Welcome to the WebCompare Server Features Comparison! This is a list of the generally-available, supported server software for the World Wide Web. These software packages are also called "HTTP servers" because their primary purpose it to serve data using the HTTP protocol, but "Web server" is a better term because they often do much more than just speak a protocol.
A few new servers were added:
Folks seem to like this chart: it was downloaded over 15,000 times last month.
This list includes all Web servers which seem to be currently supported. Other WWW servers certainly exist, but they are either sparsely supported (or completely unsupported), or the authors didn't feel like responding to requests for information about their server. We actively solicit the authors of all Web servers to participate, but we can't force them to.
Please note that the information in this list comes from the authors of the software, not from any determination we at WebCompare have made by looking at the server software or documentation. In the past, some readers have told us that some of the information in the chart is wrong, and we always go back to our contacts with these comments. Sometimes, it is a misunderstanding of the feature, but more often it has been that the server author didn't tell us that they added something to the server.
One of the features that is often requested that isn't listed here is performance. Unfortunately, no good Web server performance tests exist yet. The ones that are out there do not measure anything even vaguely like real-world performance, and thus are fairly meaningless. (In this way, the Web market is much like the CPU market...) WebCompare will most likely be creating performance measuring tests in the future, but until then, performance performance-related features won't be listed.
For an extended description of what each feature means, please see the feature descriptions. Some of these descriptions refer to the draft versions of the HTTP/1.0 and HTTP/1.1 specifications (the drafts have yet to be finalized into RFCs). The HTTP/1.0 draft and HTTP/1.1 draft are available from WebCompare.
In upcoming issues, we will certainly be adding features relating to the evolving HTTP/1.1 standard. The features being added to HTTP/1.1 are still in flux, but the standard looks like it will settle down a great deal this month and probably be quite stable within a month or two. At that point, you should expect to see much better functionality and performance on the Web.
Of course, there will be even more features listed in the future. If there are features that you would like to see added to the list, please send a message to editors@webcompare.com.
If you're more interested in which servers are popular than in the features of the servers, you should certainly take a look at NetCraft. They maintain a great site that does a Webcrawl survey of which sites are using which kinds of servers.
There are a few other lists of Web server software available around the Web (gotta love that self-reference!). One list that has more software, but don't talk about features, is at Yahoo.
There are some servers not listed here because the companies that sell them do not respond to repeated requests to be added to the list. Many people have asked why CompuSource's PowerWeb are not listed; the simple answer is that the company has not responded to many requests for their information. It is sad that many large companies have such a hard time sitting down and listing their actual features. There are also some servers that are not listed because they are unauthorized and unsupported ports of freeware servers in the list. It is not uncommon for someone to port a freeware Unix server to a different operating system, get it mostly working, then not finish the port and not keep up with new versions of the original server. These partially-working ports are specifically not listed here unless they are well supported by the porting team.
For example, long-time readers of this list will notice that CERN httpd is no longer listed. After CERN handed the code over to the W3C, it has been barely supported, if at all. An occaisional patch shows up every now and then, but no one's working on the code. W3C may come out with a new server in the future, but for now, the venerable CERN server is unsupported. If you really want to try it, you can find the source code and information on the W3C Web site.
Some authors/companies of the servers described in this list answered immediately and were quite responsive, while some barely answered or answered weeks after being asked. You may want to consider which server you use based on how actively it is supported and how quickly your questions get answered. As many people who run Web sites are now discovering, having no or little support for their Web server software can be disasterous to their site and their health.
Note that some of the packages listed here, particularly the commercial ones, have additional features that can make Web administration easier, and some have other nifty features that differentiate them from their competitors. Of course, the technical support also varies greatly from server to server. You should probably check out each of the servers that are appropriate for your operating system before committing to one.
Full name | Short name | Link to server's chart |
Link to server's own URL | Version |
---|---|---|---|---|
Alibaba | Alibaba | chart | URL | 2.0 |
Amiga Web Server | AmigaWeb | chart | URL | 2.0 |
Apache | Apache | chart | URL | 1.02 |
Apache-SSL-US | ApacheSSL | chart | URL | 1.0.3+1.1 |
Common Lisp Hypermedia Server | CL-HTTP | chart | URL | 58.12 |
Commerce Builder | Commerce Builder | chart | URL | 1.5 |
COSMOS Web Server | COSMOS | chart | URL | 1.0 |
OSU DECthreads server | DECthreads | chart | URL | 2.0 |
EMWAC Freeware HTTPS | EMWAC | chart | URL | 0.99 |
EnterpriseWeb | EnterpriseWeb | chart | URL | 1.0 beta |
Esplanade | Esplanade | chart | URL | 1.2 |
Esplanade Secure Edition | Esplanade Secure | chart | URL | 1.2 |
ExpressO HTTP Server | ExpressO | chart | URL | B1.8 |
Fnord Server | Fnord | chart | URL | 0.6.0.23 |
FolkWeb | FolkWeb | chart | URL | 1.01 |
GN | GN | chart | URL | 2.24 |
GNNserver | GNNserver | chart | URL | 2.03 |
GoServe for OS/2 | GoServe | chart | URL | 2.48 |
IBM Internet Connection Server | IBM Connection | chart | URL | 4.0 |
IBM Internet Connection Secure Server | IBM Connection Secure | chart | URL | 4.0 |
JSB INTRAnet Jazz Server | Jazz | chart | URL | 0.9 |
MacHTTP from Quarterdeck | MacHTTP | chart | URL | 2.2 |
Microsoft Internet Information Server | Microsoft IIS | chart | URL | 1.0 |
NCSA HTTPd | NCSA | chart | URL | 1.5a |
NetPresenz | NetPresenz | chart | URL | 4.0.1 |
Netscape Enterprise Server | Netscape Enterprise | chart | URL | 2.0 |
Netscape FastTrack Server | Netscape FastTrack | chart | URL | 2.0 |
Open Market Secure WebServer | Open Market Secure | chart | URL | 1.1 |
Open Market WebServer | Open Market WebServer | chart | URL | 1.1 |
Oracle WebServer | Oracle | chart | URL | 2.0 |
Purveyor WebServer | Purveyor | chart | URL | 1.2 |
Quarterdeck WebServer | Quarterdeck WebServer | chart | URL | 1.0 |
Sioux | Sioux | chart | URL | 1.0.1 |
Spinnaker Web Server | Spinnaker | chart | URL | 2.0 |
Spinner | Spinner | chart | URL | 1.0b13 |
SPRY SafetyWeb Server | SPRY SafetyWeb | chart | URL | 1.1 |
SPRY Web Server | SPRYWeb | chart | URL | 1.1 |
Stairways Web Server | Stairways | chart | URL | 1.0d2 |
SU/httpd | SU/httpd | chart | URL | 1.0 |
SuperWeb Server | SuperWeb | chart | URL | 1.1 |
TECWeb Server | TECWeb | chart | URL | 1.1 |
thttpd | thttpd | chart | URL | 1.00 |
VBServer | VBServer | chart | URL | 2.0 |
W4-Server | W4 | chart | URL | 2.4 |
Web Server/400 | WebServer400 | chart | URL | 1.2 |
Webshare | Webshare | chart | URL | 1.2.3 |
WebSite from O'Reilly & Associates | WebSite | chart | URL | 1.1E |
WebSTAR 95/NT from Quarterdeck | WebSTAR 95/NT | chart | URL | 2.0 |
WebSTAR Mac from Quarterdeck | WebSTAR Mac | chart | URL | 1.2.4 |
Webware Commercial Edition | Webware Comm | chart | URL | |
WN | WN | chart | URL | 1.13 |
Zeus Server | Zeus | chart | URL | 1.0.1 |
Unix | Apache, ApacheSSL, CL-HTTP, COSMOS, ExpressO, GN, GNNserver, IBM Connection, IBM Connection Secure, Jazz, NCSA, Netscape Enterprise, Netscape FastTrack, Open Market Secure, Open Market WebServer, Oracle, Sioux, Spinner, SU/httpd, TECWeb, thttpd, WN, Zeus |
Windows NT | Alibaba, Commerce Builder, EMWAC, Esplanade, Esplanade Secure, ExpressO, Fnord, FolkWeb, GNNserver, IBM Connection, Jazz, Microsoft IIS, Netscape Enterprise, Netscape FastTrack, Open Market Secure, Open Market WebServer, Oracle, Purveyor, Quarterdeck WebServer, Spinnaker, SPRY SafetyWeb, SPRYWeb, SuperWeb, VBServer, W4, WebSite, WebSTAR 95/NT |
Windows 95 | Alibaba, Commerce Builder, ExpressO, Fnord, FolkWeb, Purveyor, Quarterdeck WebServer, Spinnaker, VBServer, W4, WebSite, WebSTAR 95/NT |
Windows 3.1 | Quarterdeck WebServer, VBServer |
OS/2 | Apache, GoServe, IBM Connection, IBM Connection Secure |
Macintosh OS | CL-HTTP, ExpressO, MacHTTP, NetPresenz, WebSTAR Mac |
Novell Netware | Purveyor, Webware Comm |
VMS | DECthreads, Purveyor |
Amiga OS | AmigaWeb |
AS/400 | WebServer400 |
VM/CMS | EnterpriseWeb, Webshare |
MVS | IBM Connection |
MS-DOS | |
Be OS | Stairways |
Unix variants | |
AIX: IBM Connection, IBM Connection Secure | |
Digital Unix 3.2, HP/UX 9, HP/UX 10, Intel Solaris 2.4, Linux 1.2.x, SGI Irix 5.3, Sparc Solaris 2.4, SunOS 4.1.4: GNNserver | |
Most: Apache, ApacheSSL, COSMOS, GN, NCSA, SU/httpd, Spinner, WN | |
Requires Java runtime: ExpressO | |
SCO, AIX, HP-UX: Jazz | |
Solaris (for Intel and Sparc), SunOS, HP-UX, AIX, IRIX, Digital UNIX, BSD/OS, SCO UNIX, NEC UNIX, SINIX, Sony UNIX: Netscape Enterprise, Netscape FastTrack | |
Solaris/Sparc: TECWeb | |
Solaris/Sparc, SunOS 4.1, IBM AIX, BSD/386/1.1, HP-UX, HP MPE, SGI,Digital Unix, Tandem NSK: Open Market Secure, Open Market WebServer | |
Solaris/Sparc, SunOS, IRIX, Linux, BSDI, FreeBSD, OSF/1, HP-UX: Zeus | |
Sun SPARC Solaris 2.4: Oracle | |
SunOS, OSF, Solaris, SGI: CL-HTTP | |
SunOS, Solaris, FreeBSD, NetBSD, Linux, Irix, HP/UX, OSF/1, BSDI: thttpd | |
SunOS4, Solaris 2.4, Solaris 2.5, Linux, FreeBSD, Irix 5.3: Sioux | |
Windows NT CPUs | |
Alpha, PowerPC: Commerce Builder | |
Intel: Alibaba, Esplanade, Esplanade Secure, Fnord, FolkWeb, IBM Connection Secure, Jazz, Quarterdeck WebServer, SPRY SafetyWeb, SPRYWeb, Spinnaker, SuperWeb, VBServer, W4, WebSTAR 95/NT, WebSite | |
Intel, Alpha: GNNserver, Oracle, Purveyor | |
Intel, Alpha, MIPS: Netscape Enterprise, Netscape FastTrack | |
Intel, Alpha, MIPS, PowerPC: EMWAC, Microsoft IIS | |
Requires Java runtime: ExpressO | |
Can run from inetd (Unix and OS/2 systems only) | Apache, CL-HTTP, COSMOS, GN, GNNserver, GoServe, Jazz, NCSA, Oracle, SU/httpd, WN |
Can serve different directory roots for different IP addresses | Alibaba, Apache, ApacheSSL, Commerce Builder, COSMOS, DECthreads, EnterpriseWeb, Esplanade, Esplanade Secure, ExpressO, GNNserver, GoServe, IBM Connection Secure, Jazz, Microsoft IIS, NCSA, Netscape Enterprise, Netscape FastTrack, Open Market Secure, Open Market WebServer, Oracle, Purveyor, Sioux, Spinner, SPRY SafetyWeb, SPRYWeb, TECWeb, thttpd, WebServer400, Webshare, WebSite, WebSTAR 95/NT, Webware Comm, WN, Zeus |
Runs as Windows NT service and/or application | |
Application: Fnord, FolkWeb, IBM Connection, Quarterdeck WebServer, Spinnaker, VBServer | |
Both: Alibaba, Commerce Builder, Esplanade, Esplanade Secure, GNNserver, Jazz, WebSTAR 95/NT, WebSite | |
Service: EMWAC, Microsoft IIS, Netscape Enterprise, Netscape FastTrack, Oracle, Purveyor, SPRY SafetyWeb, SPRYWeb, SuperWeb | |
Logging with syslog (Unix) or Event Log (Windows NT) | Alibaba, Commerce Builder, EMWAC, Esplanade, Esplanade Secure, GN, Microsoft IIS, Netscape Enterprise, Netscape FastTrack, Open Market Secure, Open Market WebServer, Oracle, Purveyor, Sioux, Spinnaker, Spinner, SPRY SafetyWeb, SPRYWeb, SuperWeb, TECWeb, thttpd, WebSTAR 95/NT, WN |
CERN/NCSA common log format | Alibaba, Apache, ApacheSSL, CL-HTTP, Commerce Builder, COSMOS, DECthreads, EnterpriseWeb, Esplanade, Esplanade Secure, ExpressO, Fnord, FolkWeb, GNNserver, GoServe, IBM Connection, IBM Connection Secure, Jazz, NCSA, Netscape Enterprise, Netscape FastTrack, Open Market Secure, Open Market WebServer, Oracle, Purveyor, Quarterdeck WebServer, Sioux, Spinnaker, Spinner, SPRY SafetyWeb, SPRYWeb, TECWeb, thttpd, W4, WebServer400, WebSite, Webware Comm, WN, Zeus |
Log files can be automatically cycled or archived | Alibaba, AmigaWeb, CL-HTTP, Commerce Builder, COSMOS, EMWAC, EnterpriseWeb, ExpressO, FolkWeb, GNNserver, GoServe, IBM Connection, IBM Connection Secure, Jazz, Microsoft IIS, NetPresenz, Netscape Enterprise, Netscape FastTrack, Purveyor, Sioux, Spinner, SPRY SafetyWeb, SPRYWeb, SuperWeb, TECWeb, thttpd, VBServer, W4, WebServer400, Webshare, WebSite, Webware Comm, Zeus |
Normal (hit) log entries can be customized | Alibaba, Apache, ApacheSSL, CL-HTTP, Commerce Builder, EnterpriseWeb, ExpressO, GoServe, Microsoft IIS, Netscape Enterprise, Netscape FastTrack, Oracle, Purveyor, Spinner, SPRY SafetyWeb, SPRYWeb, TECWeb, VBServer, W4, WebSTAR Mac, Webware Comm, WN, Zeus |
Can write to multiple logs | Alibaba, AmigaWeb, Apache, ApacheSSL, CL-HTTP, Commerce Builder, DECthreads, EnterpriseWeb, Esplanade, Esplanade Secure, ExpressO, FolkWeb, GNNserver, GoServe, IBM Connection, IBM Connection Secure, Jazz, NCSA, Netscape Enterprise, Netscape FastTrack, Open Market Secure, Open Market WebServer, Purveyor, Sioux, Spinner, SPRY SafetyWeb, SPRYWeb, TECWeb, VBServer, WebServer400, WebSite, WebSTAR 95/NT, Webware Comm, WN, Zeus |
Server can generate non-hit log entries (such as comments) | Alibaba, AmigaWeb, CL-HTTP, Commerce Builder, COSMOS, EnterpriseWeb, ExpressO, GNNserver, GoServe, IBM Connection, IBM Connection Secure, Microsoft IIS, Netscape Enterprise, Netscape FastTrack, Purveyor, Quarterdeck WebServer, Spinner, TECWeb, VBServer, W4, Webware Comm, Zeus |
CGI scripts can create their own log entries | Alibaba, CL-HTTP, COSMOS, EnterpriseWeb, Esplanade, Esplanade Secure, ExpressO, FolkWeb, GoServe, IBM Connection, IBM Connection Secure, Jazz, Microsoft IIS, NCSA, Netscape Enterprise, Netscape FastTrack, Open Market Secure, Open Market WebServer, Purveyor, Sioux, Spinnaker, thttpd, VBServer, W4, Webshare, WebSTAR Mac, Webware Comm, WN |
Performance measurment logs | Alibaba, CL-HTTP, DECthreads, Esplanade, Esplanade Secure, ExpressO, GoServe, Microsoft IIS, Netscape Enterprise, Netscape FastTrack, Open Market Secure, Open Market WebServer, Purveyor, Spinnaker, SPRY SafetyWeb, SPRYWeb, W4, WebServer400, WebSite, WebSTAR 95/NT, Zeus |
Can generate referer log entries | Alibaba, AmigaWeb, Apache, ApacheSSL, CL-HTTP, Commerce Builder, COSMOS, Esplanade, Esplanade Secure, ExpressO, Fnord, GNNserver, GoServe, Jazz, NCSA, NetPresenz, Netscape Enterprise, Netscape FastTrack, Open Market Secure, Open Market WebServer, Purveyor, Sioux, Spinner, SPRY SafetyWeb, SPRYWeb, TECWeb, thttpd, VBServer, W4, WebSite, WebSTAR 95/NT, WebSTAR Mac, Webware Comm, WN, Zeus |
Can generate browser log entries | Alibaba, AmigaWeb, Apache, ApacheSSL, CL-HTTP, Commerce Builder, COSMOS, Esplanade, Esplanade Secure, ExpressO, GNNserver, GoServe, Jazz, NCSA, Netscape Enterprise, Netscape FastTrack, Open Market Secure, Open Market WebServer, Purveyor, Spinner, SPRY SafetyWeb, SPRYWeb, TECWeb, thttpd, VBServer, WebSite, WebSTAR Mac, Webware Comm, WN, Zeus |
Can track individual users in log | Alibaba, AmigaWeb, Apache, ApacheSSL, CL-HTTP, Commerce Builder, COSMOS, FolkWeb, GoServe, IBM Connection, IBM Connection Secure, Netscape Enterprise, Netscape FastTrack, Open Market Secure, Open Market WebServer, Purveyor, Sioux, Spinner, TECWeb, VBServer, W4, Webware Comm, WN |
Automatic response to If-Modified-Since | Alibaba, AmigaWeb, Apache, ApacheSSL, CL-HTTP, Commerce Builder, DECthreads, EMWAC, EnterpriseWeb, Esplanade, Esplanade Secure, ExpressO, Fnord, FolkWeb, GN, GNNserver, GoServe, IBM Connection, IBM Connection Secure, Jazz, MacHTTP, Microsoft IIS, NCSA, Netscape Enterprise, Netscape FastTrack, Open Market Secure, Open Market WebServer, Oracle, Purveyor, Quarterdeck WebServer, Sioux, Spinnaker, Spinner, SPRY SafetyWeb, SPRYWeb, SuperWeb, thttpd, WebServer400, WebSite, WebSTAR 95/NT, WebSTAR Mac, Webware Comm, WN, Zeus |
Select documents based on Accept header | Alibaba, Apache, ApacheSSL, Commerce Builder, FolkWeb, GoServe, IBM Connection, IBM Connection Secure, Jazz, NCSA, Open Market Secure, Open Market WebServer, Oracle, Purveyor, Sioux, Spinnaker, Spinner, SuperWeb, TECWeb, W4, WebSTAR Mac, Webware Comm, WN, Zeus |
Select documents based on User-Agent header | Alibaba, Apache, ApacheSSL, Commerce Builder, COSMOS, Esplanade, Esplanade Secure, FolkWeb, GoServe, NCSA, Netscape Enterprise, Netscape FastTrack, Open Market Secure, Open Market WebServer, Oracle, Sioux, Spinnaker, Spinner, SPRY SafetyWeb, SPRYWeb, SuperWeb, TECWeb, Webware Comm, WN, Zeus |
Includes based on HTML comments | Alibaba, Apache, ApacheSSL, Commerce Builder, DECthreads, Esplanade, Esplanade Secure, ExpressO, GNNserver, GoServe, IBM Connection, Microsoft IIS, NCSA, Netscape Enterprise, Netscape FastTrack, Open Market Secure, Open Market WebServer, Oracle, Purveyor, Sioux, Spinnaker, Spinner, SPRY SafetyWeb, SPRYWeb, TECWeb, thttpd, WebServer400, WebSite, Webware Comm, WN, Zeus |
Server can force includes | Alibaba, COSMOS, EnterpriseWeb, ExpressO, GNNserver, IBM Connection, Microsoft IIS, Netscape Enterprise, Netscape FastTrack, Open Market Secure, Open Market WebServer, Oracle, Sioux, Spinnaker, TECWeb, VBServer, W4, Webware Comm, Zeus |
Includes can be based on request headers | Alibaba, Commerce Builder, COSMOS, EnterpriseWeb, Esplanade, Esplanade Secure, GoServe, Netscape Enterprise, Netscape FastTrack, Open Market Secure, Open Market WebServer, Oracle, Purveyor, Spinnaker, Spinner, TECWeb, W4, Webware Comm, WN |
Automatically include any HTTP headers in responses | Alibaba, Apache, ApacheSSL, Commerce Builder, COSMOS, EnterpriseWeb, Esplanade, Esplanade Secure, ExpressO, FolkWeb, GoServe, IBM Connection, IBM Connection Secure, Jazz, Netscape Enterprise, Netscape FastTrack, Open Market Secure, Open Market WebServer, Oracle, Purveyor, Spinnaker, Spinner, SPRY SafetyWeb, SPRYWeb, TECWeb, W4, WebSTAR 95/NT, Webware Comm, WN, Zeus |
Access to server state variables from CGI or other scripting | Alibaba, Apache, ApacheSSL, CL-HTTP, Commerce Builder, COSMOS, EnterpriseWeb, ExpressO, GNNserver, GoServe, MacHTTP, Microsoft IIS, NCSA, Netscape Enterprise, Netscape FastTrack, Open Market Secure, Open Market WebServer, Oracle, Purveyor, Sioux, Spinnaker, Spinner, SPRY SafetyWeb, SPRYWeb, SuperWeb, TECWeb, thttpd, VBServer, W4, WebServer400, Webshare, WebSite, WebSTAR Mac, Webware Comm, WN, Zeus |
Has built-in scripting language | |
ARexx: AmigaWeb | |
Apache Server API: ApacheSSL | |
BGI: SPRY SafetyWeb, SPRYWeb | |
Common LISP: CL-HTTP | |
CosmosAPI: COSMOS | |
Dynamic HTML: Spinnaker | |
ISAPI: Purveyor | |
ISAPI, CGIDLL: Alibaba | |
NSAPI and Java applet API: Netscape Enterprise, Netscape FastTrack | |
Python: Sioux | |
Rexx: GoServe | |
SMX: Commerce Builder | |
Sockd: Zeus | |
Tcl and C API: GNNserver | |
Tcl, WSAPI, and FastCGI: Open Market Secure, Open Market WebServer | |
Yes: EnterpriseWeb, MacHTTP, Microsoft IIS, W4, WebSTAR 95/NT, WebSTAR Mac, Webware Comm | |
custom: TECWeb | |
microLPC: Spinner | |
Has built-in image-map handling | Alibaba, AmigaWeb, Apache, ApacheSSL, CL-HTTP, Commerce Builder, DECthreads, EMWAC, EnterpriseWeb, Esplanade, Esplanade Secure, ExpressO, FolkWeb, GNNserver, GoServe, IBM Connection, IBM Connection Secure, Jazz, Microsoft IIS, NCSA, Netscape Enterprise, Netscape FastTrack, Open Market Secure, Open Market WebServer, Oracle, Purveyor, Sioux, Spinnaker, Spinner, SPRY SafetyWeb, SPRYWeb, SuperWeb, TECWeb, W4, WebServer400, WebSite, WebSTAR 95/NT, Webware Comm, WN, Zeus |
Supports HTTP/1.1 PUT | CL-HTTP, ExpressO, Netscape Enterprise, Netscape FastTrack, Spinnaker, Spinner, WebSite |
Non-supported methods can invoke a script | CL-HTTP, Commerce Builder, EnterpriseWeb, ExpressO, GNNserver, GoServe, IBM Connection, IBM Connection Secure, Spinnaker, SPRY SafetyWeb, SPRYWeb, SU/httpd, SuperWeb, Webware Comm, Zeus |
Supports the Windows CGI interface | Alibaba, Commerce Builder, Esplanade, Esplanade Secure, FolkWeb, GNNserver, Microsoft IIS, Netscape Enterprise, Netscape FastTrack, Spinnaker, SuperWeb, WebSite, WebSTAR 95/NT |
Comes with SNMP agent | Microsoft IIS, Netscape Enterprise, Spinner |
Supports HTTP/1.1 byte ranges | ExpressO, Netscape Enterprise, Netscape FastTrack, Spinner, WebSite |
Supports HTTP/1.1 persistent connections | CL-HTTP, ExpressO, Netscape Enterprise, Spinner, WebSite, Zeus |
Understands full URIs in HTTP/1.1 requests | CL-HTTP, Netscape Enterprise, Netscape FastTrack, Spinner, WebSite |
Can require password (Authorization: user) | Alibaba, Apache, ApacheSSL, CL-HTTP, Commerce Builder, DECthreads, EnterpriseWeb, Esplanade, Esplanade Secure, ExpressO, Fnord, FolkWeb, GNNserver, GoServe, IBM Connection, IBM Connection Secure, Jazz, MacHTTP, Microsoft IIS, NCSA, Netscape Enterprise, Netscape FastTrack, Open Market Secure, Open Market WebServer, Oracle, Purveyor, Quarterdeck WebServer, Sioux, Spinnaker, Spinner, SPRY SafetyWeb, SPRYWeb, SuperWeb, TECWeb, W4, WebServer400, WebSite, WebSTAR 95/NT, WebSTAR Mac, Webware Comm, WN, Zeus |
Supports SSL v. 2 | Alibaba, ApacheSSL, Commerce Builder, COSMOS, Esplanade Secure, GNNserver, IBM Connection Secure, Microsoft IIS, Netscape Enterprise, Netscape FastTrack, Open Market Secure, Oracle, Purveyor, Sioux, SPRY SafetyWeb, WebSTAR Mac, Zeus |
Supprots SSL v. 3 | Netscape Enterprise, Netscape FastTrack, Sioux |
Supports S-HTTP | IBM Connection Secure, Open Market Secure |
Supports PCT | Open Market Secure, Open Market WebServer |
Prohibit by domain name | Alibaba, Apache, ApacheSSL, CL-HTTP, Commerce Builder, DECthreads, EnterpriseWeb, Esplanade, Esplanade Secure, ExpressO, FolkWeb, GN, GNNserver, GoServe, IBM Connection, IBM Connection Secure, Jazz, MacHTTP, NCSA, Netscape Enterprise, Netscape FastTrack, Open Market Secure, Open Market WebServer, Oracle, Purveyor, Quarterdeck WebServer, Sioux, Spinner, SPRY SafetyWeb, SPRYWeb, TECWeb, WebServer400, WebSite, WebSTAR 95/NT, WebSTAR Mac, Webware Comm, WN, Zeus |
Prohibit by IP address | Alibaba, Apache, ApacheSSL, CL-HTTP, Commerce Builder, DECthreads, EnterpriseWeb, Esplanade, Esplanade Secure, ExpressO, Fnord, FolkWeb, GN, GNNserver, GoServe, IBM Connection, IBM Connection Secure, Jazz, MacHTTP, Microsoft IIS, NCSA, NetPresenz, Netscape Enterprise, Netscape FastTrack, Open Market Secure, Open Market WebServer, Oracle, Purveyor, Quarterdeck WebServer, Sioux, Spinnaker, Spinner, SPRY SafetyWeb, SPRYWeb, SuperWeb, TECWeb, W4, WebServer400, WebSite, WebSTAR 95/NT, WebSTAR Mac, Webware Comm, WN, Zeus |
Configurable user groups (not just a single user list) | Alibaba, Apache, ApacheSSL, CL-HTTP, Commerce Builder, EnterpriseWeb, Esplanade, Esplanade Secure, ExpressO, Fnord, FolkWeb, GNNserver, GoServe, IBM Connection, IBM Connection Secure, Jazz, Microsoft IIS, NCSA, Netscape Enterprise, Netscape FastTrack, Open Market Secure, Open Market WebServer, Oracle, Purveyor, Quarterdeck WebServer, Sioux, Spinnaker, Spinner, SPRY SafetyWeb, SPRYWeb, SuperWeb, TECWeb, WebServer400, WebSite, WebSTAR 95/NT, Zeus |
Can change user access control list without restarting server | Alibaba, Apache, ApacheSSL, CL-HTTP, Commerce Builder, DECthreads, EnterpriseWeb, Esplanade, Esplanade Secure, ExpressO, FolkWeb, GN, GNNserver, GoServe, IBM Connection, IBM Connection Secure, Jazz, MacHTTP, Microsoft IIS, NCSA, Netscape Enterprise, Netscape FastTrack, Open Market Secure, Open Market WebServer, Purveyor, Sioux, Spinnaker, Spinner, SuperWeb, TECWeb, W4, WebServer400, WebSite, WebSTAR 95/NT, WebSTAR Mac, Webware Comm, WN, Zeus |
Can hide part of a document based on security rules | CL-HTTP, Commerce Builder, GoServe, Microsoft IIS, Netscape Enterprise, Netscape FastTrack, Purveyor, Spinnaker, Spinner, TECWeb, W4, WebServer400, Webware Comm, WN, Zeus |
Security rules can be based on URLs | Alibaba, CL-HTTP, Commerce Builder, Esplanade, Esplanade Secure, ExpressO, FolkWeb, GNNserver, GoServe, IBM Connection, IBM Connection Secure, Jazz, MacHTTP, Microsoft IIS, Netscape Enterprise, Netscape FastTrack, Open Market Secure, Open Market WebServer, Purveyor, Sioux, Spinnaker, Spinner, SPRY SafetyWeb, SPRYWeb, SuperWeb, TECWeb, W4, WebServer400, WebSite, WebSTAR Mac, Webware Comm, WN, Zeus |
Default security model for file-based documents | |
Allow access to all files (no access file): AmigaWeb, CL-HTTP, EMWAC, Fnord, GNNserver, GoServe, NetPresenz, Oracle, Quarterdeck WebServer, SU/httpd, Stairways, VBServer, WebSTAR 95/NT, WebSite, Webshare, thttpd | |
Allow access to all files unless listed in an access file: Alibaba, Apache, ApacheSSL, Esplanade, Esplanade Secure, ExpressO, IBM Connection, IBM Connection Secure, Jazz, MacHTTP, Microsoft IIS, NCSA, Netscape Enterprise, Netscape FastTrack, Open Market Secure, Open Market WebServer, Purveyor, SPRY SafetyWeb, SPRYWeb, Sioux, Spinner, SuperWeb, WebSTAR Mac, WebServer400 | |
Deny access to all files unless listed in an access file: Commerce Builder, DECthreads, EnterpriseWeb, FolkWeb, GN, Spinnaker, W4, WN, Webware Comm, Zeus | |
Doesn't access file system at all (pure database): COSMOS, TECWeb | |
Hierarchical permissions for directory-based documents | Alibaba, Apache, ApacheSSL, CL-HTTP, Commerce Builder, EnterpriseWeb, Esplanade, Esplanade Secure, ExpressO, GN, GNNserver, Jazz, Microsoft IIS, NCSA, Netscape Enterprise, Netscape FastTrack, Open Market Secure, Open Market WebServer, Oracle, Purveyor, Sioux, Spinner, SPRY SafetyWeb, SPRYWeb, W4, WebServer400, WebSite, WebSTAR Mac, Webware Comm, Zeus |
The following are the descriptions of the additional security features of the servers, as described by the server's author or company selling the server.
GUI-based setup | Alibaba, Commerce Builder, COSMOS, Esplanade, Esplanade Secure, ExpressO, Fnord, FolkWeb, GNNserver, GoServe, IBM Connection, IBM Connection Secure, Microsoft IIS, NCSA, NetPresenz, Netscape Enterprise, Netscape FastTrack, Open Market Secure, Open Market WebServer, Oracle, Purveyor, Quarterdeck WebServer, Spinnaker, Spinner, SPRY SafetyWeb, SPRYWeb, SuperWeb, VBServer, W4, WebServer400, WebSite, WebSTAR 95/NT, WebSTAR Mac, Zeus |
GUI-based maintenance | Alibaba, CL-HTTP, Commerce Builder, COSMOS, EMWAC, Esplanade, Esplanade Secure, ExpressO, Fnord, FolkWeb, GNNserver, GoServe, IBM Connection, IBM Connection Secure, Microsoft IIS, NetPresenz, Netscape Enterprise, Netscape FastTrack, Open Market Secure, Open Market WebServer, Oracle, Purveyor, Quarterdeck WebServer, Spinnaker, Spinner, SPRY SafetyWeb, SPRYWeb, SuperWeb, TECWeb, W4, WebServer400, WebSite, WebSTAR 95/NT, WebSTAR Mac, Webware Comm, Zeus |
Remote maintenance | Alibaba, Apache, ApacheSSL, CL-HTTP, Commerce Builder, COSMOS, DECthreads, EnterpriseWeb, ExpressO, GNNserver, GoServe, IBM Connection, IBM Connection Secure, Jazz, Microsoft IIS, NetPresenz, Netscape Enterprise, Netscape FastTrack, Open Market Secure, Open Market WebServer, Oracle, Purveyor, Sioux, Spinner, SPRY SafetyWeb, SPRYWeb, SuperWeb, TECWeb, WebServer400, WebSite, WebSTAR Mac, Webware Comm, WN, Zeus |
Real-time performance measurement tools | Apache, ApacheSSL, CL-HTTP, COSMOS, DECthreads, ExpressO, FolkWeb, GoServe, MacHTTP, Microsoft IIS, Netscape Enterprise, Netscape FastTrack, Purveyor, Sioux, Spinnaker, Spinner, SPRY SafetyWeb, SPRYWeb, SuperWeb, W4, WebServer400, WebSite, WebSTAR Mac, Webware Comm, Zeus |
Script or action based on output media type | Alibaba, Apache, ApacheSSL, CL-HTTP, Commerce Builder, DECthreads, EnterpriseWeb, Esplanade, Esplanade Secure, GoServe, Netscape Enterprise, Netscape FastTrack, Purveyor, Sioux, Spinnaker, SPRY SafetyWeb, SPRYWeb, TECWeb, WebSTAR Mac |
Also serves other TCP protocols | |
FTP, Gopher: NetPresenz | |
FTP, Gopher, WAIS, telnet, Usenet news: Jazz | |
Gopher: GN, GoServe | |
HTTP, FTP, Gopher: Microsoft IIS | |
Automatic directory tree | Alibaba, Apache, ApacheSSL, CL-HTTP, Commerce Builder, DECthreads, EMWAC, EnterpriseWeb, Esplanade, Esplanade Secure, Fnord, FolkWeb, GNNserver, IBM Connection, IBM Connection Secure, Jazz, Microsoft IIS, NCSA, Netscape Enterprise, Netscape FastTrack, Open Market Secure, Open Market WebServer, Oracle, Purveyor, Quarterdeck WebServer, Sioux, Spinner, SPRY SafetyWeb, SPRYWeb, SuperWeb, thttpd, W4, WebServer400, Webshare, WebSite, WebSTAR 95/NT, Webware Comm, Zeus |
User directories | Alibaba, Apache, ApacheSSL, CL-HTTP, Commerce Builder, DECthreads, EnterpriseWeb, Esplanade, Esplanade Secure, ExpressO, FolkWeb, GNNserver, GoServe, IBM Connection, IBM Connection Secure, Jazz, Microsoft IIS, NCSA, Netscape Enterprise, Netscape FastTrack, Open Market Secure, Open Market WebServer, Oracle, Purveyor, Sioux, Spinner, SU/httpd, SuperWeb, TECWeb, thttpd, W4, WebServer400, Webshare, Webware Comm, WN, Zeus |
Search engine | |
AppleSearch: MacHTTP, WebSTAR Mac | |
Architext: SPRY SafetyWeb | |
Built-in indexer and search engine: WebSite | |
Gateway: VBServer | |
Illustra text blade index: GNNserver | |
Internal search engine as well as freeWAIS support: NCSA | |
Keyword: COSMOS | |
PLWeb Intro from PLS, Excite from Architext, and Open Text Index: Open Market Secure, Open Market WebServer | |
Verity and WAIS: Purveyor | |
WAIS Toolkit for Windows NT: EMWAC | |
Yes: Alibaba, GN, Netscape Enterprise, SuperWeb, WN | |
Has direct (non-CGI) link to a DBMS | CL-HTTP, Commerce Builder, FolkWeb, GNNserver, GoServe, Netscape Enterprise, Netscape FastTrack, Oracle, Spinnaker, SPRY SafetyWeb, SPRYWeb, TECWeb, W4, WebServer400, Webware Comm, WN, Zeus |
Includes user interaction tools | |
Chat rooms, forums: TECWeb | |
Chatrooms, newsgroup system: Commerce Builder | |
User profiles, conferencing, file submissions: Spinnaker | |
Yes: Netscape Enterprise, Netscape FastTrack, Oracle, W4 | |
Type of server-side imagemaps | |
Both: CL-HTTP, DECthreads, Spinner, WebSite | |
CERN: ExpressO | |
NCSA: ApacheSSL, Netscape Enterprise, Netscape FastTrack, Spinnaker, Zeus | |
Allows non-blocking DNS | CL-HTTP, Netscape Enterprise, Netscape FastTrack, Spinner, Zeus |
Has a support mailing list | AmigaWeb, ApacheSSL, CL-HTTP, Commerce Builder, DECthreads, EMWAC, GN, GNNserver, GoServe, IBM Connection, IBM Connection Secure, Open Market Secure, Open Market WebServer, Oracle, Purveyor, Sioux, Spinner, SuperWeb, thttpd, WebSite, WN |
Also acts as an HTTP proxy server | Alibaba, CL-HTTP, Commerce Builder, ExpressO, IBM Connection, IBM Connection Secure, Jazz, Oracle, Purveyor, Spinner, SPRY SafetyWeb, SPRYWeb |
Proxy server also caches | Alibaba, Commerce Builder, ExpressO, IBM Connection, IBM Connection Secure, Jazz, Purveyor, Spinner, SPRY SafetyWeb, SPRYWeb |
Includes full source code for server | |
Always included: Apache, ApacheSSL, CL-HTTP, DECthreads, Fnord, GN, NCSA, SU/httpd, Spinner, Stairways, WN, Webshare, thttpd | |
Extra fee: EnterpriseWeb, ExpressO, Purveyor, Sioux, SuperWeb | |
None available: Alibaba, AmigaWeb, COSMOS, Commerce Builder, EMWAC, Esplanade, Esplanade Secure, FolkWeb, GNNserver, GoServe, IBM Connection, IBM Connection Secure, Jazz, MacHTTP, Microsoft IIS, NetPresenz, Netscape Enterprise, Netscape FastTrack, Open Market Secure, Open Market WebServer, Oracle, Quarterdeck WebServer, SPRY SafetyWeb, SPRYWeb, Spinnaker, TECWeb, VBServer, W4, WebSTAR 95/NT, WebSTAR Mac, WebServer400, WebSite, Webware Comm, Zeus | |
Pricing | |
Commercial: Alibaba, ApacheSSL, COSMOS, Commerce Builder, EnterpriseWeb, Esplanade, Esplanade Secure, ExpressO, FolkWeb, GNNserver, Jazz, Netscape Enterprise, Netscape FastTrack, Open Market Secure, Open Market WebServer, Oracle, Purveyor, Quarterdeck WebServer, SPRY SafetyWeb, SPRYWeb, Sioux, Spinnaker, SuperWeb, TECWeb, VBServer, WebSTAR 95/NT, WebSTAR Mac, WebServer400, WebSite, Webware Comm, Zeus | |
Free: AmigaWeb, Apache, CL-HTTP, DECthreads, EMWAC, Fnord, GN, GoServe, IBM Connection, IBM Connection Secure, NCSA, SU/httpd, Spinner, WN, Webshare, thttpd | |
Free with fee for support: Microsoft IIS | |
Shareware: MacHTTP, NetPresenz, Stairways, W4 | |
The following are the descriptions of the pricing of the servers, as described by the server's author or company selling the server. This list only includes non-trivial pricing information, not things like "free" or "varies".
The following are the descriptions of the best features of the servers, as described by the server's author or company selling the server. They were limited to 25 words or less, so this probably doesn't reflect everything they think is great about the server.