covering the installation, configuration and running of Apache, this
time focussing on version 2.0 of the application. Much of the material in this book was covered in his previous edition (Professional Apache), though the obvious
emphasis here is on Apache 2.0. However, Apache 1.3 isn't ignored and the book is still useful for anyone using
that version, as well as anyone simply migrating to 2.0. As before, it starts with a basic overview of the HTTP protocol, TCP/IP and server hardware. These are useful for
beginners, but I'd hope that anyone thinking of running a web server would have this knowledge already. The section on improving web server security has been expanded into its own chapter and includes plenty of useful
system security and integrity advice not peculiar to web servers, but crucial nonetheless. The chapter on
extending Apache with third-party modules has had an overhaul too, now covering the likes of WebDAV and
mod_python. mod_perl, which has changed drastically for Apache 2.0, is also covered in detail for both versions of
Apache. I've recently built an Apache 2.0 server from scratch using nothing but this book, and apart from a couple of
typos I've found it to have covered every step of the way without coming across any errors or omissions (the index
is very good but in the May 2002 print I have some of the entries are one page out). The book is still very
Unix-centric, though there seems to be more specific information for Windows users than in the previous edition.
But then who would run Apache on Windows anyway? The author makes his views clear near the start of the book that
Unix is a preferable platform, but for the masochists there seems to be enough information to get Apache running
on Windows. If I have any complaints it's that perhaps the chapter on monitoring Apache could have been expanded somewhat in
its description of log analysis tools. Only Analog is covered in any depth, though it is described in plenty of
detail from installation to configuration and is arguably the most useful analyser out there anyway. Professional Apache 2.0 isn't a bed-time read, but it's an excellent tutorial and reference for the Apache
administrator and far more useful than the online documentation. If you are planning to install or run Apache,
then I highly recommend this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Yuck!!!
Review: This book is overly technically dense and way too thick. And it was on the verge of unreadable. The way Wainwright wrote this book reminded me of the first scene of Ferris Beuller's Day Off. Yep, you guessed it, the one with the teacher's annoying monotanous voice, well, that's Wainwright, et al in this book. Also, when Wainwright covered TCP/IP I freaked out: I had no idea what a NAK was. After checking Stevens' TCP/IP bible (TCP/IP Illustrated), It turned out that there is none. So the 10 or so technical reviewers should be ashamed of themselves. Granted, everyone has heard of the 3 way handshake and four way close; however, the details of TCP's timeout and retransmition algorithms are complicated but not unintelligible. The authors also do a poor job explaining the material. In fact, they don't really explain it; instead, they state it and assume you've understood it. Also, the authors speak in the second person with We and Our! I find this irritating and offensive. Anyone who managed to get through college knows that you're supposed to use you aditude. Yet the editors of this book seemed to make no note of it(It's on almost every page). In conclusion, this book manages to cover all of apache in a bibleish fashion, but it has obvious errors that make you feel like you know the material better than the authors do.
Rating:
Summary: Yuck!!!
Review: This book is overly technically dense and way too thick. And it was on the verge of unreadable. The way Wainwright wrote this book reminded me of the first scene of Ferris Beuller's Day Off. Yep, you guessed it, the one with the teacher's annoying monotanous voice, well, that's Wainwright, et al in this book. Also, when Wainwright covered TCP/IP I freaked out: I had no idea what a NAK was. After checking Stevens' TCP/IP bible (TCP/IP Illustrated), It turned out that there is none. So the 10 or so technical reviewers should be ashamed of themselves. Granted, everyone has heard of the 3 way handshake and four way close; however, the details of TCP's timeout and retransmition algorithms are complicated but not unintelligible. The authors also do a poor job explaining the material. In fact, they don't really explain it; instead, they state it and assume you've understood it. Also, the authors speak in the second person with We and Our! I find this irritating and offensive. Anyone who managed to get through college knows that you're supposed to use you aditude. Yet the editors of this book seemed to make no note of it(It's on almost every page). In conclusion, this book manages to cover all of apache in a bibleish fashion, but it has obvious errors that make you feel like you know the material better than the authors do.
Rating:
Summary: The only book for mod_ruby
Review: This book is the only book that describes how to use mod_ruby, as far as I know. You can know many things abount mod_ruby from this book. For example: * What is mod_ruby
* How to configure Apache to use mod_ruby
* Output buffering mechanism of mod_ruby
* Apache API for Ruby The author of this section is Sean Chittenden. He is the most powerful contributor to mod_ruby, and his document is very reliable. I hope you enjoy this book and mod_ruby:-)
Rating:
Summary: The only book for mod_ruby
Review: This book is the only book that describes mod_ruby as far as I know. You can know various things about mod_ruby from this book. For example: * What is mod_ruby
* How to configure Apache to use mod_ruby
* How to configure Apache to use eRuby
* Output buffering mechanism of mod_ruby
* Apache API for Ruby The author of this section is Sean Chittenden. He is the most powerful contributor to mod_ruby, so his document is very reliable. I hope you enjoy this book and mod_ruby:-)
If you don't know what is mod_ruby, please read this book!
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