May 5 2009

Apache On Windows For Production - Why Not?

Posted by Mike Brunt at 3:34 PM
5 comments
- Categories: Web Servers | Default | ColdFusion

I now have 4 clients on Windows 2008 Server and IIS7 and in each case there have been problems getting ColdFusion 8 and IIS7 playing nicely together.  The issue is the web server connector and if anything is weak in ColdFusion, the web server connector certainly stands in line for first prize, in my opinion.  So here are some of the quirks I have seen with CF8 and IIS7.

HTML displays fine before connecting CF and IIS after connecting simple HTML throws a 500 error.

HTML displays fine when first hitting a web site yet clicking on a single HTML link throws a 500 error.

During the running of the connector to connect IIS and CF we get "Unknown Error".  Close out and try again and it works.

Creating a Virtual Directory in IIS7 creates a re-direct under the covers causing a recursive loop.

Sometimes the ISAPI relationships are created other times they have to be added manually.

Even when the ISAPI relationships are created run-state are not correct-sufficient.

These are actual occurrences that clients have gone through.  So I ask myself, what could be wrong with using Apache on Windows in production?  One big advantage would be that those with Unix systems with Apache would have a common set of underlying configuration-set up files and there would be no need to add third-party Apache emulators such as ISAPI re-writes.  Does anyone have any thoughts or opinions on using Apache on Windows in production?

Comments

Andrew Penhorwood

Andrew Penhorwood wrote on 06/13/09 5:34 PM

I have Apache 2.2.x running on Windows 2000 on multiple servers in production. I have always used Apache on Windows. I would only run IIS if I had too.
Paul Klinkenberg

Paul Klinkenberg wrote on 06/14/09 7:10 AM

Apache is absolutely the way to go on Windows!
For instance, the configuration settings you need for Apache are in text files, which are very easily changed and ported. In IIS, the configuration is kind of hidden inside the iisadmin UI. I know IIS stores the config in xml files, but it's still no compare to Apache's httpd.conf.
More over, with Apache you have sooo much more configuration options and plugins, and the number of tech articles and support for apache are great.
Lastly, for devers who work locally on projects on their windows machine, IIS allows for only one (1!!!) website. So, at least for me, I used to work with Apache locally, while the prod server was (not _is_) on IIS. Rewrites etc. were not easily ported, I can tell you.

So, just start using it, and you will see!
Leandro

Leandro wrote on 03/18/10 6:41 AM

Very good article on Apache. I just am beginning but me gutaria to learn and this page much more me has been helpful.
Priscila

Priscila wrote on 06/03/10 5:13 PM

Excellent article, explained very clearly. Congratulations on the quality of your website. Greetings from Chile.
Crear-Cuenta.Net

Crear-Cuenta.Net wrote on 07/20/10 2:00 PM

Congratulations on your outstanding website, which I have been very helpful with this issue. Greetings from Latin America.

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